Wind: 15–20 knots
Swell: 2 meters
Boat Speed: 7 ± knots
Weather: Sunshine and blue skies
Sails: Main up, mizzen up, jib with two reefs
24-hour Distance: 150 miles
On my 4 a.m. watch, I noticed we were about to cross into 38° latitude—something I had been aiming for because it looked like that was where we might finally find some wind. And just like clockwork, literally as we crossed into 38°, we did.
It started with 9–10 knots on our beam, and by 5 a.m. it had built to a steady 12 knots. I could hear my friend Herb McCormick's voice in my head: "Twelve to seventeen knots—girl, that's what you want." Indeed it is.
The sea remained calm with a low, rolling swell. Mark and I worked together to unfurl the jib beneath a spectacular sunrise while a full moon slowly faded astern.
At the same time, I watched a booby glide effortlessly past the starboard side of the boat, searching for its morning catch.
If this sounds epic...well, it was.
To top it all off, Mark made blueberry pancakes and—yes, you guessed it—bacon. I honestly don't know how he stays so svelte. He seems to live on bacon, butter, and...well...more bacon!
All in all, it was a pretty wonderful way to start the day.
After breakfast, I turned my attention to our arrival plans for Victoria and Anacortes. We learned that the dates we'd hoped to arrive in Victoria had already been booked at the Inner Harbour Marina. Tess, Mark, and I talked through our options, even briefly considering skipping Victoria altogether. But that just didn't feel right.
We have our partnership with the University of Victoria for the pole-to-pole Bull and Giant Kelp study, our Canadian education partner, Exploring By the Seat of Your Pants, our Canadian sponsor, Mustang Survival, and, well...the two Canadians on board—Grace and me. It simply felt like we needed to close that circle.
The Harbour Master graciously welcomed us back and found a way to squeeze us into the marina on August 9. We happily accepted and adjusted our schedule, planning to arrive in Anacortes around 5 p.m. on August 11. The new timeline works well for everyone involved.
Honestly, we all felt the pressure lift from our shoulders. Our original plan of arriving in Victoria on the 7th or 8th felt like we would have been forcing it. One thing this expedition has taught us is that if something doesn't feel right, don't do it. As soon as we shifted the dates, it was as though everything else simply fell into place.
So there you have it—we have official arrival dates.
Victoria: August 9
Friday Harbor: August 10 (to pick up some of the volunteers who crewed with us)
Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes: August 11 at 5 p.m.
Boom.
It's official. Now let's see if we can deliver!
Please continue to follow our tracker on our website for updates: www.oneislandoneocean.com.
It sounds as though two of our major sponsors—the Marine Tech Center and Seattle Yachts—will be there to greet us in Anacortes. And if all goes well, the Anacortes Yacht Club is hoping to host a reception after we arrive.
I promise we'll all try to shower before then.
Wow...I'm getting very excited.
But Mark keeps reminding all of us to stay in the moment. And we do. We will.
The thought of home is always there. The thought of hugging friends, and especially my kids and my kitties...well, it's almost beyond words.
But I'm also here—fully present—and loving every minute of the beauty and adventure of this incredible expedition. It has been an honor to be part of this history and to follow in the wake of those who first accomplished this voyage in 2009–10. And it has been a privilege to sail with the legendary four-time circumnavigator, sailor extraordinaire, and all-around badass, Mark Schrader.
I couldn't be more grateful to have helped bring this project to fruition—a dream Mark had been working to revive for more than 15 years, and one I'm incredibly proud to have been part of.
So yes, I'll stay present. I'll savor every sunrise, every watch, every mile, and every last minute of this absolutely epic accomplishment.
The finish line may finally be in sight, but the journey isn't over. After more than a year at sea, I've learned that every mile matters and that conditions can change in a matter of minutes.
So, if you don't mind, please wish us fair winds and safe sailing. We'll do our part by staying focused, making good decisions, and bringing One Ocean and crew safely home.