February 15, Day 7 | A small dot on the chart! We continue to look for favorable winds and hope that the low pressure above us will push on and give us a few more knots. After yesterday, with clear water, bathing, and a job well done with cleaning and washing, we are all longing for more pressure in the sails. We are now trying to steer straight towards the GC and keep the pace of the sailing. I wrote these lines this morning in the bowl, and since then the wind has come. We now have a constant half wind of 20-23 knots and a wave height approaching 1.8-2 meters. Tomorrow the wind will drop again, so we are really trying to take everything we can now.
A little personal reflection: I was aware that the Atlantic Ocean is big, but the feeling of being so alone in such a huge and desolate place cannot be taken in beforehand—it has to be experienced. We are lucky; Adrienne is a "Happy Ship." Everyone in the crew contributes with work, laughter, and old robber stories during the night watches, which means that the time just ticks by. I think that the feeling will be shared when we arrive. Life on the Atlantic really happens in a kind of nice bubble that you want to last for a long time.
- Jacob Gellerstam, ADRIENNE Crew
crew@59-north.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.