Pacific Odyssey - Leg 2

Another full day, another day dealing with the boat moving intensely  fore and aft, with an occasional deep starboard roll. Motion, the  boat is all about it lately. We can´t imagine not thinking about it; it is a part of our thoughts in every small thing we undertake. We crossed the equator last night at 2345hrs, when it was still Jose and Katie´s birthday; they were quite thrilled about that. Just before we reached the 00degrees00.0 mark on the GPS, the wake-up call was given and nearly everyone came on deck to watch the ship cross the ´magical line.´ From Arielle´s journal: "We were going 6-7 knots with three sails up and no engine. The countdown began...10, 9, 8, aaah [the GPS decided to fail for a few moments] 3,2,1, EQUATOR! We all cheered and whoo-hooed and several flash bulbs went off. We are now in the southern hemisphere with some good southeast tradewinds off the port side. I climbed down to my bunk and quickly fell asleep." The morning brought strong winds with the Skipper repeatedly asking, ´do you think it´s dying at all?´ looking for a chance to give some of the working rigging a reprieve. We sailed along strongly at 7+ knots until our foresail ripped during lunch. One of the rat boards on the starboard fore shrouds had come loose on one side and had  created a chafe point on the foresail. Jose noticed it, he was on watch, and the foresail was lowered and temporarily patched. It was raised an hour later just before King Neptune appeared. We were somewhat worried that King Neptune(Jordan) would be displeased that we had crossed the equator without his permission. We kneeled, waiting, blindfolded (to fool him we´d been that way since before the
equator, thus still authentically green horns), and he announced
himself with a very wet spray from the deck hose. He came with his
entourage: Queen Amphitrite (Rob), princesses Anenome, Starfish and
Urchin (Elske, Bec and Arwen), Judge Moonsnail (Sara), and guards Muscle, Moray and Limpet (Jacob, Noah and Simon). These ´helpers´ have crossed the line before, and are thus, shell backs. The next two hours were filled with globs of goopy potions, molasses and tallow, slop, wet toilet paper etc. wrapped, thrown, applied etc. to each of the terrified trainees waiting to be initiated. Lots of laughing, lots of mess...just what King Neptune likes. The deck hose stood by so those newly initiated could take a good rinse. Katie had a delicious supper of ham and scalloped potatoes ready, once we´d all had a chance to clean up ourselves and the ship. In two days we hope to be in Nuka Hiva, if we keep up this speed. We are making good time, with spray still coming over the ship regularly, even over the stern of the boat by the helmsman. We have a pretty good attitude toward it all, one has to; it´s part being out here, putting up with the difficulties produces the lessons and the memories and the new appreciation of our lives at home. The moon is nearly full, it gives
off an incredible amount of light, we can see each other on deck. As I
type I can hear 3 or 4 discussions happening just around the wheel, with lots of laughing and singing, led by Sam. This is it, good night,
Bonice.