Day 5
July 9, 2024 | Day 4 At Sea | Baptism of the North Sea
What a different day! As we made our way towards the Fair Isle Channel, we went from full sail to three reefs in the sail and staysail. We arrived just at the right moment for the tide to be favourable, and the wind backed north as predicted to allow us to reach through the channel comfortably in building seas.
Then the weather closed in. Gone was the sunshine and amazing light, replaced by grey seas and a grey, murky sky with drizzle. Neptune’s little game of baptism in the North Sea.
As we cleared the channel, the wind increased and we sailed like a freight train towards Norway on a close reach, with hoots of laughter from the on-watch team as they experienced some exhilarating heavy weather sailing. The confused seas in the channel slowly became more organised as we cleared the channel and headed across the North Sea, making for a more comfortable ride.
Dinner was a mission to prepare in these challenging conditions, but it was still special to come together and eat and see how everyone was feeling. The drizzle changed to rain as we sailed straight into the low. We were in for a wet night!
- Jojo Pickering, Skipper, S/Y FALKEN
What a different day! As we made our way towards the Fair Isle Channel, we went from full sail to three reefs in the sail and staysail. We arrived just at the right moment for the tide to be favourable, and the wind backed north as predicted to allow us to reach through the channel comfortably in building seas.
Then the weather closed in. Gone was the sunshine and amazing light, replaced by grey seas and a grey, murky sky with drizzle. Neptune’s little game of baptism in the North Sea.
As we cleared the channel, the wind increased and we sailed like a freight train towards Norway on a close reach, with hoots of laughter from the on-watch team as they experienced some exhilarating heavy weather sailing. The confused seas in the channel slowly became more organised as we cleared the channel and headed across the North Sea, making for a more comfortable ride.
Dinner was a mission to prepare in these challenging conditions, but it was still special to come together and eat and see how everyone was feeling. The drizzle changed to rain as we sailed straight into the low. We were in for a wet night!
- Jojo Pickering, Skipper, S/Y FALKEN
JoJoPickering
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Dolphin party!
Kate was about to yank the spinnaker’s sock down when I spotted a stampede of fins heading straight for us. ”Dolphins!”, I yelled back to the cockpit excitedly. Post dinner dish duty was halted down below for the show.
The pool is open!
We stopped the boat, got the ladder down and put out a line with a fender behind the boat. I love swimming in the middle of the ocean, and a bit scary when you realize its more than 4000+ m deep! Love it!
Big Pink Sail Day
I had a most fashionable pointed striped hat at dinner, and out of the depths of a cupboard a cake was created, after 14 days at sea. A group of people I had never met two weeks ago made me feel very special today.