Routines
20º 00.9’ N, 046º 05.9’ W
January 28, 2025 | 11:52 UTC | 09:52 Ship’s Time | 20º 00.9’ N / 046º 05.9’ W
It is now mid-morning onboard FALKEN. Jeanette has made me and her Team A a wonderful breakfast; she turned last night’s mashed potato leftovers into amazing quesadillas with some cured ham, cheese, and piri piri hot sauce from Portugal! Kevin said it reminded him of home. It was so good that she had to make us all a second round. The watermaker is running and it is soon time for a shower. There is no shower inside FALKEN, but there is one on the aft deck, so we all take turns for a fresh rinse, and soon the entire boat will smell good!
Last night we passed our 2000 nm sailed, and we also have less than 1000 nm to go to Antigua. The last couple of days have been amazing sailing with the pole out, surfing downwind on the gentle swell. Occasionally we have squalls roll over us; they often bring some stronger winds, and I think Derek was at the helm during the strongest and had wind in the lower 40 knots for a few minutes. The wind is a bit more easterly now and yesterday we gybed. Vilgot and Paolo were up on the foredeck gybing the pole, while Emily took the helm. First we roll up the yankee, then gybe the pole, gybe the mainsail, and set up the pole on the new side. It takes some time to make sure all lines are run correctly. The boat is set up perfectly with a reefed main out to starboard, and a poled-out yankee to port. She is very balanced and easy at the helm.
It is now getting warmer during the days, especially when the sun peeks through the clouds. We have had more clouds than expected during this passage (quite nice because it keeps the temperatures down), but last night we were treated to an amazing sunset. Brandon sat up at the bow and soaked it in, while Scott was at the helm, steering into the sunset with a big grin on his face.
Life onboard has turned into a very nice routine, and we keep the boat clean and tidy. The morning watch vacuums the floors and cleans the inside every day, the afternoon team scrubs the cockpit, and Emily (skipper) and I take turns cleaning the heads daily. After dinner, the on-watch takes turns to do the dishes and clean up the galley, and you would be surprised how clean the boat is after nearly two weeks at sea with 11 people on a 65-foot space. Our outer gear is kept in the wet lockers, and the personal gear either in the bunks, our personal locker, or the numbered pockets we have by the companionway (perfect for sunglasses, headlamp, water bottles, sunscreen, etc.).
Yesterday it looked like we had a 59º North book club onboard; everyone except Sarah at the helm had a book in their hand. Team B started a push-up challenge during their watch. I joined in but not sure if Sarah has been convinced yet. Everyone takes a few minutes every day though to do some stretching. We take turns hand steering the entire way, usually 30 minutes at a time, and that itself is a good workout, both for the body and for the brain!
Thank you all for following our adventures—less than 1000 nm to go now!
Cheers from Mia and the FALKEN crew
mia@59-north.com
View more passage logs
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!