Between Passages
10:00 LT | San Cristobal Island, Galapagos
Anchored
These last few days have been a welcome breather for FALKEN and me. Transitioning from one trip to the next drains energy and can be emotionally heavy. Saying goodbye to a bonded crew and then starting over takes more out of you than you expect, so this downtime to decompress and give FALKEN some much‑needed TLC is priceless.
And what a trip we have coming! Galápagos to the Marquesas, following the trade winds route you read about in books and making landfall in a truly unique corner of the world. It’s the kind of passage I dreamed about as a kid; now I’m here, preparing FALKEN for this odyssey.
Today is for finishing provisioning, running safety checks, and letting the excitement build. What I’m most looking forward to is the routine: finding those trades, setting the boat up, and settling into the life at sea we’re always chasing, the motions, the sounds, and the disconnection of a 16‑day passage.
Tomorrow, we meet the crew and begin final preparations. We depart Monday
Alex Laline
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Shooting Stars & Turtle Logs
Day three out of Ketchikan and FALKEN is running wing on wing down the outside of Vancouver Island. The temptation is to lie back in the cockpit and spend the night watching for shooting stars, but a diligent watch is always the first priority. So we keep a sharp eye out while the shooting stars keep us company through the night. The wildlife keeps coming: humpback and minke whales, five mola molas, dolphins, and a black-footed albatross. We are all feeling lucky for such conditions!
Pot dodging and whale watching
Duncan got us up to eleven knots at one point! The Ferriers also logged our first Orca sighting on their 3am-6am watch! This morning is a gift as the temps are just right and we finally have some blue sky and plenty of sunshine. It was a glorious few hours sailing before it inevitably died as forecast. I live in hope that by sunset tonight we’ll be back sailing as we emerge out of the lee of the island and the wind will be more westerly which lends itself to a better sailing angle.
We are off!
After two days of introductions, safety briefings and boat procedures we have departed Ketchikan. We are currently making a whopping 3.3 knots as there is very little wind in Nichols Passage. Adam fed us well last night with a delicious shrimp curry and Duncan was the winner of a sporty game of the card version Monopoly. With the scenic views and light wind it's quite peaceful out here.