Update - Sail to Fernando de Noronha
Greetings from paradise! After an exciting, two-week voyage across the Atlantic we dropped anchor at Fernando de Noronha last night. The views from the ship are positively spectacular and we can only imagine the sights and places awaiting us ashore! Our crossing began with four days for intensive sail training and safety drills, with time for New Year's celebrations of course, after which we launched semester two classes on January 4th. The students attended a thought-provoking Discovery course seminar on the paradox of choice and in Seamanship they learned about the development of squalls in the mid-Atlantic. Just as we were starting to hit our stride - great sailing, great fishing, and classes in full swing - we entered the doldrums. The winds died and as we neared the Equator rumours of Neptune's wrath started to circulate. We crossed into the Southern Hemisphere on January 10th, a momentous occasion and first for most of the crew and the Sorlandet herself! We celebrated crossing the line with the Equator Crossing Ceremony, a time-honored maritime tradition, on January 11th and though the proceedings of the ceremony shall not be names, the new shellbacks will surely tell you that Neptune's bark was greater than his bite. After ceremonial rites were complete the sun came out and the winds blew favourably, a sure sign that we had appeased the sea god, and our sail finished on a high note! Fernando de Noronha is a national marine reserve and protected park area, and we are all excited to explore this seemingly untouched oasis!