Day 3
Saturday, May 5, 2024
Another day of stunning sailing onboard the good ship FALKEN. It has been fascinating to witness the change of temperature since our departure from Cuba. Although the sun has been present every day since then, it has clearly cooled down to a lovely temperature, even needing a hoodie at night! We're still upwind and we're still very quick. Today we crossed our halfway point of the trip and we only have a little less than 600 nautical miles to go—just as far as a Fastnet Race.
This morning we were very fortunate to witness an incredible moonrise followed by an even more stunning sunrise! We have also been very lucky with the stars and we've been stargazing every single night, identifying different constellations and learning about different stories and mythology.
Everyone onboard is doing great and the helming has been super smooth; everyone has definitely qualified for upwind helming! Hopefully, on tomorrow's blog I can tell you all about the beautiful downwind sailing that is coming...
- Alex
laline96@gmail.com
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The Penultimate Blog from Adrienne II
After 20 days, and 3000+ nautical miles, we're back on land. The motley crew of Adrienne II, consisting of 7 happy amateurs supported by 3 professionals, have completed an epic journey many dream of but few realize. So much of this trip has been about being present - with nature, with each other, with this boat. My biggest takeaway from this trip is the amazing crossing of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). We all hope you've enjoyed the blog as much as we've enjoyed creating it.
Mother Nature, you’ve outdone yourself!
It’s been a great experience to have a non-traditional trans-Atlantic, as it’s been packed with genuinely cool features. The Doldrums!! A place sailors have been talking about for centuries. The unpredictability is what made it such an exhilarating experience. While some might be frightened or alarmed by this kind of weather, I was embodied with a sense of calm and awe. There’s something wildly beautiful about being reminded how small you are, while feeling so incredibly alive.
A Heavenly High
As you have probably figured out at this point, the drug of choice on board is, of course, celestial navigation- an art which has hooked offshore sailors for centuries. Once addicted, navigators will emerge from down below only to get their fixes two times per day, and spend the rest of their days and nights down below doing complex spherical mathematics. On Adrienne II, our skipper is our dealer. I must confess that I myself gave in to the strange urge which I’ve felt witnessing my crewmates practice this fine art, and yesterday felt an amazing sensation as I was able to wield the sextant for the first time and with it, bring down the tip of our starboard spreader to the top of our front sprayhood, presicely measuring the angle between the two (35deg, 38,8’ min). This afternoon, Naxo then showed me how to get my fix from the very sun itself - and I now fear there is no turning back.