WILD Alaska!
54º 59’ 53 N, 131º 01’ 90 W
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 54º 59’ 53 N / 131º 01’ 90 W, local time 0600am
Hello from WILD Alaska! Our crew of 11 met at noon yesterday. With only 8 days to explore the rugged shores of our passage between Ketchikan and Victoria, we set off from the dock almost immediately after a quick safety briefing and orientation. It worked out well, because it only started raining once we had slipped! As one of the crew so aptly remarked, if you have to slip lines from the dock in the rain you might find yourself saying, “this is crazy, maybe we shouldn’t go.” Whereas, if it starts raining once you are underway, you just ask yourself, “are we crazy, but we might as well keep going…”
Unstopped by the rain, we then spent three hours gently motoring in no breeze while practicing winch work and learning how to make logs and use the nav equipment. It all worked out perfectly, honestly, and made for a nice change to do this without the squeaking fenders and the dock rubbing up our anxiety. It’s funny how that happens, isn’t it? That bit before leaving is always stressful—even if there isn’t much stress incoming. But once you set sail, even in no wind, the ‘to-do’ list dramatically falls off without a grocery store nearby or that last minute thing to get. All of a sudden, with less choice and less freedom, we in fact feel more relaxed and more… free! Ahhh, big breath.
The dream continued. We entered our idyllic anchorage about 8pm to humpbacks gently puffing into the dusk. We ate a delicious dinner. Everyone was asleep by 11pm. By 0530am this morning the hook was back up, and we are now headed to Prince Rupert to sign into Canada and start our adventure. Stay tuned! We are keeping our eyes out for a bear. Now that isn’t a phrase often used in a 59 North Offshore Sailing blog!
- Nikki | FALKEN Skipper
NikkiHenderson
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HMS Night Watch Party
Wing on wing worked well until the wind shifted then the helm became the cone of despair for our night watch crew of three (H, M and S) Alex made the decision to drop the pole, shifting wing on wing to a close reach. Wind increased to low teens and speed picked up to a flying pace. Day spent wandering toward Ensenada. Alex, Adam and David got us into port under another starry night.
No Kitemares Today
After a night marked by sudden wind accelerations peeling off Point Conception, and a vibrant, pulsating sky blistered with shooting stars, the off-watch woke to commotion on the foredeck. The wind had gone light and the swell had tapered just enough to raise the spinnaker. The sail filled with an urgent pop, the sheet strained and Falken charged down the face of the next wave. By mid-day, we doused the spinnaker and set our minds to the more precise task of safely punching through a gap in the notorious Cortez Bank. The border to Mexico looms ahead.
The California coast
We had a very lively first day of sailing with steady winds between 25 and 30 kn gusting to mid 30s. All of the crew got experience at difficult downwind helming as we covered 200 nautical miles in the first 24 hours. This morning brings winds in the teens and calmer seas. The sun is still shining, and the green monster has been slayed by those afflicted!