00:36S 89:14W

 

The Galapagos Islands are tantalisingly close.  We saw Isla San Cristobel just after first light this morning and right now are sailing, under spinnaker, along its north coast.  Cristobel is the easternmost of the group and where several of the fleet we sailed with have gone.  However to visit Cristobel you need a previously applied for “autografa” which costs US$1200.  We’ve opted to do the one island visit which “only” costs $1000 so we’re heading to the westernmost island Isabella, which is another 100 miles away.  So another overnight sail – but it will be nice as we’ll be in sight of islands most of the way and it’s full moon tonight so should be lovely.

 

Already we’ve started to see marine life – whales and dolphins and lots of birds.   It’s been great as we haven’t seen much since leaving the Las Perlas.

 

Yesterday’s crossing of the equator was a highlight – we shared a little rum with Neptune, poured a little over Bandit’s decks as she was, after all, an equatorial virgin.  Both of us have crossed the equator twice before so didn’t see the need to smear each other in shaving cream, douse ourselves with buckets of water or celebrate in any other way.  We were sailing along nicely so didn’t stop for a swim like several of the other boats ahead of us did.  Funnily enough one boat stopped for a swim and when they checked the chartplotter they’d drifted back over the line so actually crossed the equator three times!   We did celebrate by having banana pancakes for dessert.

 

Nothing else to report – really looking forward to making landfall, having a solid night’s sleep, a celebratory rum and exploring these amazing islands that we’ve read and heard so much about.