23:29 Salvador Brazil
In-Port
It's early evening, Naxo and Manot just wrapped up sharing boat buying advice with our starry eyed and very eager crew. Wasn't on the official prep agenda, but as we snack and sip under the darkening sky after wrapping up our extensive pre-departure safety, passage planning, and rig checks, the energy and excitement is bubbling over into dreams of future sails before we even leave Salvador. The last three days have been an intense (and intensely hot) period of discovery, practice, and planning. Because Adrienne II is not a 59N boat, there's been some extra setup and coordination needed including rigging all the sails that were out for repairs before we arrived. Its been a blast working alongside the 59N team getting to help them work things out on a less familiar boat in real time. All of us are happy to jump in where needed and also to stand back when the head scratching begins. The humor filled and easy going way everyone is settling in is definitely a great sign for the passage ahead. Tomorrow morning we'll run through our Person Over Board training as the final pre-departure task, cast off and head out. So much to look forward to. Can't know all that it will be, but its going to be a great adventure out in the vast world with some pretty fantastic people. Couldn't ask for more.
Kif Scheuer
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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!