32°27.7N 118°53.2W
November 6, 2025 | 32°27.7N 118°53.2W / 15:30 Local Time
Sunshirts on! Four days in and I just took my foulies off for the first time. Coming from the PNW, I thought this passage would be much colder and wetter, so the sun shirts (whooo!) are a welcome reprieve. The flip side of sunshirts is that their need suggests we are getting closer to Mexico and our destination port of Ensenada. Can we just keep sailing?
The adventure of offshore sailing has been incredible. A full eight days of uninterrupted time with others who are bringing the stoke for being on the open ocean. As a crew, we’ve adapted to the rhythm of the watch schedules and helm rotations. What an opportunity for ten strangers to build a small, cohesive team together. Alex and Adam from 59N have set the perfect tone of having fun, learning, and growing.
We’ve had big variations in weather, and a huge low pressure system has filled in north of us. We started with super calm and mellow seas under the Golden Gate Bridge and out to sea. Yesterday, we had sporty upwind sailing. Everyone except Chris and I were ready to get the downhill breeze, which filled in early this morning. I loved being at the helm, getting absolutely blasted by wind and enjoying just how fast and capable Falken is.
Another day and we will likely be in Ensenada, so I’ve been really trying to soak it up. Trying to set speed records coming off the huge waves, wing on wing sailing, cheering on my crewmates, and enjoying the peaceful midnight watch under a full moon. So many moments I’ll keep close.
Kristen R. | FALKEN Crew
FALKENCrew
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Ketch us if you Kan
Falken is soon to carry on our preferred route of South, back to (hopefully) warmer climates. We’re all excited to set off and see more of this wild landscape as we head down to Victoria. A thermal trough over Vancouver combined with an offshore high pressure creating funneling NW’ly winds means it is due to be pretty fruity on the 9th. This passage is just under 600 miles, relatively short for Falken, but I’m sure we’ll be kept entertained with dramatic scenery, wildlife and weather!
Final Blog
Falken and her crew arrived safely into port last night around 8pm boat time, 10pm Prince Rupert time. Some spicy weather was anticipated, but luckily the 35kt gusts and 2.5 meter waves were no match for this expert crew. We had an exceptionally smooth docking, despite it being Alex's first time parking this year (!). We all agreed that this was a very special group of people—I for one am so impressed with how everyone stayed so positive, helpful, and appreciative of humor despite an arguably challenging passage. We'll all return home significantly saltier than we were when we left, a mark of a passage properly sailed.
Lessons and a Gift
The biggest lesson is the helm. The lesson here is that even if you don't think you can do it over and over again with no sleep, cold and damp, it has to be done and so it can be done. Flying fish are cool, dolphins are really really cool, but the coolest of them all are the whales. And most of all Alex: "Find your center Carla. Always know where your center is so you can come back to it". He means the helm but it applies to life as well.