Day 14: EQUATOR!!!

Moving along today, first under genoa, then under Code 0; changed our course just 15 degrees to the west.  Skies are blue, sun is hot. I see why this passage is called a marathon.  We are trying to take in every moment, but I’m also excited to stop moving for a second and stand on land again.

This morning had a bit of a scare when my breakfast skillet (potatoes, eggs, onions, cheese) started smoking.  A fire on a boat is VERY scary.  I quickly turned off the propane and Chris lifted the pot off the stovetop to reveal one of our silicone nonstick pads stuck to the underside of the pan, burning away.  Water had likely created some suction of the pad that none of us saw.  Crisis averted, Chris eventually stopped shaking (fire is one of his biggest boat fears), and breakfast was cooked and served.

Calder put his GoPro into the water to look at our hull; covered with barnacles and a green beard.  We are losing at least 1 knot of speed due to this resistance. 

We pulled out all the accoutrements for our upcoming Equator crossing ceremony, including Neptune’s trident to decorate.  Calder added some knotwork including two Turk’s heads, while Cora and I added some shells and beads.  We think the crossing may be in the middle of the night tonight.

Went into evening watch, the Equator closer and closer.  The Big Dipper is upside down behind us.  The Southern Cross guiding us forward.  All of us awake, we started the countdown – At 2:47am we crossed the Equator 0 degrees, longitude 123 46.322W.  We were no longer slimy Pollywogs, but inducted as Shellbacks.  King Neptune showed up for the festivities.  We ate chocolate cake, drank a glass of champagne (some thrown in the water for Neptune of course), had a bit of rum (for Neptune as well), and threw gifts into the water from each of us.  I threw in a braided palm frond, Cora some shells, Calder a trumpetfish head, Chris some dried butterflies, and Emil a wooden sphere from Petersburg.  We listened to music, looked at the stars, and just floated along slowly; now in the Southern Hemisphere.  Emil quoted Emily Dickinson, “I dwell in possibility,” harkening to the beginning of this dream Chris and I hatched together many years ago.  Tonight was a culmination of that dream.

Total miles over the last 24 hours:   115.7 nm

Average speed in last 24 hours:      4.9 knots

Total miles of trip so far:   1,751.9 nm