Log Entry No 4 - 13th May 08. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

NAV CHECK

Since our last instalment we have been making steady but slow progress north-west toward Antigua. The light to non existent winds have meant that motor sailing has been our only option. We entered the ICTZ on Saturday expecting the light wind to drop, however over the last 24 hours we have encountered winds of 2 knots (motoring at a steady pace) then to be hit by tropical storms topping 32 knots.

This of course has caused excitement for the whole crew with the young soldiers on board having to react and learn very quickly to suddenly going from dead calm to storm force winds in a matter of seconds, with this afternoons storm relenting, it gave us an opportunity to celebrate the crossing of the equator with the traditional ceremony of King Neptune granting safe passage to all on board. We now look forward to passing through the ICTZ and hopefully picking up some strong trade winds to Antigua.

FROM THE CREW QUARTERS:

Since the last entry it is believed that some on board may have been drinking some sea water as we have encountered what some believe to be sharks that can fly and hammerhead whales none of which we have any evidence of. We are however being visited quite regularly with pods of dolphins and had the rare opportunity on Saturday to watch them chase a school of tuna.

The weather has been varied from hot, very hot to tropical downpours with the later being the most welcomed by the crew. Having just crossed the equator and been visited by King Neptune the crew is now in high spirits ready to carry on the leg in the same hemisphere as our destination where we are informed it is all down hill from now on.