whales
January 25, 2025, 13:45 UTC | Whales
Well, yesterday’s crew delight was a sighting of numerous whales. I happened to be cooking dinner at the time, so my only experience of them was a photograph taken by Kevin. This was probably a good thing because, upon seeing both their size and proximity, let’s just say I had a slightly different facial expression than the majority. I’ll let the team fill you in on the details.
Whilst we continue to make good speed towards Antigua, the wind angle has us making more north than we would ideally like, and we have decided that Sunday seems like a nice day for a gybe. I suspect the new angle won’t be pleasing, but it might be nice to experience the swell from a different angle for a while.
Both watches are now helming with confidence, and it’s always gratifying to know you’ve passed the halfway mark. The next milestone is when the remaining distance falls below 1000nm, which should be by Tuesday morning.
For those anticipating our arrival window, it’s still too soon to say, and there may well be lighter winds at the back end of the passage.
There’s so much laughter and fun coming from the deck at all times; it’s really quite uplifting.
Emily
EmilyCaruso
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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.