6°10.915' S 031°36.916' W
October 4, 2025 | 20:55 UTC | 6°10.915' S 031°36.916' W
In some ways, the beginning of day 4 was the true start of our offshore passage. At night on day 3, we could still see the glow of Brazilian cities on the western horizon, but now all light pollution is gone. The moon is still waxing and in the evening sky, but early in the morning it sets, and the stars have been amazing. Orion stands bright overhead, and we have seen the Southern Cross across the stern. Hoping there will be more clear, moonless nights to come!
Today was a day of mixed weather. Several squalls required us to change course and dodge around them. With squalls on the horizon in most directions, the ocean seemed small, as if we were in our own little seascape for sailing. We got some rain, which felt good. Lance set up the freshwater garden hose and some of us took quick showers on the deck. We had chicken Caesar salads for lunch and will have hamburgers for dinner. Morale is generally high, yet some are still suffering from seasickness. The rough sea state and strong winds don’t help, of course.
In a calm period between squalls, we decided to replace the jib with the genoa. This was a fun operation after flying the same sails on the same tack since the beginning of the voyage. Within minutes, we were speeding along at over 10 knots. But all good things must end, and within an hour the winds started picking up due to another squall. We took down the genoa and reefed the main, which went smoothly. The winds continued to pick up to over 25 knots and Adrienne II was soon sailing fast again. It is an exhilarating experience on deck right now.
- Andrew Elmore | ADRIENNE II Crew
crew@59-north.com
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HMS Night Watch Party
Wing on wing worked well until the wind shifted then the helm became the cone of despair for our night watch crew of three (H, M and S) Alex made the decision to drop the pole, shifting wing on wing to a close reach. Wind increased to low teens and speed picked up to a flying pace. Day spent wandering toward Ensenada. Alex, Adam and David got us into port under another starry night.
No Kitemares Today
After a night marked by sudden wind accelerations peeling off Point Conception, and a vibrant, pulsating sky blistered with shooting stars, the off-watch woke to commotion on the foredeck. The wind had gone light and the swell had tapered just enough to raise the spinnaker. The sail filled with an urgent pop, the sheet strained and Falken charged down the face of the next wave. By mid-day, we doused the spinnaker and set our minds to the more precise task of safely punching through a gap in the notorious Cortez Bank. The border to Mexico looms ahead.
The California coast
We had a very lively first day of sailing with steady winds between 25 and 30 kn gusting to mid 30s. All of the crew got experience at difficult downwind helming as we covered 200 nautical miles in the first 24 hours. This morning brings winds in the teens and calmer seas. The sun is still shining, and the green monster has been slayed by those afflicted!