17°25.8' N 026°47.7' W
October 12, 2025 | 22:15 UTC | 17°25.8' N 026°47.7' W | Looking back at 2000 miles sailed
02:00 - We all gathered in the cockpit to celebrate another milestone—2000 nautical miles sailed through the Atlantic. As we enjoyed our 2am 2000-mile cheesecake, we reflected on how far we have traveled. But really, how far is 2000 miles? It is hard to grasp such a distance. On land, we might drive that far in just a couple of days, or by air in only a few hours. But moving at a slow pace, traveling outside the sight of any land and having nothing as a reference, all we have seen for 12 days is waves and clouds; the sun, the moon, and stars. If it weren't for GPS and our knot log, we would have nothing to truly judge just how far 2000 miles is.
Maybe we could measure the distance by days? But out here, days have little meaning as they run together. None of us even know what day of the week it is anymore. And time on a clock is a blur as we sleep a few hours at a time, then get back up for our watches. Night and day, the cycle continues.
Perhaps 2000 miles is best measured by our growth. As a crew, we have adapted to our life on the sea and to our responsibilities aboard Adrienne. Over the last 2000 miles, we have grown together as a crew, no longer strangers from around the world, but friends who share stories, dreams, worries. Friends to lend support, to share a laugh, to cook with, to point out and savor the wonders we behold of the sea and sky. Together as crew, we have learned how to coax little bits of speed out of the sails, find a more favorable course direction, or smooth her motion to move us closer to our destination. We have grown into a crew that jumps into action when the wind gusts over 35 kts, overpowering the boat and heeling far over. We know it is time to reef in the main even while being doused by the waves.
Ultimately, 2000 miles have culminated in the grand experiences we’ve had. Experiencing being treated to a visitor from the deep during dinner last night—a whale 30 meters off the port side, rising above the surface of the waves and disappearing back into the sea. Feeling the excitement of leaving the doldrums today and entering the refreshing trade winds. Exiting the doldrums marks the end of a chapter of our journey, a chapter full of exceptionally sweet moments and extremely sweaty moments as well from the heat. I won’t miss trying desperately to get bits of sleep in the heat of 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees F) in the forward bunks, which we now appropriately named the sauna. I will miss but treasure the experience and enjoying the presence of the power in the doldrums. Watching in real time what Captain Erik taught us of the meteorology specific to this part of the world. We admired the power and beauty of towering cumulonimbus clouds as they welled up to great heights and then dumped rain below, releasing strong gusts of wind.
We will never forget the still nights of endless stars and the bright Milky Way, and Mother Ocean’s bioluminescence star show in the water. And the night the yellow moon rose over the clouds that left all of us speechless for 20 minutes, soaking in the stillness and grandeur of the moment, feeling so small in the midst of such stunning luminosity.
The 2000-mile stone marks the close of the doldrum chapter and the beginning of the next. I still don’t have an answer of how far 2000 miles of ocean is. But I can say we have savored the journey, the experiences, and friendships of our journey thus far. And we are looking forward to what the next thousand miles bring us as we near our destinations in Gran Canaria.
Lance | ADRIENNE II crew
crew@59-north.com
View more passage logs
The Penultimate Blog from Adrienne II
After 20 days, and 3000+ nautical miles, we're back on land. The motley crew of Adrienne II, consisting of 7 happy amateurs supported by 3 professionals, have completed an epic journey many dream of but few realize. So much of this trip has been about being present - with nature, with each other, with this boat. My biggest takeaway from this trip is the amazing crossing of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). We all hope you've enjoyed the blog as much as we've enjoyed creating it.
Mother Nature, you’ve outdone yourself!
It’s been a great experience to have a non-traditional trans-Atlantic, as it’s been packed with genuinely cool features. The Doldrums!! A place sailors have been talking about for centuries. The unpredictability is what made it such an exhilarating experience. While some might be frightened or alarmed by this kind of weather, I was embodied with a sense of calm and awe. There’s something wildly beautiful about being reminded how small you are, while feeling so incredibly alive.
A Heavenly High
As you have probably figured out at this point, the drug of choice on board is, of course, celestial navigation- an art which has hooked offshore sailors for centuries. Once addicted, navigators will emerge from down below only to get their fixes two times per day, and spend the rest of their days and nights down below doing complex spherical mathematics. On Adrienne II, our skipper is our dealer. I must confess that I myself gave in to the strange urge which I’ve felt witnessing my crewmates practice this fine art, and yesterday felt an amazing sensation as I was able to wield the sextant for the first time and with it, bring down the tip of our starboard spreader to the top of our front sprayhood, presicely measuring the angle between the two (35deg, 38,8’ min). This afternoon, Naxo then showed me how to get my fix from the very sun itself - and I now fear there is no turning back.