20°04.9' N 024°43.7' W
October 14, 2025 | 17:20 UTC | 20°04.9' N 024°43.7' W
The Life Onboard as an Apprentice
One year ago, I met Andy and Mia at a boat show in Ellös, Sweden—a first encounter with NORDIC FALKEN and 59° North. After a long and interesting conversation for both parties, I applied to the apprentice program that 59° North started a few years prior. Half a year later, I took a flight down to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, and my first apprentice passage started. This was half a year ago, and today I am doing my second apprentice passage with 59 North.
As a 19-year-old guy dreaming of one day working with ocean sailing, the life on both FALEKN and now ADRIENNE II is so much more than having the constant view of an endless horizon, magical sunrises and sunsets, good sailing, and meeting amazing people that you grow so close to during the passage. The skilled skippers and mates bring you excitement and knowledge about the world I am dreaming of working in. To learn about the weather from Erik, and Tim's knowledge about ADRIENNE II and different sailing stories, is amazing to listen to. As well as new experiences from the crew, such as Nicole's yoga and spirituality, Jim's experience in competition and the constant look for more speed when sailing, and listening to everyone's life stories!
Today is the 14th of October and the 14th day at sea. The sky is starting to turn blue and small cloud banks cover small parts of the blue ocean above us. The ocean beneath us has calmed down the last couple of days, and the comforting waves rock the boat while we make our way upwind towards our destination. With us now being in the last third of the passage, it is still important to take your reflections of life outside this 70ft boat and still take in the surroundings and enjoy every minute of what the ocean has to offer!
Dinner time is soon here for us, so I better get back to the galley to finish the Chili Con Carne that I am cooking!
Fair winds,
Apprentice/Chef Vilgot
Love to Mom and Dad!
crew@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!