Atlantic: Crossing the Equator

00* 00' S/N Latitude, the Equator. This afternoon at 30* 00' W Longitude, I crossed the equator.

That ends 10 months of Southern Hemisphere cruising.

I originally crossed from N to S near Ecuador in South America. I then sailed in the South Pacific, Tasman Sea, Coral Sea, Timor Sea, Southern Indian Ocean, South Africa and finally the South Atlantic.

I am now back in the North Atlantic Ocean from where I started, March 15, in the Miami.

My next waypoint is 2200 miles in the Caribbean Sea, Antigua. I have sailed to Antigua 3 different times.

When I anchor in English Harbor again, I will have crossed my own route on the world map for my own personal circumnavigation!

That was half with the Hunter 46, 'WanderLust 2", and this half with the new Hunter 49, 'WanderLust 3'.

When I get the H-49 back to Miami in 3 weeks, We will both celebrate our "Around-the-Globe" circumnavigation!

I am making good time despite the fact that I am sailing and motoring VERY cautiously so as not to damage my provisional repairs.

In just under one week I made the 1100 mile voyage from Ascension to my waypoint on the equator, which keeps my yearly average above 1000 miles a sailing week.

6 - knots average speed
x 24 - hours in a day = (144 miles)
x 7 - days in a week = (1008 miles)

I have been averaging over 7 knots a week = (168 x 7 = 1176 miles)

I once averaged 1398 miles in a week = 200 miles a day!

The wind is a constant 8 - 12 knots from SE. I am sailing at 300 degrees NW, so that is exactly 'downwind'.

I have been sailing with the Parasailor for 4 straight days and nights, only adjusting to wind direction once or twice a day.

I expect -0- wind for a few hundred miles when I get into the "Doldrums".

They lie around 3 - 6 degrees N latitude, so I will run the engine and the main sail at second reef to keep the boat from rolling so much.

As a celebration when I crossed the equator, I showered on the stern step, then shaved my beard and head with the electric razor trimmer at position #1.

It will all grow back in a couple of weeks.

My schedule looks good. 2200 miles to Antigua puts me there 24 Jan, St Barts 28 Jan. 1200 miles to Miami puts me in Miami Feb 9 or 10. The boat show starts Feb 12.

Mike Harker
WanderLust 3
Hunter 49
www.H-TV.com