Location: 0° 44.0 S, 37° 54.0 W
Wednesday 12:00, 06.21.2006

The Schooner Maggie B’s noon position on June 21 was 0° 44.0 S 37° 54.0 W. “S” means SOUTH! It is so strange that we crossed to the Southern Hemisphere on the very day that the Northern goes into Summer and the Southern goes into Winter.

We finally got our wind shift this morning. Twelve days waiting for it. The wind is now 160 degrees at 10-12 and we are headed about 105-110 degrees at 6 1/2 knots. Fernando de Norunha is 375 miles away and we are about 240 miles off the Brazilian coast. We have now about a knot of head (adverse) current and the seas have laid down a lot. The weather is lovely - scattered clouds and enough breeze to sail perfectly balanced, but no spray on deck or rain showers. Last night we did have a heavy rain with winds up to 30 knots.

We crossed the Equator last night at about 2000. I was temporarily absent, but I understand that King Neptune came aboard to interview, test, mark and accept all five polliwogs, who are now true schoonermen shellbacks. Bori somehow took some scary pictures, which will be posted on the web site as soon as we get some connectivity.

We are now in a lovely topsail breeze with all plain sail up. It is strange to be on the starboard tack after the better part of two weeks on port.

Lunch today was Wahoo fish cakes. We have had it raw, grilled, in a stew and now in fish cakes. One more meal of it left and the competition is on for another recipe.

All is well.