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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Passages and Purposes
As of today, Falken has taken us over 1800nm across the North Pacific. 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. For now, the latest challenge is to stay in the moment. The memories we’ve made here are priceless, even if we only connected for a few moments on our various paths in this world. So few people get this opportunity to “go dark” and live simply for a moment.
Baptism Off Ka’ena Point
For the ancient Hawaiians, O’ahu was the gathering place. On day one of Falcon’s passage to British Columbia, we were to pass this headland. In short order, the winds built to well over 30 knots on the beam. Below deck I took a seat on the low side and became drenched in sweat. I had finally rounded Ka’ena point.
Turning the corner
Yesterday found Falken on a Northward course, still heeled to port, climbing and falling over waves. Sunrise this morning found Falken in an entirely different condition, one familiar to her, but not yet to the current crew. And then a truly magic moment, a pod of dolphins at least fifty members strong came to dance on Falken’s bow wave. We are now joyfully headed northeast, on course toward our eventual destination of Prince Rupert. Falken has turned a corner.