We had a really good sail for much of the day, yesterday, until the wind was too close to on our nose and Fortuitous doesn't care for that. As well, the seas were VERY rough, with 6-8 foot swell, some larger, with wind wave on top. We had plenty of water over the bow, with left-over flying fish and baby squid on deck. We even took several splashes over the dodger! Neither Fortuitous nor her crew particularly care for that! So, we motor sailed...only slightly more comfortable as Fortuitous has the power to pound through some of the crap!
Ralph had a hard time getting any shut-eye before our Equator crossing. He tried to sleep because the Equator event was to happen during his down time, so he'd be missing some of his 4 to 5 straight hours for sleeping. However, once he went down for a nap, I looked back and the topping lift for the mizzen had come undone, and was flying in the breeze. For the landlubbers, this is a wire/rope that holds the boom horizontal when the sail isn't up. Thankfully, the sail was up, so it held the boom up and it didn't come crashing down on the deck. Ralph went out and managed, in very rough seas, to snag it with the pike pole...what a man!! I would have left it until it was calmer, although it is a bit embarrassing to have your flag flying 15 feet behind, and above the boat!
He tried again to have a nap but, shortly after he went down, I could see a light close by, but no sign on the radar. Because the radar showed nothing, at first I thought he was our buddy boat, since Zephyrus was in the same general area. I was also busy tracking a freighter and wondering if a it was going to run us down. I called Ralph up, and then this light started coming straight for us. We slowed down, and tried to avoid him, and finally we stopped. He came across our bow...apparently he had a long fishing line out and wanted us to steer to port. It was all kind of hairy as he waited too long to warn us, and we waited too long to slow down. Long story longer, we diverted to port and went around him. Ralph went back to bed for an hour, and then we arrived at the Equator.
We hadn't done much research on what the proper ceremony should be, but Ralph had read somewhere and had been whining about having a crown and dressing like Neptune or??? I said he could go ahead and do that, but I wasn't in the mood for any dress-up games! While he was sleeping, I relented and made him a lovely tin-foil crown. We got ourselves all set up for the crossing, camera in hand, took a couple of practice photos, then a photo of our wine glasses and carton of wine, then turned to wait for the crossing. OH MY GOD, WE'D MISSED IT!! We were already in the Southern Hemisphere, and had turned from "Polliwogs" into "Shellbacks" without knowing it or taking the requisite movie or photo!!! So, we turned around, re-crossed, and did it all again. This time we succeeded. 
We had a glass of "Chateau de Carton" wine, and poured one into the sea for Neptune. 
The actual crossing, third try!
One who hasn't had enough sleep, and one with that "deer in the headlights look"! Take your pick of who's who!!
WE'VE ARRIVED IN SOUTH AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
As of 11:15 am today:
Lat: 00 35 72 South
Long: 080 28 West
Distance made good: 92 nm
Distance remaining: ZERO!!!!!!
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