50 miles from the Equator 0050.22 16329.25

50 miles to the Equator, but the ExaminerShe who asks awkward questions of the crew and tests them with difficult tasks. is poncing around with her stockwhip and slashing away at our tiny gradient so things have slowed a bit. Maybe another 12 hours. We’re almost abeam Nauru and about 200 miles west.

Life’s little mystery for tonight – I looked up towards the masthead and, just to the east of us, elevation about 80 deg. I saw a flashing light. Only about 4 or 5 flashes, seemed to be moving very fast just south of east, did not look like an aircraft strobe. Probably was, but could it have been anything else?

now 40 to go. will try to send this via iridium.