DAY 6
Archive source: https://archive.59-north.com/blog/2023/11/17/the-big-pink-kite-portugal-sail-training-day-6
November 17, 2023
Lagos, Portugal
I am writing this as the sun is slowly setting in Lagos. FALKEN has now been washed, scrubbed, emptied, and re-stored following her post-passage checklist that we thoroughly follow. There is an aura of accomplishment, relief, and just a general feeling of awesomeness onboard—not just for the successful trip we’ve just completed, but because this marks FALKEN’s first successful season in the Atlantic, sailing an astonishing 16,112 nm.
I am lucky enough to have sailed on her first and last passages, and to see how well she has performed and how far she has come is inspiring. Kudos to our awesome Bosun Adam for the amazing work that we’ve seen every day we’ve sailed her. We gave Adam a shoutout with the whole crew after arrival and cheered with some bubbles.
It has been a great way to finish the season with nice weather, great people, and the opportunity to sail with Mia, Andy, and Manot. We always say it is sometimes difficult to see your friends in this industry because we only see each other when we get to do trips together, and when it’s a passage from one destination to another, your friend is asleep most of the times you’re awake, which isn’t very social. So this trip has been a great chance to spend some time sailing with Andy and Mia and to get to know Manot.
But the best part of every trip for me is always the people who come along—the people who come to learn, live new experiences, accomplish something they might not know what it is yet, and to get to know them and their lives. It has been a real pleasure sharing this experience with Knut, Karima, James, Constance, Bob, Fred, and Sean. You all made this week a memorable one, and from the 59 North team we say thank you from our hearts. We couldn’t have asked for a better bunch to officially finish the season.
Now the plan is to get FALKEN cozy in the yard for the month of December while doing some jobs on her and making sure she is in top form for the first trip of the year, in which Mia and I will be sailing her due south, towards the Canary Islands.
- 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.