When the dolphins come to play

The wind has backed from south to south east as expected and we are now
on a broad reach,still motoring to assist,but at low revs and keeping
our average above 5 kts.The equator is only about 70 nm away and it
looks like we will cross at about 3 tomorrow morning.With the new moon
or dark moon it will be very interseting as the crew wants to swim
across the equator.i always switch all the boat lights off at night and
still travel a bit as light attracts all kind of weird and wonderful
creatures in the ocean.I have often checked on fishfinders that the
ocean is relatively quiet at night,but at 2 in the morning it comes
alive.Squid,jellyfish and countless other creatures coming to the
surface to feed.Crossing the equator at 3 am means that they have just
surfaced an hour ago and will be fairly hungry.Not that they eat
humans,but just the thought of all this foreign forms of life around
you,pitch darkness and crossing to the northern hemisphere and the stage
is set for a scary adventure.Brad at first said he wants to hold on to
the boat when they cross,but that will then be dragged across the
equator,just not the same as swimming across.The Pillsbury Seamount
and the Romanche Gap under us just adds to the equation.The games we
play...ha ha ha.

Last night just after the sun has dipped below the horizon we had a huge
pod of dolphins coming to say hi.My daughter Maryna earlier the day e
mailed me to say that she will send us some dolphins,and came they
did.She also sends us wind and other blessings when we run low and need
some boost,whether from the water or the air.Also does a mean rain dance
U!U!A!A!U!U!A!A!.Saw some old footage of bushmen at the Natural Museum
in Cape Town doing their thing and never looked back.

It is still some distance to Madeira,two to three weeks,depending on the
wind we get.From there a short two week sprint to Greece.It should be
about 6 am in SA when we cross the equator,so spare us a thought when
you open your eyes for us,especially the two brave men who will be
initiated into Poseidon's small army of men and woman who have crossed
the equator at sea.Have a wonderful weekend and we will report again
some time tomorrow.

Take care,and we will also take care,promise.

Paul

The chicken and butternut dish that Brad served for supper was
absolutely delectable,well done young man.Learning a whole lot of new
tricks and trades.