This morning we dine on 'southern hemisphere cake' (yet more muffin mix). Yes, we are over the Equator. Ushered across the line shortly before midnight by five dusky birds etched against a cloud-framed moon, BP Explorer had an air of Hitchcock about its decks for this long-awaited moment.
Not that many of the crew would have noticed! Of the off-watch, just one member, Holger Bindel, could summon enough romantic spirit to request a wake-up call, whereupon he was handed a fruit tea (it's a wild life out here!) and tucked into a hoarded Mars bar. Those on watch, meanwhile, were too consumed with trimming to get themselves organised (we have BG SPIRIT and Spirit of Sark hot on our heels). As the GPS disobligingly flicked from north to south without the definitive row of zeros, the media crew managed to take a very disappointing picture and some even less spectacular footage. It was all about as much on schedule as a Y2K project, and injected with about the same
degree of enthusiasm.
No doubt, however, this lunchtime's Equatorial ceremony will be a lot more memorable. King Neptune (aka David Melville) may not realise it yet, but those who have had a glimpse of the embroidery going on in the sail locker certainly do - there is no chance that the cameras are going to miss today's party! I am certain that all those who are due a judgement from the sea king succeeded by 'orrible slops over their heads, will deem the trial thoroughly worthwhile when they see the skipper in costume! More tomorrow.
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