20.06 BOAT TIME | 09º 53.5’ S 129º 22.3 ’ W
Spinnaker Sailing
I’ve had a lot of birthdays at sea, it happens when you work on the water. Today wasn’t just another birthday away from home, I can’t tell you how many times I was serenaded with enthusiastic happy birthdays. Zoe presented me with a cold apple at breakfast! I had a most fashionable pointed striped hat at dinner, and out of the depths of a cupboard a cake was created, after 14 days at sea. A group of people I had never met two weeks ago made me feel very special today.
In more important news we hoisted the spinnaker at first light this morning, and it’s still flying now as the sun sets into the ocean off our bow. The winds are light, and the swell has come down to about a meter. Perfect kite weather. We’re making around 7 knots in 10 knots of wind, nothing wrong with that. Alex held a class in the cockpit, which is still blanketed in lovely afternoon shade, now with a pink tint from the spin. He pulled out a whiteboard and ran through sail trim, from headsail cars and backstay tension to how to de-power in a hurry. The plan is to continue afternoon lessons until our arrival.
Wishing everyone shoreside a beautiful day, from Falken, as she sails into a bright pink sky, under a bright pink spinnaker.
Phoebe G.
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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.