March 1, 2025 | Champagne Sailing to San Blas!
So good to finally get out on Falken after visiting her in Gosport back in 2023. Perfect sailing conditions from Cartagena, Colombia to the San Blas Islands. 15-20 knots on the beam, 8+ knots over the ground. One reef in the main and full Yankee—Falken is a real joy to sail. Great team effort on the pilotage out of a busy port and a challenging entry into San Blas, coming through reefs and shallows. Sensibly planned in daylight and hopefully with bright sunlight. Starry skies, Southern Cross, Milky Way, phosphorescence, and champagne sailing. What’s not to love? Dave
crew@59-north.com
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Seasickness
But maybe, I thought, with some drugs I could stay ahead of it. The first 48 hours I felt horrible. But luckily with 3 health care professionals on board and in a very encouraging environment, my body found its way. Anyway, someone offered me a patch (unavailable in Canada) and someone else gave me some pills for nausea and now I feel much, much better.
Dolphins and Bioluminescence
We had a good run with the sails but weather has changed and we are once again chasing the wind. Everyone is getting a chance to practice helming in big swell; starting to get a feel of the wind and water and how it pushes and pulls the hull. A pod of dolphins came to visit at night, splashing in the bioluminescent water, and again in the day, dancing in the bow wake. For now enjoying the calmer sea state and falling asleep to the rumble of the engine and the gentle whooshing of the water on the hull.
Greetings from Lala Lemonshark
The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!