Upwind Beat
Saturday, June 7, 2025 | Papeete, Tahiti
I’m sitting in the nav station while the crew are having some coffee on deck. Checklists are done, briefings are completed, and all that’s left to do is refuel before we head out to sea. I always have mixed emotions before slipping lines; it doesn’t matter if it’s for a day-sail around the Solent or to cross the Pacific, that pre-departure feeling is always there. I know that once we hoist the sails and set a heading, all the nerves and anxiety will disappear instantly, but until then I have learned to cope with these feelings. The crew are all very excited to be sailing in these waters. We have a few stoppage options on the way to Honolulu and an Equator crossing to get through first, but OMG, what a place to be doing what we love the most! We’ll keep you all updated as we go.
Lots of love,
Alex & the crew
laline96@gmail.com
View more passage logs
The Penultimate Blog from Adrienne II
After 20 days, and 3000+ nautical miles, we're back on land. The motley crew of Adrienne II, consisting of 7 happy amateurs supported by 3 professionals, have completed an epic journey many dream of but few realize. So much of this trip has been about being present - with nature, with each other, with this boat. My biggest takeaway from this trip is the amazing crossing of the ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). We all hope you've enjoyed the blog as much as we've enjoyed creating it.
Mother Nature, you’ve outdone yourself!
It’s been a great experience to have a non-traditional trans-Atlantic, as it’s been packed with genuinely cool features. The Doldrums!! A place sailors have been talking about for centuries. The unpredictability is what made it such an exhilarating experience. While some might be frightened or alarmed by this kind of weather, I was embodied with a sense of calm and awe. There’s something wildly beautiful about being reminded how small you are, while feeling so incredibly alive.
A Heavenly High
As you have probably figured out at this point, the drug of choice on board is, of course, celestial navigation- an art which has hooked offshore sailors for centuries. Once addicted, navigators will emerge from down below only to get their fixes two times per day, and spend the rest of their days and nights down below doing complex spherical mathematics. On Adrienne II, our skipper is our dealer. I must confess that I myself gave in to the strange urge which I’ve felt witnessing my crewmates practice this fine art, and yesterday felt an amazing sensation as I was able to wield the sextant for the first time and with it, bring down the tip of our starboard spreader to the top of our front sprayhood, presicely measuring the angle between the two (35deg, 38,8’ min). This afternoon, Naxo then showed me how to get my fix from the very sun itself - and I now fear there is no turning back.