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I did two voyages on this "extra service" as it was called as a cadet. They were the last two voyages before the seamen's strike in 66.
On the second voyage I was nominated to be one of the bears in the crossing the line ceremony (southbound). My task was to duck the victim once he had been tipped off the chair.
One victim was a very large german bodyguard who was travelling with some rich gentleman. He thought it would be a great idea to put up a fight in the water. He punched me on the left ear that was at the time full of water. It completely took away the ear drum. I was hauled out of the pool, my ear streaming with blood and was confined to the ship's hospital all the rest of the way to Capetown. Whilst my ear healed I was advised not to go out into windy conditions so watchkeeping was out. So all the way home I was virtually a passenger.
No long term bad effects apart from a fear of german bodyguards.
On the second voyage I was nominated to be one of the bears in the crossing the line ceremony (southbound). My task was to duck the victim once he had been tipped off the chair.
One victim was a very large german bodyguard who was travelling with some rich gentleman. He thought it would be a great idea to put up a fight in the water. He punched me on the left ear that was at the time full of water. It completely took away the ear drum. I was hauled out of the pool, my ear streaming with blood and was confined to the ship's hospital all the rest of the way to Capetown. Whilst my ear healed I was advised not to go out into windy conditions so watchkeeping was out. So all the way home I was virtually a passenger.
No long term bad effects apart from a fear of german bodyguards.
