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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The Penultimate Blog from Adrienne II
After 20 days, and 3000+ nautical miles, we're back on land. The motley crew of Adrienne II, consisting of 7 happy amateurs supported by 3 professionals, have completed an epic journey many dream of but few realize. So much of this trip has been about being present - with nature, with each other, with this boat. My biggest takeaway from this trip is the amazing crossing of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). We all hope you've enjoyed the blog as much as we've enjoyed creating it.
Mother Nature, you’ve outdone yourself!
It’s been a great experience to have a non-traditional trans-Atlantic, as it’s been packed with genuinely cool features. The Doldrums!! A place sailors have been talking about for centuries. The unpredictability is what made it such an exhilarating experience. While some might be frightened or alarmed by this kind of weather, I was embodied with a sense of calm and awe. There’s something wildly beautiful about being reminded how small you are, while feeling so incredibly alive.
A Heavenly High
As you have probably figured out at this point, the drug of choice on board is, of course, celestial navigation- an art which has hooked offshore sailors for centuries. Once addicted, navigators will emerge from down below only to get their fixes two times per day, and spend the rest of their days and nights down below doing complex spherical mathematics. On Adrienne II, our skipper is our dealer. I must confess that I myself gave in to the strange urge which I’ve felt witnessing my crewmates practice this fine art, and yesterday felt an amazing sensation as I was able to wield the sextant for the first time and with it, bring down the tip of our starboard spreader to the top of our front sprayhood, presicely measuring the angle between the two (35deg, 38,8’ min). This afternoon, Naxo then showed me how to get my fix from the very sun itself - and I now fear there is no turning back.