February 9, 2025 | St. Martin Departure, Cutting the Lines
Today, we cut the lines—time to shove off. In only a day and a half since meeting each other, we have developed as a strong crew. In that time, already, we’ve grown to share humor, trust, and confidence. For some of us, this is the biggest undertaking of our lives, by far. For others, this is another treasured lap across the pond. We come from opposite sides of this great ocean we are about to cross, and we will work together to do so successfully and safely.
This morning, as I walked on shore to greet the rising sun, I said out loud to myself, “You’re crossing the Atlantic Ocean today, Dude,” and I cried for several minutes. We know not what we will find out beyond the islands that surround us. We have a confident and empowering Captain Erik, who gave his crew a thorough safety and weather briefing all day yesterday, and his First Mate, Tim, has made us feel confident in his knowledge of this beautiful vessel and its systems, with his humble and kind demeanor.
Lee cloths and lee boards are installed for the first few days, at least, as we beat “uphill” for a few days to the northeast. We’ve got our watch teams established, and our nicknames are already developing (we actually already have two “MacGyvers” on board). A happy crew is a safe crew, and we are ready to cut the lines. All the ‘Aumakuas are out there, waiting for us to pass by—10 friendly humans on a beautiful and prepared vessel, the beautiful Swan that she is, Adrienne.
We are stoked. We are confident. We are safe. The wind is up, the sails are ready to be unfurled, and the anchor will take a siesta for 3–4 weeks. Mahalo, Adrienne, for carrying this strong crew across the great Atlantic Ocean!
/ Ryan Redmond, Adrienne Crew
crew@59-north.com
View more passage logs
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!