Boobies
April 14, 2025 | FALKEN
Being at sea thousands of miles from land is a vulnerable place to be at times, and none more so than when the watermaker decides to malfunction. Our ability to desalinate salt water enables us to sail long distances without the need to carry arduous amounts of fresh water, but the operation requires constant maintenance and supervision. It quickly becomes a consideration of survival when this system fails and reminds us of the finite nature of the essentials that we very much take for granted in day-to-day life.
Thankfully this evening, Andy and crew went about a series of maintenance tasks that resulted in a happy outcome as healthy water once again flowed through the high-pressure system and into our tanks. We would always have enough to drink, but we have become used to a surplus with which we can occasionally shower and rinse our dishes after a salt water wash. The relief across the boat was tangible as the threat of losing one of our few luxuries was eventually overcome.
As we meet our daily challenges, we are rewarded by the constant delight of surfing down impressive Pacific swells in the sunshine, and I think I speak for many when I say how much I look forward to the cooler night air as the evenings draw in. Our daily ritual of ‘glums and glows’ during dinner is a time to unite the crew between the watch systems, to air our challenges and share our highlights.
Today, we have taken on a new crew member in the form of a Boobie that we have named Barbara, and who this afternoon was joined by what we can only assume to be her mate (Brian). As I type this, the two birds appear to be engaging in some after-dark activities on the aft guy, which is providing much amusement for the on-watch team. It’s amazing how much appreciation we all have for our new friends and how much entertainment they have provided.
It seems that without the distractions of the wider world, it’s the simple things that bring us joy.
Oops, have to go now, apparently Barbara just pooped on Hilary’s face…
- Emily
EmilyCaruso
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A last hurrah
Under the dome of stars in a moon-less sky, each of us during our time at the helm used the most rudimentary celestial navigation, keeping a star or two lined up with the mast as a helper to following the heading range. It was a whole crew event to set the spinnaker, reef the mainsail and practice the heave-to in case of man overboard. Alex stressed that the key to success in all of these crucial activities is preparation. It was hugely satisfying to accomplish these tasks through teamwork. We share a constant good hearted back and forth full of stories, one-liners and comebacks that also means constant laughter.
One little bird!
Falken has almost rounded the Channel Islands and is cruising along splendidly about 100 miles offshore. Though several models predicted some slightly fresher winds today, we were met with a consistent 18-20 kts of pure bliss. It seems that from the moment we left the dock in San Francisco, there has been much laughter and conversation amongst everyone. The plan is to gybe in a few hours and begin our approach to Ensenada. As much as I do appreciate the jokes and intellectual musings, I equally appreciate the natural, silent moments we share at night, all of us on watch gazing up above to the shooting stars, constellations, and planets putting on their quiet show.
Birds and glows
The sun brought new wind and we were soon putting up the Yankee (jib) and turning off the motor. During the evening tradition of sharing “glums and glows” that follows the crew dinner, our Mate Ryan proclaimed it a “champagne sailing” kind of day. As Alex noted this evening, life goes by so fast that one of the very best things about his line of work is enjoying the passage of time in the slow lane of an ocean passage. But by tomorrow, the green blobs in the weather sailing app indicate we’re going to pick up some significant northwesterly winds and we’ll take them ever further south to the Channel Islands latitude. We’re all super excited for the knots to climb and to see Falken really run.