End of Passage
60.2850° N, 5.2820° E
July 11, 2024 | Day 6 At Sea | End of Trip Clean Up
Day 10 - 12 July 2024
Some of us slept really well at anchor, others found the silence too quiet, and some of us were still waking up every four hours for our watches. In the morning, we found ourselves anchored in a beautiful, calm location. After breakfast in the cockpit, the planes started to land—we were in the flight path of Bergen airport! We were here to clear in with customs. It was entertaining to watch the planes flying so low above us.
After a leisurely breakfast and a quick swim, we moved Falken to the pontoon at Hjellestadt Havn just across the bay. Walking towards her along the pontoon reminded us all what a big boat she is; she was towering above every other boat in the marina. Somehow at sea, we had forgotten how big she was.
Once on the pontoon, we started to give Falken a deep clean, from the bilges to the rigging. The crew worked really hard and soon Falken was spick and span again. Such a fabulous way to say thank you to this beautiful boat for looking after us on this amazing trip.
After lunch, five of us had to get a taxi to the nearby airport to clear customs and get our passports stamped. This was a bit of a culture shock—to be on land (which was partly swaying)—and a reminder that real life was still going on unchanged. It’s always hard to readjust to land after an offshore passage.
Then we had showers! That is always a treat, to finally wash off all the salt water and to feel clean again. We ended the day with a meal out in the marina restaurant with a view overlooking Falken and another beautiful sunset.
Jojo Pickering
Skipper, S/Y FALKEN
JoJoPickering
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People Get Ready!
The last three days have been an intense (and intensely hot) period of discovery, practice, and planning. Because Adrienne II is not a 59N boat, there's been some extra setup and coordination needed including rigging all the sails that were out for repairs before we arrived. Its been a blast working alongside the 59N team getting to help them work things out on a less familiar boat in real time. Tomorrow morning we'll run through our Person Over Board training as the final pre-departure task, cast off and head out. Can't know all that it will be, but its going to be a great adventure out in the vast world with some pretty fantastic people.
Among the Channel Islands
In the wind shadow of SoCal we had a restful night with calm conditions ghosting through smooth seas. We’re getting ourselves in position for spicy weather tonight once we round Cape Conception, the seas build and the breeze freshens. It will be an upwind sail into an acceleration zone along a formable coast with few bailout points, Morro Bay being one. The crew is really gelling with lots of smiles and laughter on deck. Monterey is in our sights!
Day Two Delights
The seas were completely glassy with a gentle swell as we approached San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands. Everyone jumped in and marvelled at the lovely temperature and crystal clear, indigo-colored water. Before long the wind started to pick up, and we happily unfurled the jib and were sailing again. The afternoon has been gorgeous, cruising along at 5-6 kts, close hauled on a port tack in a gentle breeze, Catalina Island in the distance on our starboard side, and everyone is happy.