Election Day. While we awaited the outcome of the election in the United States, we witnessed a contest of a different sort as we continued our track toward Fernando de Noronha.
The winds have switched to the southeast as we moved out of the northeast trades. Both the sea and the wind are now on our port side. At nine o'clock we approached the equator and waited for the arrival of King Neptune and his entourage so we could seek permission to cross the equator. All the guests assembled on the bridge or the bridge wings waiting for the actual moment of the crossing. As the watch officer counted down, everyone waited with anticipation knowing something was up.
As the officer called out the latitude, four fierce pirates burst forth from the fore deck and charged the bridge brandishing swords. Behaving in a fearsome manner and with great whoops, the pirates herded all to the pool deck where King Neptune dressed in little more than a tutu was seated with his court. With great fanfare, the Captain was brought on bended knee before the court to seek permission to cross the equator. After numerous attempts at bribery by offering up guests and crew members had failed, Captain finally submitted to the rituals imposed by King Neptune. The mock court ended when the Captain kissed the fish, pledged fidelity to the traditions of the sea and was thrown into the pool. The Caledonian Star proceeded under fair skies into the southern hemisphere and quiet returned to the decks.
During the day we were joined by masked boobies, the tropical relative of the gannet. They flew with barely a move of a feather along the port side but faster than the ship. When they reached the bow they turned effortlessly toward the stern and passed us only to repeat the process when they were abreast of the stern. As they flew they kept a watchful eye on the water and when they spotted flying fish that the ship scared out of the water they took off in hot pursuit, turning abruptly at the last moment to plunge into the sea. Their piratical behavior reminded some of the morning's shenanigans.
As the sun set, once again without a green flash, the boobies lit on the water apparently sated with flying fish while the bartender set up shop on the foredeck. As part of our introduction to Brazil, we were offered the national drink, caipirinhas. As the sky darkened and Venus shown bright in the western sky, the masthead lights came on and everyone on the bow enjoyed the pleasant temperatures and the good camaraderie of a happy ship. We, indeed, were part of the Captain's happy ship even though the cost for him had been a dunking in the pool.
