Day 1
July 5, 2024 | Day 1 At Sea
We were up early to do a mast check and get the boat ready to depart. But our departure time was not for us to choose because we were moored in a wet dock with a lock gate. The options were 4 am or 4 pm; with little apparent difference in the forecast, we opted for 4 pm.
Joy steered us out of the narrow lock gates and we found ourselves in Galway Bay with much stronger winds than forecast. Our first few hours were very busy getting the boat sailing and finally turning off the engine. What a great moment that always is. After eating a wonderful lasagna made by Manot the mate, we settled into our watches.
We had the most beautiful evening sail into the long-lasting sunset, with dolphins joining us and Falken sailing well with staysail and three reefs in the main in 25-29 kts of wind through the Aran Islands and out into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Jojo Pickering, Skipper, S/Y FALKEN
JoJoPickering
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Ketch us if you Kan
Falken is soon to carry on our preferred route of South, back to (hopefully) warmer climates. We’re all excited to set off and see more of this wild landscape as we head down to Victoria. A thermal trough over Vancouver combined with an offshore high pressure creating funneling NW’ly winds means it is due to be pretty fruity on the 9th. This passage is just under 600 miles, relatively short for Falken, but I’m sure we’ll be kept entertained with dramatic scenery, wildlife and weather!
Final Blog
Falken and her crew arrived safely into port last night around 8pm boat time, 10pm Prince Rupert time. Some spicy weather was anticipated, but luckily the 35kt gusts and 2.5 meter waves were no match for this expert crew. We had an exceptionally smooth docking, despite it being Alex's first time parking this year (!). We all agreed that this was a very special group of people—I for one am so impressed with how everyone stayed so positive, helpful, and appreciative of humor despite an arguably challenging passage. We'll all return home significantly saltier than we were when we left, a mark of a passage properly sailed.
Lessons and a Gift
The biggest lesson is the helm. The lesson here is that even if you don't think you can do it over and over again with no sleep, cold and damp, it has to be done and so it can be done. Flying fish are cool, dolphins are really really cool, but the coolest of them all are the whales. And most of all Alex: "Find your center Carla. Always know where your center is so you can come back to it". He means the helm but it applies to life as well.