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
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People Get Ready!
The last three days have been an intense (and intensely hot) period of discovery, practice, and planning. Because Adrienne II is not a 59N boat, there's been some extra setup and coordination needed including rigging all the sails that were out for repairs before we arrived. Its been a blast working alongside the 59N team getting to help them work things out on a less familiar boat in real time. Tomorrow morning we'll run through our Person Over Board training as the final pre-departure task, cast off and head out. Can't know all that it will be, but its going to be a great adventure out in the vast world with some pretty fantastic people.
Among the Channel Islands
In the wind shadow of SoCal we had a restful night with calm conditions ghosting through smooth seas. We’re getting ourselves in position for spicy weather tonight once we round Cape Conception, the seas build and the breeze freshens. It will be an upwind sail into an acceleration zone along a formable coast with few bailout points, Morro Bay being one. The crew is really gelling with lots of smiles and laughter on deck. Monterey is in our sights!
Day Two Delights
The seas were completely glassy with a gentle swell as we approached San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands. Everyone jumped in and marvelled at the lovely temperature and crystal clear, indigo-colored water. Before long the wind started to pick up, and we happily unfurled the jib and were sailing again. The afternoon has been gorgeous, cruising along at 5-6 kts, close hauled on a port tack in a gentle breeze, Catalina Island in the distance on our starboard side, and everyone is happy.