The area between five degrees north and south latitude is truly magical; here, the sun is almost always directly overhead.
Those who frequently study geography are aware of this place because the horizontal pressure gradient force is very small, and the air flow generally conforms to the rising pattern, so wind is weak, earning it the name of the equatorial doldrums.
Of course, saying there is no wind doesn’t mean there’s absolutely none at all; it’s just that compared to other latitudes, the wind speed is very weak, generally not exceeding level three.
As they prepared to set out to sea, Li Younan and his crew’s first destination was reaching the equatorial doldrums.
However, there was still a lot of preparation work to be done beforehand.
Just past the holidays, with skyscrapers surrounding the Shanghai International Passenger Terminal, on one side lies the urban prosperity, and on the other, the shimmering Huangpu River, showcasing landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower.
Li Younan’s "Jiu Jiu" was undergoing the final loading of supplies and equipment checks.
This step is not only crucial but also time-consuming and labor-intensive, with all crew members being occupied with their tasks.
Legally, there is no mandatory requirement for the number of crew on a private yacht, but for ships over 500 tons, the captain and chief mate-engineer cannot leave the ship at the same time, meaning that a seaworthy vessel must always have a person in charge of navigation and mechanical operations.
While Li Younan organized everyone to shop for supplies, Qin Yue and Chen Tiefeng stayed on the ship for duty, as others busied themselves.
Seeing everyone engaged with tasks, Li Younan felt gratified, with hands behind his back, strolling through various corners of the cabin, taking on the semblance of inspecting others’ work.
This feeling is uniquely wondrous, differing from owning other transportation tools.
When you possess a ship, you become the master of the space that the ship encapsulates.
In a sense, it resembles an independent small kingdom.
Especially when the ship sails into international waters, this feeling grows even stronger.
No wonder acquiring a yacht becomes a calendar item for the wealthy once they reach a certain financial standing.
First wandering into the master bedroom, Liu Li was cleaning and tidying up the room while simultaneously arranging new homes for Tuantuan and Xuanhuan.
"Busy?"
"Busy indeed."
Li Younan observed Liu Li’s slender back facing him, with her petite waist responding without turning, feeling somewhat neglected, touched his nose, and left discontentedly.
Upon leaving, Lu Zhiqing, Ren Xiaohuan, and Shen Mo were busy preparing ingredients.
Lu Zhiqing carried a sack of rice on his shoulder, while Ren Xiaohuan and Shen Mo each held several bags of vegetables and fruits.
Li Younan commented, "In the tropics, fruits are the least scarce. It’s not really necessary to prepare so much; we’ll be docking along the way to buy them."
Lu Zhiqing chuckled and said, "Consumption will be quite high; these fruits are only sufficient for a few days. Although there are still some in the fridge, we aren’t sure of everyone’s appetite yet, so it’s better to prepare more. Once we learn the patterns, it’ll be easier to arrange."
"Alright then, once the fruits are cut, deliver a portion to each partner’s room. Today’s the first day, everyone is full of energy!"
Heading down the stairs, Li Younan wandered into the engine room.
At this time, Chen Tiefeng was acquainting his son Chen Xunrui and Xue Yong with the inspection and maintenance of the engine room equipment.
Chen Tiefeng’s work attitude is incredibly meticulous; he was renowned for his rigorous approach on this ship.
Even though he had engine attendants and sailors at his command, he still conducted detailed records and secondary checks.
In a sense, Chen Tiefeng is the most senior officer on this ship.
Seeing Chen Tiefeng so immersed in his work, Li Younan refrained from disturbing him, observed for a while, and thought that even if he personally intervened, he wouldn’t do better than Chen Tiefeng, so he quietly retreated.
Meanwhile, in the flybridge, Qin Yue was also checking equipment.
With the supplementation of living supplies complete, everyone returned to their posts. Chen Xunrui and Xue Yong untied the dock ropes, and Li Younan’s ship officially set sail.
The initial part of the voyage was the most exhilarating and intense; except for the few crew members busy in the engine room, everyone else put down their tasks and gathered at the flybridge.
Since it’s a yacht, the flybridge also functions as a lounge, with the helm at the forefront and sofas and coffee tables inside, though nobody sat; instead, standing by the windows without disrupting the helmsman, peering in the direction the ship was sailing.
It’s worth mentioning that Jing Chaoyi, under Qin Yue’s guidance, was familiarizing herself with the ship’s sophisticated instruments.
Prior to this, Jing Chaoyi, with her impressive learning ability, not only easily earned a seafarer’s certification but also obtained a radio-operator’s license.
These skills might be far inferior to Li Younan’s, but on her way to becoming a competent female crew member, Jing Chaoyi advanced rapidly.
Seeing this progress, Li Younan felt gratified.
To be honest, compared to others, those Li Younan trusts most on this ship are Jing Chaoyi and Liu Li.
Liu Li aside, Jing Chaoyi, being a junior, is someone whose learning capabilities are well-known to Li Younan.
Previously, when Liu Li was pursuing her crew certificate, Li Younan had joked with her brother Liu Yu about the absurdity of women becoming sailors, but Li Younan knew operating vessels nowadays is more about brainpower, considering that battleships have female helmsmen, and Jing Chaoyi, certified by their alma mater as a top student, naturally excels in learning abilities.

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