Our next big challenge was the sail from Las Perlas to the Galapagos Islands – 855 NM or so which we calculated would take us about 5 or 6 days travelling at 6 knots.  We had done some pre-cooking, lentil Bolognese, fish pie, veggie dahl.  We were hoping to catch some fish so had laid in supplies of fresh limes and hot sauce.  We caught an absolutely magnificent Yellow Fin tuna which Sam prepared beautifully.  We have on board a book called ‘Fish Butchery’ which explains how to get the best from a fish – the fillets he prepared were a work of art.  We also have ‘Cruisers Guide to Fishing’ which is another classic and explains how to prevent a build-up of lactic acid and hence tough tasting fish.  We take our fishing very seriously (!) with a comprehensive collection of lures – the brown freckly squid is very successful, as is the smooth, shiny little mini tuna which also seems to work.  We have a special fish preparation table and vodka in a bottle to squirt directly on the gills to kill the fish instantly, and fancy gloves..

On the way to the Galapagos we crossed the Equator – a big moment in a sailor’s lifetime.  Sailing across the equator, or ‘Crossing the Line’ is an opportunity for someone – usually the skipper – to dress up as Neptune and ‘baptise’ those on board who have not crossed the equator before.  It involves a toast to Neptune of course.  Patrick had especially grown a beard for the occasion, and Sam painted him a wonderful mask.  We made him a trident out of the boat hook, and Gandhi style pair of trunks, with a necklace of some old ‘ghost’ fishing line we had earlier run into.  We had a delicious cocktail – fresh limes and aged tequila – and dutifully poured a little of this over the side to satisfy Neptune’s needs.