23°33.9' N 021°13.3' W
October 16, 2025 | 13:30 UTC | 23°33.9' N 021°13.3' W | Morning swim
Moonlight, stars, sunrise and sunset—imagine this... every day for two weeks! Officially, 15 days at sea! Ten people on a boat and more than 2,700 nm have passed underneath the keel. We are living a “normal life,” creating our own water, eating fish from the sea, or mustering up random recipes with ingredients from the freezer box. Lunches and dinners are as if we were in a restaurant—amazing! It is quite impressive.
We have our routines—our daily reflections during dinner followed by the evening shifts, which involve four hours of sailing. At 10 pm, we sign off and head to our bunks. My bunk is warmed due to sharing sheets with Seattle Lance. After our designated 3 1/2 hours of sleep, we are routinely awakened by Team B to take on the middle-of-the-night four-hour shift. Then back to the early mornings of brushing teeth, contact lenses out, and sleep for a few hours before we have lunch together, noon sharp. Then the afternoon session begins with six hours of sailing before dinner. And we begin again... new day, same routine.
During the last two weeks, I have seen a sky full of stars or darkened by the clouds. Every night we are greeted by a new moon phase, followed by the sunrise and closing the day with a beautiful sunset. The views are spectacular, with ocean views 360 degrees and a distinct horizon wherever you look. It is quite an amazing experience.
The last 24 hours have pushed the experiences even further. The night shift was full of stars, no clouds in sight, just the vastness of the night. After a few hours of sleep, we experienced a sunrise on the starboard side that was unbelievable. All colors painted the sky. It was a breathtaking experience for two hours. For the first time, we were gliding through a windless morning with no waves in sight. Everyone onboard experienced a “morgon dopp”—a morning swim in 5,000 meters depth, 27°C warm, and with great visibility. Wow! And yes, we had shark watch at all times. And of course, this beautiful day ended with an amazing sunset, once again.
The nature experience on this trip is, in other words, unbelievable. And I am also blown away with the experience of being together with nine “random” people whom you have never met. We help each other, dive into deep talks, and sometimes just sit in the quiet for a couple of hours. I am so grateful for everyone on this boat. Of course, we all love sailing and the ocean—but what impresses me the most is that it all just seems to work. Imagine being with ten strangers in an apartment of 20 square meters and not leaving it for two weeks... this is what we experience daily.
A few days ago, we passed Cape Verde, one of my favorite holiday spots due to strong winds, good weather, and amazing memories with my wonderful family. This time a bit different—the same waves and wind, but now we are 100 nm from the islands on a boat going upwind towards my friendly kitesurfing waves.
This trip is amazing in so many ways—but next time I would like to experience it with my lovely wife and wonderful kids. To Pia, Alma, and Gustav—I love you so much and can’t wait to see you again!
Jim | Adrienne II Crew
crew@59-north.com
View more passage logs
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!