Arrival
July 13, 2024 | Day 6 At Sea | Arrival in Bergen
Our last day all together on FALKEN. Time to arrive in the big city of Bergen. We slipped the lines and motored up the fjord while eating a leisurely breakfast. The crew took turns packing their bags and cleaning their bunks, ready for departure. It’s just a short trip to Bergen, but it’s through beautiful islands dotted with wooden homes and boat houses. We were all captivated by the beauty of Norway.
We arrived in the big city and found our mooring, which had been booked, was being used by another smaller boat. We just about managed to secure FALKEN with the bow sticking out. FALKEN really is very big. We forget how big she is when we are sailing. It’s only when we moor her that we are reminded. Her rig towers above most vessels. The vessel in question moved and we warped FALKEN back into her place. We were right in the heart of the old city of Bergen, near the beautiful old dock houses.
Now came the sad moment to say farewell to our newfound friends. We all promised to keep in contact and go sailing again together one day.
Fair winds, shipmates!
- Jojo Pickering, Skipper S/Y FALKEN
JoJoPickering
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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.