Location: 7° 14.0 N, 47° 02.0 W
Wednesday 12:00, 06.14.2006

The Schooner Maggie B’s Noon Position on June 14 was 7° 14.0 N, 47° 02.0 W. The mouth of the Amazon is SW about 460 NM and Natal is 1060 NM. We are still just close hauled with the wind 075 at 9-10 knots. We are on a course of 120, making 4.5 to 5 knots through the water with one knot of current against us.

We have somewhat updated waypoints from Commander’s Weather, our routing and Meteo advisor. Our next point is 5N/40W, where we should encounter the start of the ITCZ, somewhat broken up by a weak tropical wave. From there we make a grand curve south towards Natal. This is somewhat cutting the corner from our earlier plan to go as far East as 5N/28W. The reason is due to an expected softening of the breeze, probably down to the point of us needing to motor for a day or so.

It is another lovely day. The sea is down to mostly 5-7 foot swells, which gives us an easy motion. Today was “Boat Day” with lots of vacuuming, wash down, fixing, tightening, stitching, etc.

Last night we started in on learning our stars with two hours of full dark before the mostly full moon came up. Arcturus was right over us, seemingly wrapped in the top of the mast. Venus greeted the morning watch.

Preparations are already underway to greet Neptune when he boards us as we cross the Equator southbound. It is going to be a rough go with five Pollywogs aboard, but I’ll do my best to arrange for the proper ceremonies.

All is well.