Fog Blog
0216 UTC | 48°32.5’ N 124°42.1’W
Whale watching
After a day in Victoria learning Falken and passage planning, we departed early this morning for San Francisco. We split into three watches named Watch 1, Watch A, and Watch Uno, so everyone feels appreciated, and are well into a routine of life at sea.
The plan is to motor west down the Straight of Juan de Fuca, and turn left once the wind fills in. It’s been incredibly foggy, as is to be expected in the month of “Fogust,” but when we get a glimpse of the forested mountains beyond the fog it is stunning. We’ve made good use of our time by practicing reefing, watching for whales, and setting up preventer lines for our inevitable down wind sleigh ride.
Most everyone on board has unfortunately began to feel a touch of the green monster. We are motoring in light winds but into an established sea state on the nose. Not the most comfortable conditions for what is the first time offshore for many of our sailors. Mary made the astute observation that despite the seasickness, the sentiment onboard is quite chipper. Everyone is happy to be here, and eager to keep learning. Perhaps once everyone feels a bit better, they’ll accept my pleas to write the daily blog post.
As the youngest of three girls and after 7 years of all girls education, I am loving support and immediate camaraderie of this all women’s trip. I’m excited to watch these women grow in confidence and competence as we sail fast down the coast.
Love to my family xoxo
Delaney
Delaney
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Golden Day
The Pacific is giving us “the shimmer” - with a still flat sea seven hours out of San Francisco Bay, we’re motoring south along the shipping channel, with an hour to go to what teases now as a stunning sunset against wispy clouds. Throughout this first day of Falken 11 the sails have unfurled and been furled again as skipper Alex tries to fill them a meager breeze indeed. We’ve seen a few whales traveling along the route, and an otter that was sadly just a buoy. It’s the first open ocean sail for many of us and it’s a thrill to anticipate all the new experiences we’ll have.
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.