Crossing the Equator

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  West of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Monday, January 14, 2008

We crossed the equator today-at about 2 pm- and celebrated with Poseidon's Revenge, a ritual where first-time-crossing-crew members end up in the "brig" on the aft deck, before being tossed into the "brink" (well, the pool, actually) and where all poliwogs (first-time crossers) need to kiss the fish (a very stinky sea trout!). Apparently, the fish-kissing will ensure safe passage into the southern hemisphere. We can feel the currents today-they're much stronger and very noticeable--especially after yesterday's very smooth sailing.

Soon we expect to hit the "doldrums", where the trade winds from the north and the south cancel each other out. Luckily, we are not in a time where we rely on sails or we could be sitting in one place for a while!

Today's pictures may well look like yesterday's, but we will know that they were taken in the Tropic of Capricorn, at zero degrees and 20 minutes south and about 106 degrees west. There were sightings yesterday of dolphin fish and/or flying fish, but we haven't seen any others today.

For all those data-gatherers out there, the earth's circumference at the equator is 21,600 nautical miles (24,840 statute miles).

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Crossing the Equator	Zero Degrees, 20 Minutes South	Kissing the Fish	Granadma With King Neptune (Poseidon)

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