February 10, 2025 | The Atlantic crossing of sailing yacht Adrienne started yesterday, February 9, from the Caribbean island of St. Martin. We left the harbour and passed through the bridge behind a large motor yacht. Our voyage is dramatically different from the motor vessel. We are ten guys sailing to a destination off Africa, and they probably are leaving early to make dinner on the next island.
Our crew is eight working sailors and two highly experienced professionals. We work the boat at their lead, so we have to learn to work with strangers and understand a very large yacht from one of the finest yacht yards in Finland. We also come from Sweden, Norway, Holland, and America, with different native tongues. The ship generally uses English, but the Swedes and Norwegians speak to each other in what is easiest for them.
Everyone has sailing skills of varying degrees. What is universal is the love of sailing and finally getting our chance for crossing a great ocean under sail, plus having a great adventure. These common goals unite us despite sailing skill and language differences. I think we will be lifelong friends.
From the beginning, we had to learn how to sail the boat with a uniform approach, working together. In our own boats, we do maneuvers in "our way," while now we do it the ADRIENNE way. Our leaders tell us the workable way. Simple seaman terms are explained and standardized. Today, some guys were comparing names for knots and their use. Most knots have common European ancestry developed by the early seafaring nations. When the Swedish guys say a knot name used in their country, it is the same name in English with a Scandinavian spelling and sound. We are working together despite these differences, with a smile and patience.
Another challenge is forming teams or watch groups. We were selected into two teams of four. How do you combine the personalities, skills, and existing friendships? We are on our way, and it is working well with strong teamwork. I heard we may switch up halfway through. Who knows?
A serious issue for some is seasickness. Many of us have sailed a lot but not recently or in heavy ocean waters. The boat jumps around a lot, which can easily disturb your life, used to a tranquil life at home. We were told to bring medicine and test it before we came. Some got hit hard and others lightly. We are adjusting because we have to—there are three weeks ahead of serious sailing. Find what works for you to get comfortable with seas.
Eating is an issue too. We bought a lot of provisions, including 480 eggs. How do you match up with the different diet needs and wants? With lots of bread, sandwiches were a simple type of basic food. So we have had a lot of sandwiches so far, with some mishaps already, including a peanut butter and jelly sandwich sliding off the table just as it was made and uneaten. You just clean up and make another.
Last night was our first night watches. It was a very long night just after boarding while still unadjusted to the rigors of yacht sailing at night. Another is coming soon, and we have to get mentally and physically prepared.
Many things to write about and so little time. More to come.
- Tom Coan, ADRIENNE Crew
crew@59-north.com
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A last hurrah
Under the dome of stars in a moon-less sky, each of us during our time at the helm used the most rudimentary celestial navigation, keeping a star or two lined up with the mast as a helper to following the heading range. It was a whole crew event to set the spinnaker, reef the mainsail and practice the heave-to in case of man overboard. Alex stressed that the key to success in all of these crucial activities is preparation. It was hugely satisfying to accomplish these tasks through teamwork. We share a constant good hearted back and forth full of stories, one-liners and comebacks that also means constant laughter.
One little bird!
Falken has almost rounded the Channel Islands and is cruising along splendidly about 100 miles offshore. Though several models predicted some slightly fresher winds today, we were met with a consistent 18-20 kts of pure bliss. It seems that from the moment we left the dock in San Francisco, there has been much laughter and conversation amongst everyone. The plan is to gybe in a few hours and begin our approach to Ensenada. As much as I do appreciate the jokes and intellectual musings, I equally appreciate the natural, silent moments we share at night, all of us on watch gazing up above to the shooting stars, constellations, and planets putting on their quiet show.
Birds and glows
The sun brought new wind and we were soon putting up the Yankee (jib) and turning off the motor. During the evening tradition of sharing “glums and glows” that follows the crew dinner, our Mate Ryan proclaimed it a “champagne sailing” kind of day. As Alex noted this evening, life goes by so fast that one of the very best things about his line of work is enjoying the passage of time in the slow lane of an ocean passage. But by tomorrow, the green blobs in the weather sailing app indicate we’re going to pick up some significant northwesterly winds and we’ll take them ever further south to the Channel Islands latitude. We’re all super excited for the knots to climb and to see Falken really run.