0134 UTC | 32º 14.99’N 117º 13.59’W
Sailing
And we’re off! Around 9am this morning, we slipped lines and made our way out of Todos Los Santos Bay with a pre-arranged escort pod of dolphins. Falken and Alex are both in their happy place (offshore, that is) and the crew is settling in to life onboard. After a few hours of motoring through very calm, very blue, very kelpy seas, we clicked the engine off and off we went. There’s nothing quite like the sound of water lapping against the hull after getting used to the steady hum of the engine.
After some delicious frittata and not-new potatoes a-la Adam, we executed our first of many tacks. The AP jib is out and breathing for the first time in a good long while, leading Rich and Jean to quiz me on the intricacies of jibs vs yankees vs genoas (verdict is out on whether I passed?). With only 5-10 kts of wind, our close haul has been nothing but pleasant so far. Plus, with spicier weather ahead for us as we near Point Conception, nobody is feeling too antsy about a more mellow start.
Rich and Rob are washing up dinner as I sit here typing, and Rich reports that he’s using ”the best piece of steel wool ever”. Safe to say they’re being good sports about a pesky frittata pan, and I can already feel the bromance blooming from here.
Watches are rolling and the sun is just about to set ahead of us as we head west. Everyone rested up this afternoon and seems excited to experience our first night at sea. After a lovely week in Ensenada for me, Alex, and Adam, we’re stoked to finally head out and begin our upwind journey back up the coast.
Love to all!
Zoe
Zoe Peach-Riley (apprentice)
View more passage logs
Adios Ensenada!
Around 9am this morning, we slipped lines and made our way out of Todos Los Santos Bay with a pre-arranged escort pod of dolphins. After a few hours of motoring through very calm, very blue, very kelpy seas, we clicked the engine off and off we went. After some delicious frittata and not-new potatoes a-la Adam, we executed our first of many tacks. With only 5-10 kts of wind, our close haul has been nothing but pleasant so far. After a lovely week in Ensenada for me, Alex, and Adam, we’re stoked to finally head out and begin our upwind journey back up the coast.
A last hurrah
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. It was a whole crew event to set the spinnaker, reef the mainsail and practice the heave-to in case of man overboard. Alex stressed that the key to success in all of these crucial activities is preparation. It was hugely satisfying to accomplish these tasks through teamwork. We share a constant good hearted back and forth full of stories, one-liners and comebacks that also means constant laughter.
One little bird!
Falken has almost rounded the Channel Islands and is cruising along splendidly about 100 miles offshore. Though several models predicted some slightly fresher winds today, we were met with a consistent 18-20 kts of pure bliss. It seems that from the moment we left the dock in San Francisco, there has been much laughter and conversation amongst everyone. The plan is to gybe in a few hours and begin our approach to Ensenada. As much as I do appreciate the jokes and intellectual musings, I equally appreciate the natural, silent moments we share at night, all of us on watch gazing up above to the shooting stars, constellations, and planets putting on their quiet show.