DAY 2
Yesterday was the first morning for the crew onboard. Bob has sailed with us earlier this year, and James has already signed up for a trans-Atlantic with us in 2024, but for the rest of the crew, this is all new. After a long morning of safety briefs, we left the docks at Lagos Marina and went out on a day sail to search for the wind. The forecast said no wind, but to our surprise, we had a great afternoon tacking our way over to Sagres. As soon as we got underway and realized we actually had wind, we switched from our big genoa to our smaller jib. Even though it was calm with just a small swell, it still takes quite a bit of time and effort.
The aim was to have the anchor down before sunset at 5:30, but things always take longer and the anchor was down by seven. On our way in, I cooked dinner, and as soon as the boat was put away, we had a nice taco dinner at anchor. Andy made the comment that when you arrive in the dark, it is fun to wake up the next morning and see where you are. Well, this morning we were swamped in fog and could barely see the bow of the boat.
Alex led the morning swim parade. He claimed the water was 17-18 degrees, Knut thought it could not have been more than 13. We settled on a nice 16°C water temperature—nice and refreshing. MOB practice is something we do at the start of every passage; it’s something you cannot practice enough. Karina volunteered to be the rescue swimmer this morning, and Bob (our dummy, not crewmember Bob) went over the side.
We got the anchor up about an hour ago, but today there is truly a mirror on the water and not a breath of wind. Andy is giving a navigation and weather chat, and when we get back to anchor again, we’ll look at the route for the rest of the week and where to go to find the wind. The plan is to lift anchor tomorrow mid-morning and head out for three days non-stop.
— Mia
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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.