Day 6 Panama to Galapagos

Zepher
Chris & Lyn Darch
Sat 10 May 2008 19:23
00:23.00N
84:59.01W
 
Hi from the Pacific Ocean.
Only 23 miles from the equator, and it's freezing.  Global warming hasn't happened here.  At least not today.  Mind you it's winter on the other side of the line,and we have been having winds blowing from the south all the way from Antarctica.  Antarctica reminds me of the first time I crossed the equator.  I was on my way to that continent of snow and ice "working" for British Antarctic Survey.  Anyway as we crossed the line we had to pay homage to king Neptune.  This involved being covered in all the left overs from the previous two week that had been festering on the aft deck for a couple of weeks, all washed of eventually with the fire hoses.  What fun we had.  Ruth is still expecting to see a line, and feel a bump.  With Master Chef, Chris dishing up scrumptious repass (he has kept that talent well hidden) there has been no left overs, and as a fish has yet to be landed, we have no fish guts.  So I don't think she will have to suffer the old food thing, she would beat me up if I tried anyway, ha ha like to see her try.  Nevertheless we'll have to think up some way for her to pay homage to Neptune.  The lack of fish was partially explained this morning when Lyn spotted two guys out in a little boat up ahead of us.  They turned out to be line fishing in conjunction with a larger boat that then came into view.  Their nets can be a mile long catching every thing that comes it's way.  We did have a flying fish that took pity on our attempts and surrendered it's self on the fore deck.  We also had a visit from an unknown 'sea gull' type of bird which stayed with us all afternoon before falling off it's perch.  Back to the flying fish; Lyn promptly chopped it up and tried her luck with it as bait.  Still nada.  I think she will be trying her sparkly spandex pants next.  Ops. poetic licence starting to get stretched again!  We were hoping to do the old water going down the plug hole.  To see if it revolves in different directions on each side of the line, but being heeled over at 20deg. it's not been possible to get a confirmed direction for the northern hemisphere yet.  Some times it's clockwise and others anti.  It's also requiring the water maker running full time to keep up with all the water required for our experiments.  Starting to stretch it again so I will hand over to Chris for some sensible data !
 I thought that was quite constructive Rob , anyway we are back on track today after steaming to the south all night under power with light airs , it was this part of the passage that I had designed the large fuel tanks of Zephyr for, although I think we will only empty the engine rm one .
 Another first today was sun sights , its been 25 years since both Rob and myself did them and with the help of Roger " Washboards" PC program we have managed to get our sights down to less than 10 miles which we thought for the first one wasn't bad .
 We are due to cross the equator at 01:00 tomorrow morning our time 6 o/c UT and 7o/c BST so if your up and about at that time tomorrow morning think of us ....
Any news out there on the football results .. Dave ... would be appreciated ,
 We have been in contact again with Rhythm last night and gathered more info on our destination , there are twelve yachts in Academia Bay our destination , we should be there by Tuesday morning at 07:00 so will be looking forward to the end of the rock and roll session .
 
Thats all from the crew of a bouncy Zepher still plying to windward cutter rig doing its thing !
 
Message to Lexa and Steve , Have had probs with eming you think it sailamail again , hope all is well ,chris and lyn