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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Seasickness
But maybe, I thought, with some drugs I could stay ahead of it. The first 48 hours I felt horrible. But luckily with 3 health care professionals on board and in a very encouraging environment, my body found its way. Anyway, someone offered me a patch (unavailable in Canada) and someone else gave me some pills for nausea and now I feel much, much better.
Dolphins and Bioluminescence
We had a good run with the sails but weather has changed and we are once again chasing the wind. Everyone is getting a chance to practice helming in big swell; starting to get a feel of the wind and water and how it pushes and pulls the hull. A pod of dolphins came to visit at night, splashing in the bioluminescent water, and again in the day, dancing in the bow wake. For now enjoying the calmer sea state and falling asleep to the rumble of the engine and the gentle whooshing of the water on the hull.
Greetings from Lala Lemonshark
The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!