dolphins and asteroids
January 21, 2025, 20:17 UTC | 19º 50.9’ N / 022º 45.8’ W | Dolphins and Asteroids
It is now 19:17 local time onboard. Yesterday we changed the time back one hour; we have a few time zones to travel through before we reach Antigua and will change the boat time back one hour every third day or so. About this time last night, the wind finally picked up enough to turn off the engine and roll the jib out, and we have been sailing ever since. The wind has been a bit light today, still in the lower 10s, but is due to pick up to around 15-20 knots sometime tomorrow.
The last 24 hours have been amazing, sailing in almost a flat sea with a gentle swell rolling in. Dolphins have been coming by, visiting us at the bow many times a day. Yesterday, the evening watch saw what they thought was an asteroid—the sail lit up and a bright light illuminated the sky for a few seconds.
All is good onboard. We have truly settled into the routine of life at sea: reading books, chatting in the cockpit, making lots of tea (and some coffee), and Janette even had her painting supplies out today. Once again, it has been really fun to read the comments (they will be sent to us via Iridium), so if you read this blog, please make a comment below.
From Mia & the FALKEN crew
mia@59-north.com
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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!