#9. Azores to Ireland | Day 1

June 18, 2024 | 06:30 UTC | 38°29.68N 26°17.58W

The boat is already smelling of coffee as I am getting up. Passing by the port aft bunks, I see them already empty and made to perfection. In the galley I hear a few quite “good mornings” as I greet the still sleepy but visibly excited crew. An hour and a half to go before everyone meets on deck. A last phone call, a last stroll down to the shore heads, we are on the doorstep of an adventure.

0800, everyone meets on deck, Chris quickly distributes roles and we get the lines ready to slip. A few moments later we tie up at the fuel dock. There, things slowed down for one last time, waiting for our turn, filling our tanks, chatting, waiting… and finally slipping the lines.

1200, we are sailing! Some of the brightest smiles that I have seen were from people taking the helm of a cool boat like FALKEN for the first time. And today was no exception, all the time spent waiting for this day to arrive after first making the plans, all the excitement, maybe a bit of nerves, then realizing how easy it is to steer, the power, the speed, yet feels so light… bright smiles!

Later, still smiles. We are sailing upwind, in 10-12 knots of wind. It’s perfect. The sea is smooth, steering is easy, we are gliding.
Somewhere at sea in the setting sun, the smell of baking vegetables is spreading through the boat…

What a lovely day!

- Manot