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
Seasickness
But maybe, I thought, with some drugs I could stay ahead of it. The first 48 hours I felt horrible. But luckily with 3 health care professionals on board and in a very encouraging environment, my body found its way. Anyway, someone offered me a patch (unavailable in Canada) and someone else gave me some pills for nausea and now I feel much, much better.
Dolphins and Bioluminescence
We had a good run with the sails but weather has changed and we are once again chasing the wind. Everyone is getting a chance to practice helming in big swell; starting to get a feel of the wind and water and how it pushes and pulls the hull. A pod of dolphins came to visit at night, splashing in the bioluminescent water, and again in the day, dancing in the bow wake. For now enjoying the calmer sea state and falling asleep to the rumble of the engine and the gentle whooshing of the water on the hull.
Greetings from Lala Lemonshark
The brave crew is toughing it out and staying cheerful despite being tossed around. The engine is off and we are true sailing-main and jib. In the first 12 hours we saw two pods of Orca and four humpback whales, two of which were 20 yards off the starboard beam!