KITE
April 20, 2025 | Spinnaker
Another star-filled sky as FALKEN continues to make good way towards the Marquesas. The kite is up, which requires a very special level of consideration, and Andy and Aidan are switching in to support the helm as I continue with the day-to-day chores. There is something magnificent about the night sky at this latitude and in such remote waters. Jim likened it to stepping into a planetarium—it really is very hard to describe.
With more room in our fridges at last, it seemed appropriate to chill a large bottle of drinking water ahead of dinner this evening, and the crew response was highly entertaining. It would have been easy to imagine that they hadn’t ever experienced the luxury of a cool drink before, as the “ooohs” and “aaaahs” resounded across the cockpit. Such a very simple, everyday concept that we take so much for granted in the normal world, out here in the tropics proved to be an absolute delight, and one that we will repeat.
It’s interesting that after dark every evening we see an increase in the wind speed, and it is very much a trend that we have noticed. The spinnaker (kite) adds another layer of complexity to a night sail, and FALKEN feels and sounds very different to me, as if she is running on adrenaline as opposed to her relaxed state from this morning—a feeling I see reflected in the crew. Nonetheless, our speed is good and we are still eating up the miles, and under the watchful eyes of Andy and Aidan it seems like a good choice for our penultimate days at sea.
As much as I try to live in the moment, the opportunity to talk to loved ones is temptingly close and one that I am very much looking forward to when we make landfall. In the meantime, it’s back to the running of the boat and looking after the crew for me!
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.