February 18, 2025 | The art of helming!
Taking your turn at the wheel seems to be the highlight of each watch. We do a half hour each with a spotter at the stern to help if needed. Steering a true course is an art form that I don’t doubt takes countless hours of practice. As you watch the bow swing back and forth, you have to feel the wind in the right spot on your face, the force of the rudder on the wheel, all while paying attention to the compass heading. Since we are reaching downwind, you should be feeling the wind on the back of your ear. The key is small movements of the wheel so as not to overcorrect. If you overcorrect, it can be a real battle to get back on course. Lastly, you have to watch the compass and keep the desired heading.
When we started this cruise, it felt like baptism by fire with 3 meter waves and 15 to 20 knots of wind. I think it’s safe to say that everyone had a certain amount of anxiety when their turn came up. But after hours of practice and a relentless watch that doesn’t end until the destination is reached, we have all become much better helmsmen.
Last night the winds dropped to 10 or 12 knots apparent and it felt like a nice leisurely walk in the park. We cruised through the night watch stargazing at Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, Cassiopeia, and The Southern Cross. We had a sea bird hovering a few feet over the cockpit and a confused flying fish that landed in the wrong place at the wrong time. I tossed him back in and wished him well.
Today the wind slowly built itself up, reaching 20 to 25 knots by nightfall. It was expected, so we put the third reef in the main, reduced the jib, and prepared for a wild night of surfing down 3 meter waves in a 65 foot sailboat that was designed to win races across oceans.
- Daniel, crew on the Falken
FALKENCrew
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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!