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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Seasickness
But maybe, I thought, with some drugs I could stay ahead of it. The first 48 hours I felt horrible. But luckily with 3 health care professionals on board and in a very encouraging environment, my body found its way. Anyway, someone offered me a patch (unavailable in Canada) and someone else gave me some pills for nausea and now I feel much, much better.
Dolphins and Bioluminescence
We had a good run with the sails but weather has changed and we are once again chasing the wind. Everyone is getting a chance to practice helming in big swell; starting to get a feel of the wind and water and how it pushes and pulls the hull. A pod of dolphins came to visit at night, splashing in the bioluminescent water, and again in the day, dancing in the bow wake. For now enjoying the calmer sea state and falling asleep to the rumble of the engine and the gentle whooshing of the water on the hull.
Greetings from Lala Lemonshark
The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!