Does the Equator Get Mad When You Cross It?

Monday 15 December 2008 – N3 W134

 

Crossed the equator last night at about 9:45 pm. My rhum line based prediction for fun before I left Boulder was for 9:35 pm. The good news is that my pilotage skills are still ok; the bad news is that the Mariner is not building up any surplus of distance to be used if headwinds slow us so as to miss your scheduled arrival at 10 am Saturday morning and jeopardize early afternoon flights home. Speed now is 17.4 knots, just about the 17.34 I calculated for this 7 day crossing to make the schedule. Either the navigation crew is doing exactly what they should to a great precision (normally what one would expect) or we are barely about to hold the speed necessary due to that sick pod. One of these explanations—or maybe both—is/are incorrect. And you thought there is nothing to do during ocean crossings. See, I am busy.

 

More about navigation and things to do, King Neptune dispensed with the traditional Equator Crossing ceremony yesterday and instead provided a Country Fair. This event involved representatives of most of the ship’s departments running games of chance at the pool deck for prizes. A good time was had by all, both guests who are always looking for activities to compare to those of other cruise ships and for the crew who spent lots of time and effort devising their games and building their booths and devices. It was nice to see the cabin stewardesses, reception desk staff, the cooks (who were having pancakes of their own making thrown at them for some reason) and even the navigation bridge crew out in the fresh air and having fun. The navigators were enlisting guests for either estimating our position. Most of those of us with GPS receivers did not participate out of fairness and good play as well as the risk of having blinis thrown at us, but it wasn’t clear if the Bridge Crew wasn’t using the results. Hey, a few of us offered to fix the shorted winding on the sick starboard azipod. The Bridge Crew was not amused (or maybe they were).

 

Since we left the Marquises Islands, I’ve enjoyed the equatorial waters and climate and taking sunset and cloud pictures. As Ray told me at dinner last night, the best things on the cruise are free. Only being on the ship costs money so as we can enjoy the sunsets, the clouds, the 80 degree F weather under clear skies. I think he understands what this is all about. He will do his puppet show tonight. Not to be missed. I’ll post some pictures if non-flash exposures are adequately compensated by the image stabilization system on my camera.