Day 1
August 29, 2024 | Marstrand, Sweden
After a few days spent getting the boat ready in Marstrand, the crew finally joined yesterday, giving FALKEN a warm, cosy home feeling. We’re now finalising the safety briefs before setting off in a couple of hours. The plan is to do a short sail to Gothenburg to clear immigration and then set off again tonight towards the North Sea. The weather has been rather unstable lately, so we’re keeping our options open of either going north or south of the UK—at least our Skipper has a degree in meteorology!
This is my first voyage on FALKEN since little Margaux was born, and I cannot wait to get out there and enjoy the open sea while accumulating stories that one day I’ll be able to share with her and Beth. Will keep you all updated.
Love,
Alex
laline96@gmail.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!