[password] Ridingmore
[position] 6 31.9S 131 23.5W
[weather] SE 13-18 knots
[speed]7-11 knots
[status] We have some wind and current back, so are smoking down the line straight towards Nuku Hiva, which is now only a little more than 500 miles away, or about 3 days! Its a good time to repeat some prose from our on-board poets, who put a few pieces together for our equator crossing, including this little gem :)

Selma and Denis were dressed as gods of the North and the South? Denis in full winter cloths and Selma like a tropical cocktail.

North:
I am the God of the North and prefer the weather to be cold and severe.
Being so close to the zero is what I fear!
But for such an occasion I have overcome my fears,
all the colleague Gods were in tears.
I changed my busy agendah and flew straight to the ?Equatah?,
To bless this beautiful vessel and her crew for a safe middle-Earth crossing
and to make sure you avoid all the nightmares Poseidon could through at you,
among which the kraken, giant squids and 20bft squalls, just to name a few.

I have been told about the great adventures of Tim, Kath and Izzie
Who started in Europe and hoped to get home in one year if it would be breezy.
But after two weeks on board of gracious Patea the plan was extended and one year added.
This is the North!
Nobody escapes soon, as for each sailor a full adventurous program is carefully tailored.

I wanted you to be mine!
I even once dug your anchor loose near Mediterranean coast
to keep you and your yacht to myself without any competition.
Even if this would mean Patea?s demolition.

You almost escaped but I couldn?t let you go so soon,
so the North brought Covid to keep you longer with me under Shelter Bay?s moon.
With dozens of other stranded souls, I kept you in this safe yet vibrant balloon.

Who would have ever known that this spiteful delay
would bring you together with two world explorers who exchanged four wheels for a sail.
Denis and Selma joined you and contributed a 100 wild mango?s ?trophey?.
It may not be what you planned for in the waters of the Pacific,
but I see that they can learn from you, spare you some sleepless hours and make this trip quite terrific!

My plan failed again and here you are safe and well rested halfway to the lands of French Polynesia.
I must say, it is spiteful to let you go, the North will miss you,
one thing you could thank me with is a bit of rum for some anaesthesia??
The North wishes you fair winds and following seas,
Sincerely yours, God of the North, Peace!

South:
The North is history,
but what lies ahead of you is a mystery!
Will, the southern gods that pulled the islands from the sea,
be just as gentle to you? Let?s see?
Will the Southern hemisphere bring as much cruising joy,
or will you be swept around by the ocean like a toy?
Will you find the promised lands and more
full of mountains with lush forests and all the fruits you can wish for?
Will you catch the Mahi-Mahi that captain Tim promised?
So you can tick that of the list?
Will you get bugger-all wind or will Poseidon show his real face,
so you can finally catch up with Moira and Windchase?
All that lies ahead of you, beautiful swells on fringing reefs
You might find it all still hard to believe?
Well, the future is a mystery,
let?s make new history!

As demi-gods we declare this boat worthy of Equator crossing,
we send a message to Poseidon to inform him of our blessing.
But we will need to take a sacrifice,
for this we will not ask you twice.
Everyone on this crew,
will be marked with a sailor?s tattoo!

[END]