01’33.1S 029’12.5W course 190′ speed 7,2kn
In the morning of the 27th of November, at 07:40 Board time, 8:40 UTC, we crossed the equator and made our way to the South side of the world. We had a beautiful breeze all night long and were able to keep our course clear of the Islands to the South West. When we crossed the equator, we celebrated with a small tot of rum, and gifted one drink to the ocean for Neptune and all the sailors who do not sail with us any more. It is always a special moment, for crew and for myself, it marks new part of our voyage.
Just before lunch all the men started showing up on deck with strangly shaven faces, mustaches where beards once lived and the most creative creations you can think of. Joel instigated this little ploy. He did it with Max and Tom on the way North and now, with even more male faces, it turned into a mustache show. Not all of them very flattering.
During the afternoon, just after lunch, we had a visit from Neptune.. All dressed up with nets and forked staff in form of a broom, Neptune welcomed our new Shellbacks into his realm! They all got their name and were doused in salt water to make sure they accepted their new name. Neptune did not stay too long, its a busy job ruling all of the underwater world and all creatures that live in and on it. But we were grateful for a visit.
During the whole morning the wind had been increasing gradually. So just before lunch we changed the big jib into the number 2 jib. After some cleaning our three young deckcrew were soaking wet from the work, so I suggested they cool down with the fire hose outside. Which turned into quite the water ballet. After that it was watch handover and so with some extra hands, we folded the big jib and that was about as busy as we got. It was a nice day, a fairly quiet day, except for the high ranking visit of course.
At the end of the day, after a lovely desert made by Soete and Jasmijn (vanilla mouse with fresh mango puree), we watched the sunset on the South side of the world for the first time. Such beautiful colors! And some dramatic clouds. Some of the clouds gave a little extra wind.. Which made us think about reefing.. and as we always say, thinking of reefing IS reefing… we got everybody ready… and then the wind calmed down. SO no reef after all.
Around 22:00 I jokingly said to Joel, as he was doing 5 knots average, that I was glad we did not get the reef in.. And at 23:20 I am next to my bed, ship heeling over more then usual, lots of movement on the deck, so I check the nav area and see a radar filled with rain reflections.. I said “Go downwind, we are going to reef this time!” I got dressed quickly and we started to reef. Big squall line was passing over us, not much rain, but a lot of wind. So reefed mainsail then on to the mizzen, reefed mizzen and then watch handover. With handover done, deck clean done, the dog watch is on the aft enjoying their well deserved coffee and then…. wind gone… awful little steep wave remaining and thus.. Engine on.. Sadly but true, just to keep the sails full and not roll around, we are under engine for now. We will see how we go, the reefs are staying in for now..
All is well on board,
Jet
