Crossing the equator

An hour before we reaches the equator we had a most amazing soft misty
rain floating down from the sky.In the stern light one could see these
minute little droplets dancing in the slight breeze we had and so
refreshing on the skin.By this time we had all the sails in as there is
not enough wind although we are in very favourable currents speeding us
along at 9 kts on one motor.Half an hour later the wind picked up to 30
kts and we were overtaken by a squall and raining hard for 15
minutes.These things always seem to happen on Gareths watch and he was
drenced.In these hot climates such quick cooling is always a blessing.so
this is how we were received at the equator,cool air,no wind, no rain.

We crossed the eqautor at 09:15 pm last night crossing over at
00*00'S/043*59'W.We had the usual ritual of paying our due respects and
both crewmembers had to be initiated.First up was Gareth who had to
mouth a tablespoon of peanut butter and flour and then spelling
Synchronicity using the phonetic alphabet...Sierra Yankee November and
so on.While he was doing this I had to do the honor of braking an egg on
his head,douse him with flour and finish it with copious amounts of
syrup.Any mistake on his part and he could get another egg on his head
and possibly a rotten one.He was fine with the phonetics but spelling
Synchronicity was a little harder but he passed with a little
assistance.Next was Malcolm who went through the same procedure and
probably anticipated to do the phonetic alphabet starting ar Alpha Bravo
Charlie.I told him I want only 7 letters but he must start at the back
which made him slip a little swearword.Zulu Yankee and he got stuck at
X.I told him it is nearly like stingray and he clicked,X-ray,next I had
to tell him it is not brandy it is and he got Whisky.It is really hard
to do the alphabet backwards if asked to do so unexpectedly and he got
his second egg which was not rotten in case you wondered.It was all
taken and done in good spirit and we had a good laugh.We also dropped a
bottle in the ocean with messages we placed inside,all three holding the
bottle and throwing it overboard together.Then it was cleaning up time
for them.Gareth thought he may want to feel what it is like to get into
the ocean at night and dropped the diving ladder,tied a rope around
himself and were in and out in a flash.Malcolm refused point blank.This
is Malcolm Rennie from Port Shepstone I might add.In his defense,he did
take a little dip in the ocean at St.Helena and secondly you don't have
to be mad to do these type of things but it helps a lot.

Back to us surfing at 19.8 kts.Average speed when sailing is 6.6
kts.Travelling on a highway you do 120 kms/hr.Double the speed and you
are sailing at 13.2 kts and driving at 240 kms/hr which is very very
fast.Surfing at 19.8 kts would then have you driving at 360 kms/hr with
no brakes and 15 tons of weight under you,ridiculous fast if you get my
drift.Perhaps for a moment time stood still.Our progress towards
St.Lucia is better than expected.We have a little over 1600 nm to go and
must do it in ten days to catch our flights back to SA,although we are
aiming to do it in eight days.Eight days will require an average of 8.3
kts and ten days will require an average of 6.6 kts.Perhaps we will do
it in nine days at an average of 7.4 kts.We will have to wait and see
what the wind,the currents and the motors can do.We have been averaging
8.3 for the last three days so who knows.

We were holding thumbs for Bafana Bafana and please let us know what the
score was.

Standing by on 16