07º 48’ S, 113º 35’ W
April 15, 2025, 2012 Ship’s Time | 07º 48’ S, 113º 35’ W | Sailing Wing-on-Wing
Note from Andy: Crew member Kim wrote the following blog earlier this afternoon. As I write, FALKEN is still barreling downwind, having now done three consecutive days over 225 miles! We just passed our halfway longitude, 113º 30’ W, so we’re on the downhill side of the passage now. I reminded the crew at dinner that the second half of these long trips always goes faster than the first, so stay in the moment before it’s over. Here’s Kim:
It's Tuesday, April 15th. It's been 8 (?) full days since we pulled anchor in San Cristobal, Galapagos. So far, we have logged nearly 1600 NM and are almost halfway to the Marquesas.
There is a rhythm to life at sea guided by our Captain, Mate, and Navigator. All crew on board have a job to perform as well. An organized sailboat makes for happy crew and a safe boat. We have three watch teams that take turns steering FALKEN in shifts of 3 hours on and 6 hours off.
Besides steering and keeping watch, each shift has a set of chores. For example, the 9 am to 12 pm shift is responsible for cleaning the cabin every day. The 12 pm to 3 pm shift cleans the cockpit. The 6 to 9 pm watch is responsible for cleaning up after dinner. Every hour, the crew on duty enters information such as distance made good, compass course, direction, speed over ground, boat speed, barometric pressure, and true wind speed into the ship’s log. We also log our position on a paper chart. With all this activity, the days and miles pass quickly.
Andy, Emily, and Aidan also rotate on a schedule that ensures they each spend time with each of the watch teams. In between monitoring the crews, Andy and team ensure all FALKEN’s internal processes are adequately functioning, including water supply and power. Aidan and Andy periodically download updated weather forecasts and adjust our course and sails as needed. Emily looks after everyone on board, fills in wherever she is needed, and manages all the provisions.
During dinner hour, we gather for the evening meal prepared by Emily with help from Aidan and Andy and share our glums and glows. There is a sense of community and collective purpose centered on the passage.
While underway, I started to listen to an audiobook called "Sea People" by Christina Thompson. The book begins with an orientation and some stats on the Pacific Ocean. For starters, the Pacific Ocean is 180 degrees wide and so large it can hold all the land masses on Earth with room to spare. The Pacific is the single largest feature on Earth. It’s so large that it is not possible to see both sides from space.
During our first week at sea, we have sailed through a variety of conditions, starting with no wind. Then came a series of squalls. Some systems brought rain and high wind, and other systems brought rain and no wind. This provided a great opportunity to practice skills like storm avoidance, heading up, and falling off when wind speed and direction varied. We also had a lesson in patience when the wind died and it was difficult to sail. Rather than furl in the sails and turn on the motor right away, we gave it time. Sure enough, after 20 minutes the wind picked up.
At this point in the passage, we are at our farthest point from land. Andy says the nearest landfall is Easter Island, nearly 1,200 miles south from us. We learned last night that the nearest ship is 470 NM away. The size of the ocean, distance from land, and ever-changing conditions are a reminder of our vulnerability.
The skills that Andy, Emily, and Aidan bring to FALKEN, the discipline of maintaining the order and routine aboard ship, along with our united purpose and steady effort, is what makes this journey possible.
Today was idyllic downwind sailing, with clear skies and rolling 8 to 9 ft seas. We are surrounded by the wide blue sea and scores of flying fish that provide constant entertainment.
I am feeling great respect and gratitude to all onboard FALKEN who are sharing in this amazing journey.
// Kim | FALKEN Crew
FALKENCrew
View more passage logs
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.