Day 1
What a beautiful start to 2024 and our first trip of the year. We left Lagos in the afternoon in light winds and had a gentle and serene sail until sunset stole the wind. The sea at night was glassy and beautiful, reflecting the stars. We dodged shipping heading to and from Gibraltar, practicing with a hand bearing compass. When the crescent moon rose, it took a while to realize it was the moon, as it looked like more lights on the horizon. Then we were treated to a spectacular two-hour sunrise, with the light reflected off the glassy ocean. Throughout the morning, we had a perfect sail—6 knots in light airs and a gorgeous, flat ocean. As the wind eased, we hove to and went for an ocean swim and a hot water shower. Feeling refreshed, we got underway again with a strengthening ESE wind, and the dolphins arrived to speed us on our way. Great start to the trip! — Jojo
JojoPickering
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People Get Ready!
The last three days have been an intense (and intensely hot) period of discovery, practice, and planning. Because Adrienne II is not a 59N boat, there's been some extra setup and coordination needed including rigging all the sails that were out for repairs before we arrived. Its been a blast working alongside the 59N team getting to help them work things out on a less familiar boat in real time. Tomorrow morning we'll run through our Person Over Board training as the final pre-departure task, cast off and head out. Can't know all that it will be, but its going to be a great adventure out in the vast world with some pretty fantastic people.
Among the Channel Islands
In the wind shadow of SoCal we had a restful night with calm conditions ghosting through smooth seas. We’re getting ourselves in position for spicy weather tonight once we round Cape Conception, the seas build and the breeze freshens. It will be an upwind sail into an acceleration zone along a formable coast with few bailout points, Morro Bay being one. The crew is really gelling with lots of smiles and laughter on deck. Monterey is in our sights!
Day Two Delights
The seas were completely glassy with a gentle swell as we approached San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands. Everyone jumped in and marvelled at the lovely temperature and crystal clear, indigo-colored water. Before long the wind started to pick up, and we happily unfurled the jib and were sailing again. The afternoon has been gorgeous, cruising along at 5-6 kts, close hauled on a port tack in a gentle breeze, Catalina Island in the distance on our starboard side, and everyone is happy.