Position: 01 degrees, 50 minutes North; 125 degrees, 40 minutes West
Our self portrait at 14 days out.
Well, the ITCZ “spit” us out the other side into a beautiful day. Sunny, warm, but not too much wind. We’ve been flying the spinnaker all day in about 5 knots of wind and making about 2.5-3 knots boat speed. At those speeds it’s very difficult to fly and way below the wind and speed needed to make the wind vane work, so it’s AutoBob on the helm. That’s my excuse today for not having time to really recount our amazing trip through the ITCZ and out the other side. We both feel as if we’ve been through Alice’s looking glass having ridden Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
As you can see from the position, we have about 110 miles to the equator which we could make in one day, but between the ITCZ and the equator are the doldrums, so we’re not likely to be making the speed for a one day passage. Some folks say the ITCZ encompasses both, but there’s a distinctively different weather model between them. The former being crazed lightning, wind, squall, rain kind of weather and the latter being no wind kind of weather and the forecasts treat them as separate events. That’s why we made the turn South when we did. It looked like the ITCZ would be “smaller” to cross there and it looked like there might be wind on the other side to get us across the equator. So far both are happening as we have been able to sail the whole time.
Anyway, likely we’ll make the equator on Tuesday. We’ll even slow the boat down if needed to make it during daylight so we can enjoy the spectacle. Oh yes, Ann’s working on costumes to celebrate moving from Pollywogs to Shellbacks and there WILL be hazing. Since she’s in charge, she gets to be King Neptune and I’m a Mermaid. Oh the shame. Anyway, at least we’ll have a nice bottle of Champagne which is already in the fridge to celebrate with and hopefully a swim.
Just before dinner, I went to pull in our fishing line and I guess the action was enough to excite a Tuna that must have been eyeing it because; Bam! Tuna on the line. Not a very big one, but it breaks a streak of no luck. We think it’s a Blackfin Tuna, but not sure. So, like good carnivores, we’ll eat it and see if it tastes good. The meat looks very mild though, so I’m optimistic.
That’s it for now. I really will try to get a more complete account ready tomorrow.
Yo friends. Well, now I’m gona rest easy tonight after seeing this post. Was getting to be a little concerned since it seemed like awhile and you weren’t in the nicest of conditions. How’d they do this when the letters came by sail after you hit port? It’s 11:15pm here after a delightful day; sunny and mild. But the Giants lost. Oh well, all is much better with your seas settling down and catching your supper. But what the heck’s a black fin tuna? I didn’t even know tuna came in different racial groups. 🙂 May the gods of wind gently puff at you polliwogs.
Now that the ride is smoother, I can imagine that there is costume making going on, with Ann leading the way with her creative charms. We are so looking forward to pictures of Bob as mermaid! He does have the best the best legs. And it appears that the fishing gods are smiling. The first fish of many to follow.
A land lubbers question; You traversed the ITCZ from north to south and now the doldrums. Is the an equivalent ITCZ south of the equator as well? In any event, be sure to relax and enjoy the conversion from pollywog to shellback. BTW…we will plan that bullriding event when you return. Best wishes.
From this last post, it appears that you will soon [maybe even now] within 1000 miles of you destination. So the GPS DTW can begin the count down. Well over half way. Congratulations!