02:27 UTC | 00°43.4’N 089°37.0’W
Sailing.
Port tack close-hauled about one degree north of the equator, our crew of pollywogs has grown close. Looking out for each other and our trusty Falken, the miles are clicking away seemingly unrelated to our time at see - 103 hours and 619 miles per SailTies. Perfect strangers less than a week ago are now connected in a way that is hard to describe but so very easy to experience.
You’d think this crew bonding is borne on the back of shared mild discomfort - life’s steadfast instructor. But we have all of the mod cons - showers 2 - 3 times a day*, ice in our drinks **, great food (without fail!).
Maybe it’s steering by the stars, the southern cross your target between the mast and stay during your 0300 - 0600 watch. There is something about that line in the Eagle’s song, regardless of you’re a fan or not.
It certainly could be the 59º Degrees North team, who are so skilled at not just sailing, but people. They are meeting every one of us crew exactly where we are and what we want out of this experience.
In the end, this has simply been a life-changing experience for all of our crew. At some point early in the morning, we will sail cross the equator, and this lowly group of pollywogs, having pledged our allegiance to Neptune ( who, perhaps due to funding restrictions, is operating only during regular business hours), will become shell backs. And a few hours later, we make landfall in the Galápagos Islands. And I imagine a few tears will be shed.
*results will vary, but shaking out reefs at 2 am increase averages.
**it can happen.
Johnny
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Day Two Delights
The seas were completely glassy with a gentle swell as we approached San Clemente Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands. Everyone jumped in and marvelled at the lovely temperature and crystal clear, indigo-colored water. Before long the wind started to pick up, and we happily unfurled the jib and were sailing again. The afternoon has been gorgeous, cruising along at 5-6 kts, close hauled on a port tack in a gentle breeze, Catalina Island in the distance on our starboard side, and everyone is happy.
Adios Ensenada!
Around 9am this morning, we slipped lines and made our way out of Todos Los Santos Bay with a pre-arranged escort pod of dolphins. After a few hours of motoring through very calm, very blue, very kelpy seas, we clicked the engine off and off we went. After some delicious frittata and not-new potatoes a-la Adam, we executed our first of many tacks. With only 5-10 kts of wind, our close haul has been nothing but pleasant so far. After a lovely week in Ensenada for me, Alex, and Adam, we’re stoked to finally head out and begin our upwind journey back up the coast.
A last hurrah
Under the dome of stars in a moon-less sky, each of us during our time at the helm used the most rudimentary celestial navigation, keeping a star or two lined up with the mast as a helper to following the heading range. It was a whole crew event to set the spinnaker, reef the mainsail and practice the heave-to in case of man overboard. Alex stressed that the key to success in all of these crucial activities is preparation. It was hugely satisfying to accomplish these tasks through teamwork. We share a constant good hearted back and forth full of stories, one-liners and comebacks that also means constant laughter.