We’ve done it! Uniquely Singapore crossed the Equator 2 days ago and we are well and truely on our way in the trade winds now. To mark our crossing the crew were summoned to ‘Neptune’s Court’ to justify our ‘reasons for existence’ to the Skipper and to Neptune. The reasons ranged from the silly (”I’m a lousy swimmer so please let me stay on the
boat!”) to the more serious and emotional thanks for letting the crew get this far safely. The moment was then marked with a shot of Benromach whiskey all round (and one for the sea-gods) and a slice of fruit cake from Jen.
Today we are shooting south at a rate of 200 miles per day with the winds on the nose, so the boat is now bouncing upwind. After 6 days stuck in the Doldrums with a perfectly flat boat it is quite a shock to the system to be at 45 degrees again and quite an effort to move around the boat. Competitions are being held to see who can come up with the most creative way of getting into the top bunks in the crew accommodation area as they are now much higher and at a difficult angle to get in to. Most crew are favouring the ‘run and jump’ method, trusting the boat to heel at the right moment and scoop them in to their beds at the moment!
we are approaching the last 1,000 miles of this race but are not slowing up the pace yet. we intend to run up to and through the line; all is well on the Merlion.
