1912 UTC | 08 deg 19.13 min N / 086 deg 34.89 min W
Sailing, Motoring
After a day and a half of training in Playa Flamenco we have just completed our first 24 hours under way. We knew coming out that there was a potential for a dead zone along the rhumb line… and after a fun 8 hours of solid 10-15kts the wind died and we’re now motoring across the doldrums to catch the wind on the other side.
The quality of the 59° North Staff can’t be overstated. Turning a group of strangers into a functioning crew in a day is a big challenge… and they have succeeded. We are on watch groups of 3, with 3 hours on and 6 hours off, which gives us the opportunity to experience helming every hour of the day over the journey. More importantly we are all leaning on each other and everyone is eager to lend a hand, whenever.
AND WE WENT SWIMMING TODAY. While this entire adventure is a bucket list item for many (sailing an ocean crossing, visiting the Galapagos, helming by starlight in the middle of the ocean), adding “Go for a swim in 10,000 foot deep water”) is a fun one to check off. And the water was lovely, so bonus there.
The experience below deck is another adventure. Call it “Super functional no fluff”. It has everything we need for living aboard, but if you want turn down service, move along, this ain’t the passage for you. Belowdeck is perfectly set up to keep us fed and rested. If you’re curious, the YouTube video where Andy and Jen go through the FALKEN shows it perfectly.
That about wraps it up for now… we’re excited to get back under sail asap, hoping that’s by tomorrow.
Enjoying the ride.
Enjoying the Ride - Jeremy
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Passages and Purposes
As of today, Falken has taken us over 1800nm across the North Pacific. We’ve learned about water-makers, starter motors, furling, taking in and letting out reefs, easing and grinding, weather and wind, helming by course and by wind angles, and the difference between rest and sleep. For now, the latest challenge is to stay in the moment. The memories we’ve made here are priceless, even if we only connected for a few moments on our various paths in this world. So few people get this opportunity to “go dark” and live simply for a moment.
Baptism Off Ka’ena Point
For the ancient Hawaiians, O’ahu was the gathering place. On day one of Falcon’s passage to British Columbia, we were to pass this headland. In short order, the winds built to well over 30 knots on the beam. Below deck I took a seat on the low side and became drenched in sweat. I had finally rounded Ka’ena point.
Turning the corner
Yesterday found Falken on a Northward course, still heeled to port, climbing and falling over waves. Sunrise this morning found Falken in an entirely different condition, one familiar to her, but not yet to the current crew. And then a truly magic moment, a pod of dolphins at least fifty members strong came to dance on Falken’s bow wave. We are now joyfully headed northeast, on course toward our eventual destination of Prince Rupert. Falken has turned a corner.