17.03 BOAT TIME | 09° 01.1’ S 116° 55.1’ W
Sailing, Motoring, In-Port, Anchored, Whalewatching, Sing-A-Longing, etc.
We continue our passage to Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas Islands. We have been easily making 8 to 12 knot speeds and 200 nautical mile days. However, the wind speed has dropped which forces us to be more attentive to Falken’s sail trim and helming needs in what can occasionally be light and variable wind conditions and only 6 knot boat speeds. Although 6 to 8 knots may be what many of us plan for on our own sailboats, Falken has already spoiled us and teased us with exhilarating speeds over 17 knots. We trust the wind god Aeolus will deliver to speed us along.
Previous crew member blogs have referenced the song Southern Cross and how David Crosby romanticizes this classic downwind passage. However, recently we have chuckled at what hasn’t been mentioned and that is apparent wind speed (AWS). Although sailing downwind making 8 to 12 knots is beautiful, we are reminded of the fact that the apparent wind speed drops very low as we are moving with the wind ”square rigger” style. The result being, it’s hot 9 degrees south of the equator and the cooling windspeed is greatly reduced to apparent wind speed on this downwind passage! Regardless, the benefits far outweigh the heat as our ”wing on wing” sail configuration provides us evening dinner shade as we sail west into beautiful sunsets.
On night watches we continue to be impressed with the southern night time sky and stars the Ancient Greeks didn’t know existed below their horizon. There is no light pollution to spoil the view where we take Falken, our night sky views are nothing short of spectacular and much better than the Milky Way images we’ve seen in our science books. Each night the Southern Cross is the rock star as it transits it’s arc across the southern sky while continuing to point south.
We’ve got 65 feet of the waterline nicely making way!
Vince
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The Wheel Keeps on Turning
Helming is basically steering the boat by hand. Helming is so completely unlike driving anything else. How each of us put all this information and sensation together to guide our hands and keep Adrienne going where we want to go - to stay the course as the saying goes - is as different as the individuals on this boat. Well there you have it helming as described by six people who approach the same basic task with highly varied perceptions, feelings, and even emotions.
Navigating with the stars
Once the bimini was folded up the view across the starlit dome above our heads had us in awe and got our full attention. I am writing this during the same watch as I aim to share the beauty of the ocean and special moments we are witnessing during our voyage. Tonight, that light (coming from within and outside our galaxy) is guiding us across this vast open space towards our destination. Witnessing and sharing constellations builds a link to ancient cultures and seafarers, and this view into a world of lightyears and galaxies challenges the day to day notions of space and time you so recently left behind. Thank you for joining us as we sail under the stars.
Equator Day!
Excitement was in the air as the day dawned, the Equator grew ever closer. Those who go to sea often hear of King Neptune arriving at such a time in order to promote those worthy souls from Pollywog to Shellback, in the watery realm. We were still surprised when he arrived and called upon us to honour tradition and answer for crossing the equator without permission. For me this was one of the features of the trip and it did not disappoint. This is definitely a passage to remember.