Pre-Departure
July 3, 2024
FALKEN // LEG 10 // Crew arrive - introductions and laughter
We have had a busy few days preparing Falken for her next trip from Galway, Ireland to Bergen in Norway. This included a deck wash and filling the water tanks from a fire hydrant. Then, to fill the tanks with diesel, a lovely man arrived in a little fuel lorry with tales of fishing under sail. The welcome here in Ireland has been wonderful.
The boat was ready and the crew arrived, excited and ready for our trip. Between sunshine and showers, we got to know each other, allocated bunks, did a deck walk, and a domestic brief. We ended the day with a great meal out in beautiful Galway. It is always so special how a new crew comes together and becomes a team. The magic has started. Let’s hope we have some great weather.
- Jojo Pickering, Skipper S/Y FALKEN
JoJoPickering
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Seasickness
But maybe, I thought, with some drugs I could stay ahead of it. The first 48 hours I felt horrible. But luckily with 3 health care professionals on board and in a very encouraging environment, my body found its way. Anyway, someone offered me a patch (unavailable in Canada) and someone else gave me some pills for nausea and now I feel much, much better.
Dolphins and Bioluminescence
We had a good run with the sails but weather has changed and we are once again chasing the wind. Everyone is getting a chance to practice helming in big swell; starting to get a feel of the wind and water and how it pushes and pulls the hull. A pod of dolphins came to visit at night, splashing in the bioluminescent water, and again in the day, dancing in the bow wake. For now enjoying the calmer sea state and falling asleep to the rumble of the engine and the gentle whooshing of the water on the hull.
Greetings from Lala Lemonshark
The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!