2226UT | 18°31.67N 155°55.47W
Sailing
The last few days have slipped by fast as the trade winds have carried us ever close to Hawaii. Our peaceful bowling along only occasionally disturbed by a squall.
Last night we were bowling along and I was looking at the blue sparkling bioluminescence creaming off the side of the boat when suddenly it started raining and the wind picked up with gusts of 28 knots slamming us hard over. We told Mary there was a squall and she decided we should go straight for 2 reefs in the main. She depowered the sail then hopped up on the coach roof in the now driving rain to clip the handybilly to the reef cringle to make a new tack and smaller sail. Back in the cockpit it was time to winch up the halyard to tighten the luff and then winch reef 2 to secure the foot of the sail. There are two ways to grind a winch: turning it clockwise is hard but a higher gear so does the job faster, the other way is easier but a long slow grind. Meanwhile it’s difficult to get a good foothold on the wet lurching boat and you’re in a confined space. Last night (if I say so myself) Emily and I nailed the teamwork of winch grinding. Using the longer handle, she perched on the upper side and I took the lower (according to our respective heights) and together we turned those winches the hard and fast way. Girl Power!
Meanwhile Bruce held the boat on its course throughout and in the morning we could see that our mascot Scooby the Booby Bird had also clung on to its perch. Hawaii is less than 250miles to go.
Sarah Talbot
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Greetings from Lala Lemonshark
The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!
Fog Blog
After a day in Victoria learning Falken and passage planning, we departed early this morning for San Francisco. 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. Mary made the astute observation that despite the seasickness, the sentiment onboard is quite chipper. 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.
Shooting Stars & Turtle Logs
Day three out of Ketchikan and FALKEN is running wing on wing down the outside of Vancouver Island. The temptation is to lie back in the cockpit and spend the night watching for shooting stars, but a diligent watch is always the first priority. So we keep a sharp eye out while the shooting stars keep us company through the night. The wildlife keeps coming: humpback and minke whales, five mola molas, dolphins, and a black-footed albatross. We are all feeling lucky for such conditions!