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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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!