It seems a long time since we left Bali straits and headed into the Java sea. Should I say Ocean? I think it's hard to comprehend how large the oceans are in the world. Where all our view was open sea 360 degrees around. And we saw glimpses of Borneo to the north east, and you could see the volcanoes of Java, which have long quieted down since the eruption a month ago. Unfortunately, still no fish, but the sharks took our lures.

The days were long with relentless heat, and wind from the south, so we could at least fly the spinnaker. Unfortunately the heat got the better of me, and I had to retire to my cabin for 24 hours with heatstroke and a portable air conditioning unit. A great thanks to doctor Lea who helped me through. I now appreciate people who have serious migraines. My head was about to explode. Anyway, pushing on towards the Equator, which we actually crossed at approximately 1930 hours last night, but we had our ceremony today. I gave the skipper, King Neptune, a new trifork, and I made him a crown. I gave the queen a bottle of port-, which went down well with Bertram. Though we haven't drunk it until we get to Singapore.

The baptism, which was great great fun, with lots of photographs, which will be sent to the website by Bertram I think. We were smeared in overdue UHT full cream and old rice to celebrate becoming a shellback, and no longer being pollywogs and landlubbers.

Today we had our first tropical thunderstorm with a bit of hail mixed in, which finally got rid of the smell in our hair. And even though we ended up having to pull both the foresails in, and put a double reef in the main, it was exciting, but shortlived.

Another very exciting thing happened today, which made me feel very much at home. I was to climb up on the boom, the same position I did on the same vessel, Motorolla, 18 years ago. It was a lot higher than I remember! It felt really good, with the wind in my hair and myself feeling strong and vigorated.

So I am feeling a lot better. A lot lot better. Well rested, since I wasn’t able to do my last night watches. I am very much looking forward to that first cold Becks on the deck. There are currently two cases of Becks in the locker in my cabin that I saved for this. And of course a shower in the marina.

Report from Bosun Bertram:
Tropical thunderstorms, an equator crossing and now passing through one of the busiest straits in the entire world. Not your regular Sunday, but today this is what the crew on Oceans of Hope has been up to. This morning we celebrated our second crossing of the Equator, passing back to the northern hemisphere. Fortunately King Neptune aka. Kristian allowed us through under the condition that we were all baptized! The photos speak for themselves. As if by demand, just as we had filled the cockpit with old cream and rice, a tropical thunder squall passed through and rinsed us clean. From motoring at 3 knots of wind, we suddenly had to reef the main and furl our yankie to match the sudden weather changes. What a way to finish! We are currently one hour off our anchorage outside Singapore Harbour, trying to cross what in the maritime world equals to a highway.

Local time onboard is 16:30 and our current position is 1,13.73N , 103,49.81E