News
Friday, December 5: Day 6
Where we talk about Neptune, the doldrums, and flying fishes...
As the sixth day of racing in the Jules Verne Trophy comes to a close, it is only natural that the doldrums and crossing the equator are occupying the minds and conversations of the crew of The Famous Project CIC. The pleasant glide in the northeast trade winds, on port tack, should continue for a few more hours before an initial slowdown expected this morning, signaling the entry into the disturbed systems of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, with its stormy weather and gusts, its monstrous clouds capable of sucking all the air out of a stretch of water only to toss it around a few miles further on... The entire crew is preparing for this, keeping a close eye on the constantly changing nature of these elusive systems which, at the time of writing, suggest a particularly tricky passage, with the doldrums constantly swelling and deflating. As many sailors, particularly those in the Vendée Globe, have observed in the recent past, the doldrums seem to open up more easily to the east, and it is indeed around 25 degrees west that Alexia, Dee, Bessie, Bex, Debs, Molly, Támara and Stacey will seek their salvation. Then comes the symbolic crossing of the equator. It is a moment that the predominantly Anglo-Saxon crew is keen to celebrate, as tradition dictates, as a highly significant milestone in this all-female round-the-world race. While the experienced Dee Caffari will be celebrating her fifteenth crossing into the southern hemisphere, it will be a first for the youngest crew member on board, fellow Brit Deborah Blair.
Dee Caffari
"This will be my fifteenth crossing of the equator. They are all symbolic in their own way. It's important to remember that as sailors and travelers, we are very superstitious and very traditional.
I think the first thing to do is to welcome Neptune, to ask him for permission and safe passage to the southern hemisphere, but also for the right of passage for one of our crew members who will be crossing the equator for the very first time. I was very happy when I made my first crossing. At the time, I was in charge of a boat with 17 people on board, and there were a number of people who were crossing for the very first time.
I think it's important to celebrate this moment. As for our young crew member (Deborah Blair, editor's note), who is crossing the equator for the first time, she is already a little nervous, and we are having conversations among ourselves where we “threaten” her with a number of unspeakable things for her "christening".
I don't want to reveal all our secrets, but the threats involve razor blades, scissors, highlighters, and flying fish... We've gathered all of these items, and she has no idea where we're hiding them. But she'll earn her right of passage when we reach the equator and enter the southern hemisphere.
We'll celebrate Neptune as we should, because it's a milestone of our adventure. It's very exciting. A lot is going to happen in a very short space of time, and in very turbulent sailing conditions."