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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People Get Ready!
The last three days have been an intense (and intensely hot) period of discovery, practice, and planning. Because Adrienne II is not a 59N boat, there's been some extra setup and coordination needed including rigging all the sails that were out for repairs before we arrived. Its been a blast working alongside the 59N team getting to help them work things out on a less familiar boat in real time. Tomorrow morning we'll run through our Person Over Board training as the final pre-departure task, cast off and head out. Can't know all that it will be, but its going to be a great adventure out in the vast world with some pretty fantastic people.
Among the Channel Islands
In the wind shadow of SoCal we had a restful night with calm conditions ghosting through smooth seas. We’re getting ourselves in position for spicy weather tonight once we round Cape Conception, the seas build and the breeze freshens. It will be an upwind sail into an acceleration zone along a formable coast with few bailout points, Morro Bay being one. The crew is really gelling with lots of smiles and laughter on deck. Monterey is in our sights!
Day Two Delights
The seas were completely glassy with a gentle swell as we approached San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands. Everyone jumped in and marvelled at the lovely temperature and crystal clear, indigo-colored water. Before long the wind started to pick up, and we happily unfurled the jib and were sailing again. The afternoon has been gorgeous, cruising along at 5-6 kts, close hauled on a port tack in a gentle breeze, Catalina Island in the distance on our starboard side, and everyone is happy.