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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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!