Date 18 May 2005
Location Northern Hemisphere
Weather Sunny
Heading 330 degrees
Yesterday was a significant day for Global Challenge yacht Imagine it. Done.
We not only crossed back into the northern hemisphere but also covered exactly half the distance of the leg from Cape Town to Boston. The 16 May was also the day when we realised that in exactly two months this mammoth venture comes to an end.
Looking at the first point in the list, crossing back across the equator was stress free for all the core crew who had met King Neptune on the way to Buenos Aires in Leg One. However, we have onboard four Equator Virgins in the form of our leggers. The leggers from Leg One reading this can sympathise. King Neptune appeared on deck with his trident and beard and declared his anger at allowing these four across the equator without permission and a sacrifice. We had crossed the equator at 0450hrs yesterday morning. In traditional style the four victims were found guilty of heinous crimes and suffered suitably by being covered by the slops from the last 24 hours onboard. The full account of the ceremony will be written by one of the victims so I shall save all the gory bits for them to tell the story.
Covering half the mileage is good especially as we are approaching the doldrums that are well known for their ability to create a parking lot in the middle of the Atlantic. We are hoping that the front-runners are slowed down enough to allow us to catch up the miles that separate us. This is not the easiest as the outside temperature is close on 30 degrees and during the morning there is no shade from the sun. As the day moves on, the shade potential increases as the sun moves in front of the spinnaker.
Sun protection factor varies from SPF 50 to thick emulsion, and for the fairer skinned it still doesn't seem enough. To make life really comfortable for this leg the temperature down below decks varies from 34 - 38 degrees. These are very difficult conditions to sleep in and very sticky conditions to pack a spinnaker or prepare food.
The other news is about John Masters, who had some more surgery on Monday. We have heard that all went well and we all wish him a speedy recovery.
As for the realisation that this is all over in two months, it makes us realise how busy the remainder of the race is. We have lots of miles left to sail and two stopovers to fit in, in that time. We had best get a move on.
Dee Caffari/Yachting World, 18 May 2005
