Day 2
Before we left Bermuda, we studied the weather and went through all the possible routing options. In the end, with all weather models predicting northerly winds for the last three days of our trip, we decided to take the northern route. This is adding some extra miles, but hopefully we will be in a better position for the predicted northerlies.
So far, we have had two slow days with very light or sometimes even no wind at all. Luckily, the sea was as flat as it gets, without that residue swell that sometimes slaps the little wind there is out of the sails.
The crew has been patiently steering FALKEN, slowly building some speed and then keeping it up. They have done a great job, and we only had to motor when the windex stopped moving entirely. It gave everyone some time to settle into boat life and get used to helming. However, it started to get a little bit boring, and we all wished for a bit more wind.
To our delight, the weather forecast was correct: by mid-morning the wind started building and veering. FALKEN settled on a close reach with a full mainsail and yankee, slowly following the wind around until we were on course to our next waypoint. This afternoon, the wind increased even more and we put the first reef into the mainsail. FALKEN is now gliding along at 8, 9, 9 and a half knots boat speed with a constant 20-degree heel. Fantastic sailing!
Not so fantastic for our apprentice Athena, though, who is on dinner duty tonight. Cooking for 11 people whilst at a 20-degree heel is a bit painful. So we furled the yankee and hoisted the staysail. This reduced the angle of heel to a more manageable 15 degrees, and FALKEN, the fast and slippery boat she is, still powers along at 8 knots plus.
For the next 48 hours, the forecast predicts a steady Force 4 to 5 with the wind veering from the ESE to the SSW, which will allow us to sail more freely. This probably means reaching with the mainsail, staysail, and yankee—FALKEN’s favorite point of sail! Fast sailing guaranteed.
Fair winds and a following sea,
- Chris
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Cast off the lines
When we awoke it was overcast but the Brazilian sun quickly burned the clouds away and we were left with blue skies. We reviewed some safety procedures, cleaned the boat and had an exciting Person Overboard (POB) recovery. Once we were underway spirits soared as we pointed the bow toward the Canary Islands. As I write this we are heading upwind and dealing with all that involves, and working into our first watches. It is hot, a bit bumpy but we are sailing!!
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!