Turtles, stars and lasagna
03:00 UTC | 01°32.9’N 090°16.7’W
Sailing
We are officially underway! After clearing out customs and immigration (followed by a full boat inspection), FALKEN and her crew hoisted the anchor and got sailing straight away. Some wind holes and a few turtles later, we managed to find a more stable breeze, which we’re currently sailing in.
It’s currently nighttime onboard, and I have to say the sky we have is one of the best I have seen in my life. We can spot the Southern Cross, the Big Dipper, Spica, and so many other constellations mixed in with the Milky Way. It surely feels like we’re floating in space, with a flat sea state and Falken sliding at a steady 6 knots in 7.5 knots of breeze. The crew are struggling to choose what star to guide them on the helm!
Everyone is slowly settling into the routine, and we all very much enjoyed Mia’s famous first-night-at-sea lasagna, followed by our Glums and Glows (you would be proud, Andy).
Our plan is to keep heading on a southerly route until we find our beloved trade winds highway to take us to the Marquesas. Until then, we’re expecting light-ish winds with the occasional squall.
Not much more to report for now—going to go up on deck to enjoy the star show for the remainder of my watch!
Lots of love,
Alex Laline
View more passage logs
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.