July 24, 2026
Wind: 22–28 knots
Swell: 3+ meters, steep
Boat Speed: 7 ± knots
Weather: Sunny with clouds and squalls
Sails: Two reefs in the jib, two reefs in the mainsail, and two reefs in the mizzen
Rip-roaring along!
It was a fast and bouncy night, with waves constantly crashing over the bow. One Ocean is flying along, slicing beautifully through the swell.
I have to say, during my watch from 4:00–6:00 a.m., I felt like I was on the edge of my seat. We were beating hard into the wind, and every time the bow launched into a wave, it came crashing back down. I could hear the anchor chain banging and ringing throughout the cabin as the boat pitched through the steep seas. In one of our classrooms the kids asked if it felt like we were astronauts and I constantly have that vision as we move slowly and with careful footing around the cabin.
I was able to get dinner on the table last night, even though I made a rookie mistake. It was so incredibly hot in the galley that I left the hatch above me open. Sure enough, just as I was plating dinner, a huge wave came crashing through the hatch and drenched the galley—just missing the ribs and salad! Phew!!
We ate like we hadn't eaten in days. It was such comforting food, and we all enjoyed it immensely. I was grateful that we had been able to shop and provision back in America because we had easy meals ready to pull from the freezer after a long day like this.
We covered another 155 nautical miles over the past 24 hours, but we've fallen about 10 degrees off our intended track. We'll continue nudging our course back to where we need to be. Right now, it looks like these strong winds will stay with us until tomorrow. After that, we may find ourselves in a high-pressure system, which could slow our progress considerably.
The countdown has officially begun. We estimate that we have approximately 15 days until we arrive in Victoria, British Columbia, with a tentative arrival around August 7. And then Anacortes on August 9th, of course, that's entirely dependent on the weather and what One Ocean decides to give us.
So far, One Ocean has been handling everything beautifully. It's almost as if she was built for this. I truly believe she likes having a purpose. She's a proud girl, and I'm proud of her.
Something I haven't shared yet is that our lead scientist, my daughter Grace, had a bad accident while we were in the Galápagos and tore tendons in her ankle. She underwent surgery a week ago and is now beginning her recovery. I'm hopeful she'll be able to meet us and sail across the finish line with the team, but that will depend on both her recovery and the weather. It wouldn't be the first time I've wheelbarrowed someone down the docks!
All is well with the crew aboard One Ocean. We've settled into a wonderful watch schedule and a relaxed rhythm that makes life at sea feel remarkably comfortable, even in conditions like these. I know we're all looking forward to getting home, but it will be strange not having my trusty companions aboard and sharing this tiny floating home with them every day. It's been a real pleasure and a joy, and I'm incredibly grateful for this team.