Upwind Beat
Tuesday, 29 May, 2025 | Upwind Beat to Tahiti
Well, here we are beating back from Bora Bora to Tahiti. So far this year I have sailed over 8,500 nm on FALKEN and today was the first time I’ve tacked her. It’s interesting because mostly I think I prefer downwind sailing when the boat is flatter and you don’t need crampons to get to the snack cupboard, but upwind has its advantages. The main sheet being relatively safe is a big one. There’s a sense that in open water and low traffic areas you can let the crew run the deck when upwind without the constant fear of an accidental gybe and subsequent preventer failure. I also believe that the corkscrew movement of the boat surfing downwind is more likely to induce sea sickness in those prone, and that despite the heel, the overall motion of upwind dynamics can be easier to predict.
I believe this cruising passage has been the first of its kind for Falken, as we have voyaged fewer miles but instead enjoyed time ashore and in stunning settings. Bora Bora did not disappoint for the crew, who filled every moment with activities both land and water based. We could have explored one of the other destinations in the Society Islands had it not been for a large swell that pushed up from the south, with predictions of up to 6m waves, while we were nicely protected inside of the reef.
The adventure is not yet over though, and we plan to spend tonight in Cooks Bay, Moorea, a stunning anchorage that I have visited previously and that exhibited some of the most stunning sunsets I have seen to date. Our dinner reservation is in place and, given the shorter nature of the trip, it seemed fitting to return to Tahiti early on the final day in time for a morning clean up ahead of crew departure. This will be my last night sail aboard Falken this year and I intend to make the most of it, with or without the crampons.
– Emily
EmilyCaruso
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Ketch us if you Kan
Falken is soon to carry on our preferred route of South, back to (hopefully) warmer climates. We’re all excited to set off and see more of this wild landscape as we head down to Victoria. A thermal trough over Vancouver combined with an offshore high pressure creating funneling NW’ly winds means it is due to be pretty fruity on the 9th. This passage is just under 600 miles, relatively short for Falken, but I’m sure we’ll be kept entertained with dramatic scenery, wildlife and weather!
Final Blog
Falken and her crew arrived safely into port last night around 8pm boat time, 10pm Prince Rupert time. Some spicy weather was anticipated, but luckily the 35kt gusts and 2.5 meter waves were no match for this expert crew. We had an exceptionally smooth docking, despite it being Alex's first time parking this year (!). We all agreed that this was a very special group of people—I for one am so impressed with how everyone stayed so positive, helpful, and appreciative of humor despite an arguably challenging passage. We'll all return home significantly saltier than we were when we left, a mark of a passage properly sailed.
Lessons and a Gift
The biggest lesson is the helm. The lesson here is that even if you don't think you can do it over and over again with no sleep, cold and damp, it has to be done and so it can be done. Flying fish are cool, dolphins are really really cool, but the coolest of them all are the whales. And most of all Alex: "Find your center Carla. Always know where your center is so you can come back to it". He means the helm but it applies to life as well.