03:00 UTC | 31°45.0N 117°30.8W
Training
The overnight hours were special for every watch. Under the dome of stars in a moon-less sky, each of us during our time at the helm used the most rudimentary celestial navigation, keeping a star or two lined up with the mast as a helper to following the heading range. Swells mixed with gusts to tug the rudder left and right. We have developed a feel for anticipating how both will affect Falken and are able to swing the wheel just so to keep her mostly heading where skipper wants us to go.
The midnight watch got the call to jibe at 0230. Those of us snug in our bunks heard footsteps thudding on the deck over our heads, calls of instruction and the swish of the lines pulling the boom to its new position. For that crew, it was an exciting and successful effort, pulling together to grind, pull and ease. The conditions throughout the night were likened to riding a horse over the waves, giving the boat its head and then reining it in. The sunrise crew were greeted with a compliment of flying fish.
With our new heading straight east, the wind changed, leaving us with great conditions to learn more seamanship from Alex, Ryan and Zoe. It was a whole crew event to set the spinnaker, reef the mainsail and practice the heave-to in case of man overboard. All stations, from preventer to halyard, handy-billy to guys, were handled to a tee due to great directions and encouragement. Alex stressed that the key to success in all of these crucial activities is preparation. Know where you’re starting and where you’re going, don’t rush but be efficient, and tidy up at the end. It was hugely satisfying to accomplish these tasks through teamwork.
With wind a bit dull, we stayed hove-to for a few hours through dinner time (which was Zoe’s expert Pad Thai), started off with a swim off the back. Even “idling” we were moving at one and half to two knots, so clinging to the buoy line and grasping hand over hand to get back to the stern was a challenge! After several hard working days and nights, the swim was a joyful celebration. Several of us commented how the following couple of hours on deck, reading, quietly chatting or even staring at the sea, left us with a feeling of content companionship. We share a constant good hearted back and forth full of stories, one-liners and comebacks that also means constant laughter.
We’ve planned a slower approach to Ensenada to hit tomorrow morning’s high tide, and then it will be customs by 0900. We’re all so happy for a last overnight of wave surfing together.
Lynn
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HMS Night Watch Party
Wing on wing worked well until the wind shifted then the helm became the cone of despair for our night watch crew of three (H, M and S) Alex made the decision to drop the pole, shifting wing on wing to a close reach. Wind increased to low teens and speed picked up to a flying pace. Day spent wandering toward Ensenada. Alex, Adam and David got us into port under another starry night.
No Kitemares Today
After a night marked by sudden wind accelerations peeling off Point Conception, and a vibrant, pulsating sky blistered with shooting stars, the off-watch woke to commotion on the foredeck. The wind had gone light and the swell had tapered just enough to raise the spinnaker. The sail filled with an urgent pop, the sheet strained and Falken charged down the face of the next wave. By mid-day, we doused the spinnaker and set our minds to the more precise task of safely punching through a gap in the notorious Cortez Bank. The border to Mexico looms ahead.
The California coast
We had a very lively first day of sailing with steady winds between 25 and 30 kn gusting to mid 30s. All of the crew got experience at difficult downwind helming as we covered 200 nautical miles in the first 24 hours. This morning brings winds in the teens and calmer seas. The sun is still shining, and the green monster has been slayed by those afflicted!