DAY 18 Land Ho!
February 26, Day 18 | Land Ho! Land Ho!
Seventeen days since we last saw land. A very special feeling spreads onboard when the beautiful peaks of La Palma suddenly appear in the distance. We turn towards each other, “Ha! We did it!”
This will be the last blog of this epic transatlantic passage with ADRIENNE. Our beautiful ADRIENNE, who has taken such good care of us. She has not only been our home; she has been our everything. A seemingly endless ocean has separated us from the ‘normal world,’ making this a universe of its own.
In just a few miles, we will step out of this universe, this little bubble. But we will not leave empty-handed. With us, we keep wonderful memories and countless stories to tell from this adventure. And with new friends for life.
Until next time, Big Blue!
Love,
Erik, Skipper of ADRIENNE
ErikNordborg
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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!