23:20 UTC | 28°44.587’ N 058°84.368’W
Navigation table, Adrienne II
Bright sunny day, warm, somewhere in the North Atlantic (see tracking map). Blowing 15 to 25 knots.
Hello friends and family, Adrienne had a mellow departure from Simpson Bay just about 4 pm on Sunday.
Apparently in the two days since then we’ve sailed over 375 miles. We’ve averaged over 8 kts in seas that are light but make themselves big once they wash over the deck, and sometimes over the biminis.
The first 24 hours included a bit of everything, from the excitement of going under the raised bridge, to a magnificent weather briefing by Captain Erik, raising of the main and cutter jib (staysail) — then cruising south of Sint Maarten, then coming around to get on a course sort of aimed for the Canary Isles.
Monday evening we had a weather/routing brief as we ate a delightful meal. Lots of questions, and as with anything about weather and waves and humans, it’s all subject to change. And healthy banter about the solutions.
We have one small reef in the main. Haven’t set the genoa yet, really no need with the great trade winds.
Tuesday morning until now (3 pm local) we’ve been rain-blessed with stellar sailing conditions. The breeze is such that we’ve been sailing close-hauled, and bearing off to a broad reach when we can.
In the run-up to lunch the helm person did not see the large wave we were heading for.
When our good steed Adrienne II came up from the wave several crew on the foredeck got sloshed.
In addition to the great weather and sailing, we’ve also discovered outstanding shipmates and crew. I met a few of them in town before getting aboard: Linda, from Texas, veteran ocean sailor; Bert, flown in from outside Berlin, now a retired oil person with lots of long-distance trips under his belt with many more planned; Simon, flown in from the UAE, has sailed on plenty of sailing boats and is hoping for inspiration to get a boat of his own; Bartek, from Poland, also into software; Knut, in from the Netherlands, also in the software field.
Your writer has varied boating background — but is excited to see what it feels like to sail across the ocean. I came aboard with lots of questions to see how their solutions might fit on my own boat.
At the end of the day we have the chance to comment on the glums and glows.
As to the glums: some of my shipmates have been suffering from mal de mer and there’s been a few technical issues, yet our excellent crew of Erik, Delaney, and Anton leap into action when called for. You can’t ask for anything more. So those problems could also be seen as glows.
Other glow experiences to speak of today is the joy when a crew-mate rallies out of his seasickness, or the captain hand-delivers just the perfect wrap while you’re at the helm.
// Molly, ADRIENNE II Crew
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The Wheel Keeps on Turning
Helming is basically steering the boat by hand. Helming is so completely unlike driving anything else. How each of us put all this information and sensation together to guide our hands and keep Adrienne going where we want to go - to stay the course as the saying goes - is as different as the individuals on this boat. Well there you have it helming as described by six people who approach the same basic task with highly varied perceptions, feelings, and even emotions.
Navigating with the stars
Once the bimini was folded up the view across the starlit dome above our heads had us in awe and got our full attention. I am writing this during the same watch as I aim to share the beauty of the ocean and special moments we are witnessing during our voyage. Tonight, that light (coming from within and outside our galaxy) is guiding us across this vast open space towards our destination. Witnessing and sharing constellations builds a link to ancient cultures and seafarers, and this view into a world of lightyears and galaxies challenges the day to day notions of space and time you so recently left behind. Thank you for joining us as we sail under the stars.
Equator Day!
Excitement was in the air as the day dawned, the Equator grew ever closer. Those who go to sea often hear of King Neptune arriving at such a time in order to promote those worthy souls from Pollywog to Shellback, in the watery realm. We were still surprised when he arrived and called upon us to honour tradition and answer for crossing the equator without permission. For me this was one of the features of the trip and it did not disappoint. This is definitely a passage to remember.