Apr 14 2025 11 mins 16
Distilling a 4200-mile Pacific passage into memorable sound bites isn’t easy. But certain experiences definitely stand out. Here are some favorite moments from our 33 days at sea.
Summary
Sitting in a rolling anchorage is a great time to review Pacific passage highlights. After 32 days at sea and 8 hours heaving to so we could anchor during daylight there are so many epic experiences to reflect on.
On our passage, I wrote daily emails. Follow the link below for access to all of them. They include observations of conditions and the moon and stars. But here, I'm just focusing on the highlights.
One major highlight was crossing the Equator. Why should crossing an imaginary line feel so momentous? I don't know. But talking to other cruisers, I know we're not alone.
We also saw an epic pod of commuting dolphins. I say commuting because they didn't play in the bow but kept moving. Other wildlife included a visiting bird, determined to be a swallowtail gull.
Near the equator, the moon rises as the sun is setting. So we could see the sun going down over our bow as the moon rose over our transom.
Before the seas became rough, we caught a large mahi-mahi that kept us fed for two days.
While not a highlight, the chafe of our main halyard added some excitement to the passage. Using the topping lift to carry the main was a temporary fix until we used it as a messenger line to secure a replacement halyard.
Other highlights included ticking off milestones--our first 1000 miles and crossing the equator. I enjoyed watching our self-steering unit (we called it Larry) do its work.
Of course, even routines are momentous underway, including our traditional Sunday pancake breakfast. With 30 knots of wind, it was exciting. But it was a good reminder of how we're adjusting our ideas about acceptable conditions.
We completed our passage of over 3000 miles at 5.5 knots on average, faster than many cruisers on boats longer than our 28-foot Calypso.
In the end, we were generally comfortable, ate well, and got enough rest. I hope to see you in an anchorage. Look for Calypso. And check out the links to find pictures and more details of our passage.
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Links:
The Boat Galley Cruising Guides - https://products.theboatgalley.com/collections/quick-reference-guides
Daily Emails - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ffv_dDmAQiqo013OHaZPhUpQJbkQx5b3?usp=sharing
More Details & Photos - https://www.fit2sail.com/countdown-to-cruising/2025/4/11/highlights-from-a-pacific-passage
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Music: “Slow Down” by Yvette Craig
