June 3, 2024 | 1934 UTC
I believe that there are many lessons to be learned from sailing, and one of them is the ability to adapt. Today tested the crew’s ability to adapt to weather; with the uncertain weather forecasts, we had to be patient. The morning started with light winds. We have been managing our expectations with the uncertain wind for the last few days. Chris informed us that we would sail past Horta, then tack to see if the wind would be more favorable on a starboard tack once the wind shifted. We undid the reefs to the Yankee and reef two in the main, averaging 7.7 speed over ground for most of the morning. Dolphins, whales, and a nearby sailing vessel provided entertainment for the crew. The smooth sea state also allowed the crew to get some well-needed rest during their off watch.
By 1100 local time, the wind started to shift unfavorably from our compass course of 110. We decided to follow our prior plan and shook out the last reef and tacked onto a course of 330 True. Within minutes, we realized that we could not sail high enough and would be following our previous course. We tacked back onto a port tack and decided it was time to motor. Before we fully committed to motoring, the crew prepared to stow the Yankee and bend on the Jib to have the option to sail higher in lighter winds. The motor was switched on at 1700 local time, and the Jib was fully bent on by 1730. With all hands assisting with the Yankee and Jib, they made quick work.
The day is winding down. The crew is happy to have more time line handling, and even more so for the hot shower. I can see the confidence and enthusiasm in the crew building during these sail maneuvers, and it has been a wonderful opportunity to watch everyone succeed in these moments.
- Athena
59ºNorthApprentice
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A last hurrah
Under the dome of stars in a moon-less sky, each of us during our time at the helm used the most rudimentary celestial navigation, keeping a star or two lined up with the mast as a helper to following the heading range. It was a whole crew event to set the spinnaker, reef the mainsail and practice the heave-to in case of man overboard. Alex stressed that the key to success in all of these crucial activities is preparation. It was hugely satisfying to accomplish these tasks through teamwork. We share a constant good hearted back and forth full of stories, one-liners and comebacks that also means constant laughter.
One little bird!
Falken has almost rounded the Channel Islands and is cruising along splendidly about 100 miles offshore. Though several models predicted some slightly fresher winds today, we were met with a consistent 18-20 kts of pure bliss. It seems that from the moment we left the dock in San Francisco, there has been much laughter and conversation amongst everyone. The plan is to gybe in a few hours and begin our approach to Ensenada. As much as I do appreciate the jokes and intellectual musings, I equally appreciate the natural, silent moments we share at night, all of us on watch gazing up above to the shooting stars, constellations, and planets putting on their quiet show.
Birds and glows
The sun brought new wind and we were soon putting up the Yankee (jib) and turning off the motor. During the evening tradition of sharing “glums and glows” that follows the crew dinner, our Mate Ryan proclaimed it a “champagne sailing” kind of day. As Alex noted this evening, life goes by so fast that one of the very best things about his line of work is enjoying the passage of time in the slow lane of an ocean passage. But by tomorrow, the green blobs in the weather sailing app indicate we’re going to pick up some significant northwesterly winds and we’ll take them ever further south to the Channel Islands latitude. We’re all super excited for the knots to climb and to see Falken really run.