13º 14.7 N, 049º 43.6 W
14 February 2024
0138 Ship’s Time
13º 14.7 N, 049º 43.6 W
Steering 300º at 7-8 knots.
The last 24 hours have been spectacular for many, many reasons.
One, the breeze picked up to make the conditions perfect for surfing down small mountains of waves. We have an ocean swell going that makes it feel like you rise up from earth and then surf down the wave. When it feels like a big one and the speed starts escalating, the crew start cheering while calling out top speeds. At the helm you can feel when the transition goes from sailing through the water to surfing on the water, and that’s when the top speeds come. It is an incredible feeling. The competition has started for the high score of speed. So far, I think it was Manot at 15.3 knots. The smile across my face after a half hour stint at the wheel as the morning light brightened up the day was incredible. There would be more moments like this all day.
Two, the records we celebrated aboard. 223 nm is our best daily run in a 24-hour period and we have averaged 8.3 knots since we left the dock. We gybed only twice so far. Our average daily run has been 199.8 nm.
Three, today was a surprise spa day after hauling Andy out on the spinnaker pole. Andy wanted to check for chafe on the outboard end of the pole where it met up with the jib. We are still wing and wing. After Andy took tons of photos from his unique vantage point, he announced it was a shower day. It has been so hot during the day with no respite from the sun. He hooked up the salt water wash down pump for a nice salt water rinse, followed by a fresh water shower. Oooh-aaah.
Four, the ice cream from yesterday’s halfway celebration was not finished, another surprise! After a delightful cold salad dinner by Andy of bow-tie pasta with tomato pesto, carrot curry raisin slaw, Andy’s sweet and spicy tuna salad plus rice, we indulged in more chocolate ice cream. I still don’t know how he did it, but Manot hit the jackpot with this recipe.
// Jen
FALKENCrew
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HMS Night Watch Party
Wing on wing worked well until the wind shifted then the helm became the cone of despair for our night watch crew of three (H, M and S) Alex made the decision to drop the pole, shifting wing on wing to a close reach. Wind increased to low teens and speed picked up to a flying pace. Day spent wandering toward Ensenada. Alex, Adam and David got us into port under another starry night.
No Kitemares Today
After a night marked by sudden wind accelerations peeling off Point Conception, and a vibrant, pulsating sky blistered with shooting stars, the off-watch woke to commotion on the foredeck. The wind had gone light and the swell had tapered just enough to raise the spinnaker. The sail filled with an urgent pop, the sheet strained and Falken charged down the face of the next wave. By mid-day, we doused the spinnaker and set our minds to the more precise task of safely punching through a gap in the notorious Cortez Bank. The border to Mexico looms ahead.
The California coast
We had a very lively first day of sailing with steady winds between 25 and 30 kn gusting to mid 30s. All of the crew got experience at difficult downwind helming as we covered 200 nautical miles in the first 24 hours. This morning brings winds in the teens and calmer seas. The sun is still shining, and the green monster has been slayed by those afflicted!