636 Nautical Miles Away: A Fenix Journey Offshore

For someone who spends a great deal of time outdoors, a headlamp often ends up accompanying you to many different places. For this user, a brand-new Fenix HM61R V3.0 quickly became part of his outdoor gear. From the spring wilderness of Ontario, Canada, to an offshore sailing race in the Atlantic, it would go on to experience a journey that was anything but ordinary.

It all started with a spring canoe expedition.

From the Wilderness of Ontario

I recently purchased a brand-new Fenix HM61R V3.0.

Since I spend a great deal of time outdoors, I had done quite a bit of research before making my choice. I was looking for a headlamp that I could rely on for years to come, and the HM61R V3.0 seemed to offer the right balance of durability, versatility, and reliability.

Its first trip with me was a spring canoe expedition through Temagami, Ontario, where patches of snow still lingered beneath the pines. The HM61R V3.0 performed flawlessly throughout the trip.

I remember thinking at the time that this might be the last headlamp I would ever need to buy.

I had no idea it would soon face a very different kind of test.

636 Nautical Miles Offshore

Not long after that, I took it aboard J/120 Rocket Science for the Newport to Bermuda Race.

The race covers 636 nautical miles across the Atlantic, taking us far offshore and away from land. On a passage like this, a dependable headlamp isn't simply a matter of convenience. At night, when the crew is working on deck, it becomes an essential part of your safety gear.

The red-light mode on the HM61R V3.0 was especially useful. During the darkest hours of the night, we often had to work on deck, and the red light helped preserve our night vision. Its waterproof design also gave me confidence that it would keep working even if I ended up in the water.

This year's race was particularly demanding.

The first 200 miles were rough, with cold North Atlantic seas, strong winds, and plenty of spray sweeping across the deck. To keep the boat under control, the crew was frequently called upon to reduce canvas and change sails throughout the night.

The HM61R V3.0 stayed with me through all of it.

Until the second night.

A Sail Change in the Wind and Waves

That night, we needed to change from the Jib Top to the J-2.

My position aboard was at the mast, second from the bow. My job was to hoist one sail and then lower the other.

Working forward of the mast meant being harnessed in among the standing rigging that supports it. With waves constantly washing across the deck and lines and equipment all around us, every movement had to be made carefully.

But then, in one unfortunate moment, I turned to the side and a shroud rod caught my headlamp.

The HM61R V3.0 popped cleanly out of the headband.

I could only watch as it bounced once or twice across the deck, slipped over the lifelines, and disappeared into the Atlantic.

For a few seconds, I could still see it.

The Last Red Light in the Atlantic

The headlamp didn't disappear immediately.

Through the water, I could still see its red beam. It flickered through the bioluminescent water as the headlamp slowly sank, becoming dimmer and dimmer until that small red light finally disappeared into the darkness.

It didn't make it to the finish line with us.

But looking back, the journey it did make was pretty remarkable.

It had gone with me through the snow-covered pines of Ontario, and then into the darkness of the Atlantic, where we worked through cold winds, heavy spray, and rough seas to change sails in the middle of the night.

From the wilderness on land to 636 nautical miles offshore, it may not have been a long time together, but it was certainly an unforgettable one.

I'm very grateful to Fenix for making such a fantastic product.