06:50 UTC | 48°08.3N 146°00.8W
Surfing!
As of today, Falken has taken us over 1800nm across the North Pacific. We’ve had winds from 6-36kts, gorgeous hot sun to frigid wet fog, seemingly endless squalls sailing upwind, and now a low pressure system chasing us downwind. We’ve learned about water-makers, starter motors, furling, taking in and letting out reefs, easing and grinding, weather and wind, helming by course and by wind angles, and the difference between rest and sleep. Downwind sailing with swells and surfing is the latest challenge for us, but we’ve been through adversity before… and we have phenomenal instruction with laughter as the salve that heals our egos.
For now, all is well.
Prince Rupert seems to be within reach. Today, I wonder, how did this trip go by so quickly? I did miss a few days of it in my berth with seasickness, but I thought it would be longer. After all, I’ve been planning for this passage for 18 months. How can it be almost over? Only a few days ago, I wondered if we’d ever hit a thousand miles, and now we’re pushing toward two. As we look over the horizon tonight, I’m starting to to think about the next plans, the kids, jobs, and commitments we will all be returning to. Each of us has a life to re-enter, thousands of emails to dig through, and will soon return home, still salty and damp, to our respective “daily grinds.”
Those things are coming.
For now, the latest challenge is to stay in the moment. I want to savor the color of the sea, the purest breaths of sea air, the success of making it down a wave, and the challenge of the next one. I want to learn more of what Falken has to teach me for these last few days. I want to laugh as we wave to one another coming up the companionway. I want to wake up from a rest for a warm dinner on deck.
The memories we’ve made here are priceless, even if we only connected for a few moments on our various paths in this world. I’m grateful to have been a part of this crew of stranger-friends and to discover the larger purpose of our meeting here for this passage. So few people get this opportunity to “go dark” and live simply for a moment.
Just a few more days, Falken.
With gratitude overwhelming,
Thanks and Peace.\
Corey
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Day Four: The boat has figured us out
By day 4, things start to get into a rhythm that starts to look like a small community onboard. It’s when personalities start to flourish, when people start losing themselves and start to realize that they don’t really care about a lot of things! I’m pretty sure the disconnection from the internet starts aligning our inner selves. Clearly everyone has gotten their sea legs by now, and even the boat seems to have understood the type of crew she has now. I love to see how people start fitting into different roles with their peers and the boat itself.
Kärt barn har många namn
A dear child goes by many a name, or as we say in Swedish "kärt barn har många namn". This is the case for many a person, but also some species, not least the Mahi mahi, which also goes by dolphin fish, golden mackerel, and dorado, among others. Soon, we could see the fish jump, a hundred feet or so behind the boat, and as I kept reeling, a beautiful Mahi appeared under the surface. Manot showed us how to clean and fillet it, and after a complete team effort two large fillets are now in the freezer of Adrienne II.
Cast off the lines
When we awoke it was overcast but the Brazilian sun quickly burned the clouds away and we were left with blue skies. We reviewed some safety procedures, cleaned the boat and had an exciting Person Overboard (POB) recovery. Once we were underway spirits soared as we pointed the bow toward the Canary Islands. As I write this we are heading upwind and dealing with all that involves, and working into our first watches. It is hot, a bit bumpy but we are sailing!!