St Peter and Paul Rocks, Brasil (Atlantic Ocean)
Today was our third day at sea on this six day crossing of the Atlantic from Cape Verde to Salvador, Brasil. And once more we were reminded a day at sea is anything but routine. In marked contrast to yesterday, the wind had picked up and the skies were overcast.
The programme of presentations continued in the lounge while on deck the watch for seabirds and marine mammals was maintained. Soon after midday we reached the ‘midpoint’ of our Atlantic crossing, at least in geological sense. St Peter and Paul Rocks are an isolated group of islands on the mid-Atlantic ridge. Among the most remote of archipelagos, St Peter and Paul Rocks are over 350 miles from their nearest neighbour (the islands of Fernando de Noronha) and over 500 miles from the nearest continental landmass. It is here that we unofficially entered Brasil. We stopped briefly to talk via radio to the personnel from the Brasilian Research station (pictured) and watch the boobies and noddies that call these rocks home.
Moving further south, a surprise visit in the afternoon from King Neptune and his entourage gave us the opportunity to obtain permission to cross into the Southern Hemisphere. The ‘sacrifices’ of several crew and guests were deemed sufficient, and we crossed the Equator in the early evening, continuing to steam south, halfway to our destination.
Today was our third day at sea on this six day crossing of the Atlantic from Cape Verde to Salvador, Brasil. And once more we were reminded a day at sea is anything but routine. In marked contrast to yesterday, the wind had picked up and the skies were overcast.
The programme of presentations continued in the lounge while on deck the watch for seabirds and marine mammals was maintained. Soon after midday we reached the ‘midpoint’ of our Atlantic crossing, at least in geological sense. St Peter and Paul Rocks are an isolated group of islands on the mid-Atlantic ridge. Among the most remote of archipelagos, St Peter and Paul Rocks are over 350 miles from their nearest neighbour (the islands of Fernando de Noronha) and over 500 miles from the nearest continental landmass. It is here that we unofficially entered Brasil. We stopped briefly to talk via radio to the personnel from the Brasilian Research station (pictured) and watch the boobies and noddies that call these rocks home.
Moving further south, a surprise visit in the afternoon from King Neptune and his entourage gave us the opportunity to obtain permission to cross into the Southern Hemisphere. The ‘sacrifices’ of several crew and guests were deemed sufficient, and we crossed the Equator in the early evening, continuing to steam south, halfway to our destination.
