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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Shooting Stars & Turtle Logs
Day three out of Ketchikan and FALKEN is running wing on wing down the outside of Vancouver Island. The temptation is to lie back in the cockpit and spend the night watching for shooting stars, but a diligent watch is always the first priority. So we keep a sharp eye out while the shooting stars keep us company through the night. The wildlife keeps coming: humpback and minke whales, five mola molas, dolphins, and a black-footed albatross. We are all feeling lucky for such conditions!
Pot dodging and whale watching
Duncan got us up to eleven knots at one point! The Ferriers also logged our first Orca sighting on their 3am-6am watch! This morning is a gift as the temps are just right and we finally have some blue sky and plenty of sunshine. It was a glorious few hours sailing before it inevitably died as forecast. I live in hope that by sunset tonight we’ll be back sailing as we emerge out of the lee of the island and the wind will be more westerly which lends itself to a better sailing angle.
We are off!
After two days of introductions, safety briefings and boat procedures we have departed Ketchikan. We are currently making a whopping 3.3 knots as there is very little wind in Nichols Passage. Adam fed us well last night with a delicious shrimp curry and Duncan was the winner of a sporty game of the card version Monopoly. With the scenic views and light wind it's quite peaceful out here.