Down came the asymmetric and up with the jib as very favourable winds kept us zipping along at 8-10 knots most of the evening.

We crossed the equator mid day yesterday and Jo had a simple ceremony to spread the ashes of dear friends Chappy and Ingram into the southern hemisphere.

Robert made fish nuggets for dinner and Kirsten made mashed potatoes, very yummy.

It was Jo that caught sight of first land, San Cristobal at 03:00 this morning. We had three hitchhikers overnight, a red footed booby and two other species we could not identify for the dark and their position on the bow. Two shark fins glowed alongside for awhile and once they crossed the bow their bodies shone through the water iridescent, they looked to be over 20 feet in length....yikes.

At dawn a variety of birds swooped by as seals play in the sea. The second island we see right now is Santa Cruz. The islands are low lying, green carpeted and scarcely populated.

Our destination is Isabela and we are 41 nm from there.

All is well, Cheers from Breeze