May 31, 2024 | 1745 UTC
The weather has been shifty as we pass through a low today. We were greeted this morning with light winds and gybed onto a port tack to maintain our course. Rain quickly followed suit and ended around 1400. FALKEN has maintained a steady pace of 8.6 speed over ground for the last sixteen hours as we sail through to 1,157 nautical miles. It has been bittersweet, having completed the halfway mark to Horta yesterday. The crew had a celebration, thanks to Manot for making ice cream for dessert. As we continue on our transit, it’s becoming more difficult to find ‘glums’; even with this grey weather, the crew has been positive and full of laughter. One thing that has grown on me through sailing is the connections you create with people through these experiences. There is a tendency to forget time, and the days just blur into moments. These moments and challenges you are faced with out here can create friendships you wouldn’t expect. It has been wonderful getting to know everyone here and watching them flourish in this environment. //Athena
59ºNorthApprentice
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Shooting Stars & Turtle Logs
Day three out of Ketchikan and FALKEN is running wing on wing down the outside of Vancouver Island. The temptation is to lie back in the cockpit and spend the night watching for shooting stars, but a diligent watch is always the first priority. So we keep a sharp eye out while the shooting stars keep us company through the night. The wildlife keeps coming: humpback and minke whales, five mola molas, dolphins, and a black-footed albatross. We are all feeling lucky for such conditions!
Pot dodging and whale watching
Duncan got us up to eleven knots at one point! The Ferriers also logged our first Orca sighting on their 3am-6am watch! This morning is a gift as the temps are just right and we finally have some blue sky and plenty of sunshine. It was a glorious few hours sailing before it inevitably died as forecast. I live in hope that by sunset tonight we’ll be back sailing as we emerge out of the lee of the island and the wind will be more westerly which lends itself to a better sailing angle.
We are off!
After two days of introductions, safety briefings and boat procedures we have departed Ketchikan. We are currently making a whopping 3.3 knots as there is very little wind in Nichols Passage. Adam fed us well last night with a delicious shrimp curry and Duncan was the winner of a sporty game of the card version Monopoly. With the scenic views and light wind it's quite peaceful out here.