34º11.5 N, 121º03.8 W
November 5, 2025 | 1400 LT/2200 UTC | 34º11.5 N, 121º03.8 W | Dolphins & Calm Seas
The seas have calmed down a lot from last night, giving us a much more comfortable ride as we head east on a starboard tack. A couple of hours ago we encountered a pod of 20-25 dolphins leaping from the sea at right angles to us; they passed under the keel and went off towards the open ocean. Spirits on watch are high, as most of us managed to get a decent chunk of sleep despite pounding waves earlier in the morning. Cirrostratus clouds are shielding us from direct sun while letting in lots of light and flashes of arctic blue sky. No traffic lately besides the dolphins and a curious petrel. Hopes are high that in the next day or so we can try some down-wind sailing, weather permitting. Many of us are using the calmer weather to practice our photography, and plans are already being made for a round of fancy margaritas in Ensenada.
Margaret H. | FALKEN Crew
FALKENCrew
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Ketch us if you Kan
Falken is soon to carry on our preferred route of South, back to (hopefully) warmer climates. We’re all excited to set off and see more of this wild landscape as we head down to Victoria. A thermal trough over Vancouver combined with an offshore high pressure creating funneling NW’ly winds means it is due to be pretty fruity on the 9th. This passage is just under 600 miles, relatively short for Falken, but I’m sure we’ll be kept entertained with dramatic scenery, wildlife and weather!
Final Blog
Falken and her crew arrived safely into port last night around 8pm boat time, 10pm Prince Rupert time. Some spicy weather was anticipated, but luckily the 35kt gusts and 2.5 meter waves were no match for this expert crew. We had an exceptionally smooth docking, despite it being Alex's first time parking this year (!). We all agreed that this was a very special group of people—I for one am so impressed with how everyone stayed so positive, helpful, and appreciative of humor despite an arguably challenging passage. We'll all return home significantly saltier than we were when we left, a mark of a passage properly sailed.
Lessons and a Gift
The biggest lesson is the helm. The lesson here is that even if you don't think you can do it over and over again with no sleep, cold and damp, it has to be done and so it can be done. Flying fish are cool, dolphins are really really cool, but the coolest of them all are the whales. And most of all Alex: "Find your center Carla. Always know where your center is so you can come back to it". He means the helm but it applies to life as well.