London
51.5055° N, 0.0754° W
September 3, 2024, 12:10 UTC | Tower Bridge
Truly stunned to be moored up right next to the iconic landmark Tower Bridge. I see the classic red buses driving over the bridge and we meet wonderful people living in a barge community right here on the river bank. They were real lifesavers for letting us raft up next to them when we didn’t make it to the lock of St. Katherine’s Dock in time.
We arrived at the mouth of the River Thames yesterday morning and started the engine, motoring up to London. We had dinner onboard while watching old wharf buildings and docks go by as we motored along. We ended the night with a well-deserved pint or two at a pub nearby.
The sailors onboard got this full day to explore London, which was a first for many of them. For the crew, today is a day for cleaning up the boat and prepping for sailing into the English Channel. We will be heading for a port of call on one of the Channel’s isles for some sightseeing before our final destination, Plymouth.
Hold Fast!
- David the apprentice
59ºNorthApprentice
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HMS Night Watch Party
Wing on wing worked well until the wind shifted then the helm became the cone of despair for our night watch crew of three (H, M and S) Alex made the decision to drop the pole, shifting wing on wing to a close reach. Wind increased to low teens and speed picked up to a flying pace. Day spent wandering toward Ensenada. Alex, Adam and David got us into port under another starry night.
No Kitemares Today
After a night marked by sudden wind accelerations peeling off Point Conception, and a vibrant, pulsating sky blistered with shooting stars, the off-watch woke to commotion on the foredeck. The wind had gone light and the swell had tapered just enough to raise the spinnaker. The sail filled with an urgent pop, the sheet strained and Falken charged down the face of the next wave. By mid-day, we doused the spinnaker and set our minds to the more precise task of safely punching through a gap in the notorious Cortez Bank. The border to Mexico looms ahead.
The California coast
We had a very lively first day of sailing with steady winds between 25 and 30 kn gusting to mid 30s. All of the crew got experience at difficult downwind helming as we covered 200 nautical miles in the first 24 hours. This morning brings winds in the teens and calmer seas. The sun is still shining, and the green monster has been slayed by those afflicted!