February 24, Day 16 | Lemon cake and dolphins!
After what feels like an eternity of motoring, we’re finally free! The winds have blessed us since lunchtime, and it’s smooth sailing ahead. Yet again, dolphins have been putting on a show, playing on our bow. Meanwhile, in the galley, the lemon cake is in the making, so you know life is good. Of course, we’re also treating ourselves to hotdogs for dinner—nothing says ‘boat life’ quite like a hotdog while the boat heels.
We’re in the final stretch now, with 350 nautical miles still to go, but at least it’s a good time to reflect on how fast this passage has flown by. The conditions are a little chilly, but our super captain and meteorologist Erik has promised that sunnier and warmer weather is just around the corner. We’ll gladly take it!
For now, though, we’re making the most of the final days, savoring each wave and hopefully savoring some cold beverages (probably beers) once we reach Gran Canaria. Because let’s be honest, after days of sailing, there’s nothing like a cold drink in hand and the sun on your face. Cheers to that!
Vegard Øien, Crew
crew@59-north.com
View more passage logs
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!