Crossing the Equator

Chart Plotter showing us just south of the equator!

King Neptune and a Sea Nymph!

No wind!

Feb.24,2015

Crossing the Equator

Another milestone on the trip - entering the southern hemisphere.
Dan emailed a welcome to his ocean!
We were watching to see any changes. The latitudes on the chart plotter turned to S. The water temp has gone from 34.5 to 31.5. The cold Humbolt current comes north along SA and turns towards Galapagos. The nutrients it brings are the source of the abundant sea life there. The current will now push us to the islands. The wind turned to the southeast as it should.

We motored south to the equator as there was still not enough wind to sail. That was not the direct line to the islands but we wanted to cross in the daylight with everyone awake. We did a few of the traditions associated with the crossing but drew the line at shaving heads and a dunking. "Neptune" had his trident and his nymphs dressed in lines and shawls. A dram of spirits was given to the sea and, of course, to the crew. Afterwards we could sail for a while and conditions were great. Some new vocabulary for us: We were "polliwogs" who had never crossed the equator. Now we are "shellbacks". Also, when doing the Panama Canal we were "Y-jobs", those doing it for the first time.

Feb.25/2015

We did get some sailing in today. We struggled to get the spinnaker up and working only to have the wind die out. Instead the guys decided it was time for bottom scrubbing which has taken the last 3 hours. Although we were only drifting 2 knots with the current, the swells have been large so it was hard work. Rob has the usual pink hair from the antifouling paint. He was thrilled with how the hookah worked, however. It didn't come with the needed weights which would have helped.

If we continue to motor we will arrive tomorrow morning (Thurs) in Porto Banquerizo Moreno. On arrival our time zone moves an hour earlier. The boats that left 3 days before us are already in.  We are watching out for any sea life welcomes.