Fresh baked bread!
April 22, 2025 | Light wind
Last night gave us some wonderful light winds sailing on a relatively flat sea that allowed the whole crew to catch up on much-needed sleep after the excitement of the night previous. There’s nothing like a nighttime kite drop followed by an engine fire alarm to keep everyone alert and full of adrenaline, and after reconciling all issues, it was a huge relief to go from the ridiculous to the sublime.
A very hot day followed, but with a little more wind than forecast, and it was shortly after dark this evening that we finally had to accept the wind shift and resort to the iron sail (engine) once more.
Dinner tonight was a combined effort with freshly baked bread courtesy of Scott, a delicious hummus from Hilary, and a couscous salad to utilize all of the remaining fresh salad vegetables. Add to this the charcuterie that we have saved until the last, and the deck was full of scrumptious delights.
As I type this, we are motor sailing a direct course to Hiva Oa and we have a little more wind forecast for tomorrow, so hopefully we can sail the final distance to make landfall. In the meantime, the night hours are a welcome relief from the punishing heat of the day, and we even treat ourselves to the odd hot drink to while away the hours on the helm.
Less than 200nm...
Emily
EmilyCaruso
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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.