24 SAT. 21 FEB. 1953 LAT. 00°-14'N; LONG. 92°-33'W. COURSE 240T DIST. 367 MI. ST. TIME 25 HRS. AV. SP. 14.68 KT WIND N 2 SEA SMOOTH. TOTAL T. 2D 14H. 35M. TO BRISBANE 6735 FROM BALBOA 970 MI. TODAY WE CROSSED THE EQUATOR AT 1:55 P.M. AT 7:30 A.M. WE PASSED A FEW MILES NORTH OF ISABELLA ISLAND OF THE GALAPAGOS ARCH. HEIGHT OVER 5000' SO IN SIGHT MOST OF A.M.- TABLETOP SHAPE, NO DETAIL. BIRDS WERE IN SIGHT ALL DAY TODAY; ALSO TUNA SCHOOLS AND A FEW PORPOISES + SMALL WHALES. SEA FLAT WITH A SWELL NOW + THEN. STORM PETRELS (1 EVERY 2-3 MIN.) ALL ABOUT SHIP - WHITE TRUMP TRIANGULAR. SHEARWATER TYPE NOT COMMON (4-5 PER HOUR) - BLACK ABOVE, WH. BELOW - NO GOOD OBSERVATIONS. ONE FRIGATE BIRD IN P.M. SEVERAL WHIRLS OF BOOBIES (UP TO 85 MI. FROM SHIP). NOT MANY BL.+WH. (RATIO ABOUT 1-5). BL.+WH. - 1°+2°S BLACK, MOST OF BROWN INDIV. HAD BLUE BILLS. MOST AT LONG DIST. FROM SHIP. SMALL PETRELS (FEW I COULD SEE) HAD A WH. TRUMPS; TAILS SQUARE OR SLIGHTLY FORKED. ONE WHALE LEAPED 1/2-2/3S OUT OF WATER. SOME TUNA MAKING TREMENDOUS LEAPS. GEOFF+ CHIEF MATE HAD SMALL COCKTAIL PARTY IN P.M. DANCING ON BRIDGE DECK AFT FROM 7:1-10: SHIP FAIRLY STABLE. ALL PASSENGERS + A FEW OFFICERS. READ + SLEPT IN AFTERNOON. ISABELLA = ALBEMARLE ISLAND