Epic Downwind!
March 22, 2025 | Epic Downwind and Orcas!
The first 24 hours in the Pacific have been absolutely magic. Last night was one for epic sailing. FALKEN powered along at 15+ knots in 35 knot winds, surfing down some steep waves as we lost sight of Panama in our stern. As the night passed, the breeze eased off and we were able to shake out our 2 reefs and go back to full sails by sunrise.
By 8am we had our big pink spinnaker flying and managed to keep it all the way until the afternoon when the breeze died off and our iron sail (aka the engine) made an entrance for a few hours. Some of the highlights of today include sighting a pod of Orcas about 5 boat lengths from us, spotting the Southern Cross and the North Star in the same sky, and the bioluminescent water that makes us feel like we’re floating in space.
Right now we’ve got the engine back on after drifting for a couple of hours taking in the starry skies. As we move further south, the weather is becoming a bit more unpredictable and with the ITCZ in sight we are expecting some thunderstorms and light winds in the next couple of days.
Everyone is well onboard and we’re all in a state of “drift,” lost in all of the magic surrounding us.
Love to all—Alex, FALKEN Skipper
P.S. If you are reading this blog, please write some comments in the section below and we’ll send it over to the crew to read. I am sure they will love it :)
Mia & Andy (shore support on Leg 5, Panama to Galapagos)
laline96@gmail.com
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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.