Latitude: 3°26.5' S
Longitude: 029°05.7' W
October 5, 2025 | 20:00 UTC | 3°26.5' S 029°05.7' W
Nausea is no joke. I am not sure if I will make it through this blog, but I will attempt it. Seasickness is the real deal. Just when you start to feel better, a new fresh wave of it comes. All I want to do is tip my head out the side of the boat and just wait for whatever wants to come up.
Speaking of which, while I spent the morning in that hunched-over, head-sideways position, I noticed dark blue, clouded-over morning rise waves, seemingly traveling upward. In other words, I felt like huge swells of waves were moving up the walls of mountains. Now, it could be that I was in a dazed state, half there, half nowhere. To say the least, my sickness over the past few days has been intense.
On a dreamier note, WE SHOWERED!! Mahalo Tim for recognizing we were all in need of not just a physical shower but a spiritual one too. It worked! Sitting on the benches at the helm with fresh water dousing my forever hair was the ultimate miracle. It changed everything! One after the other, rotating the hose, passing conditioners—it was a team bond and team refresher. Back to life.
Waves and wind have been consistent. Coming in a bit caddywampus, but at least consistent, with a constant heel and 8-9 kts. It’s absolutely breathtaking out here. Just absolute vastness. Being on the helm has been the biggest joy. Some of us have different ways of tracking our position: Pete to two stars in between the shrouds, Vilgot, The Hero, in the lightness of his fingertips, Jim knows in his body when we are dropping a few kts, Tim in his casualness just knows, and myself through my left hand and fingers.
As for the rest of the crew—Britney, Lance, David, and Andrew—their generosity in the kitchen is mind-blowing. They made the most amazing potato soup with green onion garnish tonight, each taking a role.
TO MY FAMILY: I THINK ABOUT YOU ALL MORE NOW THAN EVER. Maria, Maddox, Makai, Nixon, and Penny—I am so honored and blessed to be your mamabear. I can’t thank you enough for supporting me while I take on this passage. I have had plenty of moments of, “What the hell was I thinking! There’s no way I will last!” Mahalo Ry, Dad, and Mom for encouraging me and making sure I have everything I need, which in the end is just LOVE. Love you all so, so much. Ry, you were right, there is no way I could have done my classes on this voyage. Nausea is no joke. LOVE YOU.
THANK GOODNESS CAPTAIN ERIK IS A WEATHER EXPERT!
Nicole Kalaiwaa | ADRIENNE II Crew
crew@59-north.com
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Ketch us if you Kan
Falken is soon to carry on our preferred route of South, back to (hopefully) warmer climates. We’re all excited to set off and see more of this wild landscape as we head down to Victoria. A thermal trough over Vancouver combined with an offshore high pressure creating funneling NW’ly winds means it is due to be pretty fruity on the 9th. This passage is just under 600 miles, relatively short for Falken, but I’m sure we’ll be kept entertained with dramatic scenery, wildlife and weather!
Final Blog
Falken and her crew arrived safely into port last night around 8pm boat time, 10pm Prince Rupert time. Some spicy weather was anticipated, but luckily the 35kt gusts and 2.5 meter waves were no match for this expert crew. We had an exceptionally smooth docking, despite it being Alex's first time parking this year (!). We all agreed that this was a very special group of people—I for one am so impressed with how everyone stayed so positive, helpful, and appreciative of humor despite an arguably challenging passage. We'll all return home significantly saltier than we were when we left, a mark of a passage properly sailed.
Lessons and a Gift
The biggest lesson is the helm. The lesson here is that even if you don't think you can do it over and over again with no sleep, cold and damp, it has to be done and so it can be done. Flying fish are cool, dolphins are really really cool, but the coolest of them all are the whales. And most of all Alex: "Find your center Carla. Always know where your center is so you can come back to it". He means the helm but it applies to life as well.