June 23, 2024 | 2100 UTC
We are making steady progress towards Ireland. We reached 1,000 nautical miles roughly an hour ago and FALKEN has yet to slow down. Today the crew was greeted with a variety of weather as we are sailing on the outskirts of a low-pressure zone. The morning was filled with a thick, cool fog and calm seas until 0902 UTC when the swell began to pick up again. In the afternoon, we had a brief moment of clarity as we gybed to a starboard tack. The warm weather and sun allowed the crew to enjoy the good weather window before we were engulfed in fog again shortly after dinner. Nonetheless, the crew remains in high spirits through the weather. The crew has made tremendous strides in helming, especially with the sea state today. I am thankful to have this experience with them and to watch the crew develop in confidence in just under a week. As we are nearing the coast of Ireland, the crew is prepping for FALKEN’s arrival into Galway. Most of the crew found the raising of the Ireland flag bittersweet, as it is an indication of the crew's success during the passage as we near the end.
- Athena
59ºNorthApprentice
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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.