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Cheers - Bryan
2020 Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race Participants
- Thread starter Philpott
- Start date
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Thanks, Brian. I appreciate the heads up. Certainly any self respecting singlehanded sailor would only stay in the in Bali Hai Suite, anyway. It's $2941/night before renovations. Maybe the amenities are getting an upgrade? More threads per inch of material in the sheets, fluffier towels, colder champagne? Don't suppose they allow foul weather gear in the dining room?
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
You write "we", Bob. If that means you are all in for the race, I will trespass with you in Hanalei Bay. You can be the drunk guy, I'll take the photograph.
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This is an important question. Thanks for the clarification, Brian.
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dolfinbill
New member
At the risk of whatever, my instincts are the same as the Hedgehog. Doing the SHTP from San Diego makes it even harder to get to the starting line but after so many years of dreaming there was only one way to get that buckle so Dolfin bashed up the coast to SF twice. Is it worth it? Do you really have to ask? I have mixed feelings about the PSSA joining in. I sympathize with with SoCal sailors wanting to share the experience but at the same time don't want to dilute the tradition of the SHTP. I'm just so proud to finally have those two beautiful belt buckles.
Bill Meanley
Dolfin, Pacific Seacraft 37
tiger beetle
N/M 45 Tiger Beetle
Hi Brian -
I've heard that the sharing would include shore boat duty (should there be a shore boat), presumably transport to/from the awards banquet, in addition to the awards banquet itself. So I believe there's more on the table here than having extra chairs at the awards banquet.
From my perspective sharing the awards banquet is a concern. My concern is mixing the singlehanded fleet (SSS) with a doublehanded fleet (PSSA is inviting doublehanders to join their race); if the number of PSSA boats is small relative to SSS boats then sharing the awards banquet probably makes sense. What the SSS should not want is any chance of the singlehander's achievement being swamped by a larger number of doublehanders. Based on the SSS race entries in San Francisco Bay racing in which there are many more doublehanders than singlehanders, I would expect that over time more doublehanders will enter the PSSA race than singlehanders - and then the dilution occurs.
The SSS has fiercely retained the SSS TransPacific Yacht Race as a singlehanded event despite the periodically-raised idea of 'Why not invite doublehanders to race SSS Transpac? - we'd have more boats that way.' The response historically has been that if you want to race doublehanded then go do Pacific Cup, the SSS Transpac is for singlehanders. The PSSA Shaka Challenge does not seem to have this mindset - rather than have a singlehanded-only race to Hawaii they are competing with doublehanded division of the big LA Transpac race. I do not believe this is a good move by the PSSA, and the SSS should not want to get caught up in that competition in any way/shape/form.
- rob/beetle
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
I'm proud and protective of our singlehanded race to Hanalei but here's my take, as shared with another SSS'er earlier today (with minor edits):
"As you know, I agree about the singlehanded emphasis. Note that the 2018 Shaka Challenge was also open to doublehanders but all six entries were singlehanders. I suspect PSSA feels the same way we do (their newsletter is called the "Solo" after all), but they are doing everything they can to get enough entries to put the thing on.
Here are my two concerns (numbered for your convenience
1) Brian supports helping them and we don't want to piss off Brian - we need him to run the race.
2) We know some of the PSSA folks - they DID come up and start at the Corinthian YC and race singlehanded to Hanalei with us. I'd hate to see any animosity develop between the two groups. That's why I'm sensitive to what's being posted about this on our forum - which they read. (Edited) The better thing is to get together and chat about our concerns."
At this point, I say "the more, the merrier." I think sponsored pros are a bigger threat to the SHTP than a couple of double-handed entries from SoCal (if there even are any).
"As you know, I agree about the singlehanded emphasis. Note that the 2018 Shaka Challenge was also open to doublehanders but all six entries were singlehanders. I suspect PSSA feels the same way we do (their newsletter is called the "Solo" after all), but they are doing everything they can to get enough entries to put the thing on.
Here are my two concerns (numbered for your convenience
1) Brian supports helping them and we don't want to piss off Brian - we need him to run the race.
2) We know some of the PSSA folks - they DID come up and start at the Corinthian YC and race singlehanded to Hanalei with us. I'd hate to see any animosity develop between the two groups. That's why I'm sensitive to what's being posted about this on our forum - which they read. (Edited) The better thing is to get together and chat about our concerns."
At this point, I say "the more, the merrier." I think sponsored pros are a bigger threat to the SHTP than a couple of double-handed entries from SoCal (if there even are any).
Jonathan Gutoff
New member
Hopefully this isn't that much of a thread drift. Is finishing in Hanalei from SoCal the best course? Does being further north make a difference? Sleddog?
solosailor
New member
Let them do their own race, we should not combine our clubs races. The PSSA Shaka Challenge being held the same years as the SHTP is an issue for me and I've told Jerome that many times since he floated the idea so he could race his Mini from LA...... which he didn't even do in the Shaka Challenge. I feel the PSSA is riding on the coattails of the SHTP and takes away potential competitors. They could have held it on Odd years so SSS members could compete in their race as well but they decided to put it at the same time as the SHTP.... not cool in my book at all. Yes, they are free to hold their own race..... which I though was to Oahu for "easier shipping".... Now they want to come crash our party and finishing location as well??? Weak PSSA, weak.
solosailor
New member
WTF???? This is something the current board approved? I think this is something that the membership base of the SSS should decide. Not pleased to hear they published this in their NOR. Let them race to Oahu like they pitched since the beginning of the Shaka and stop stepping all over the SSS toes. There IS a singlehanded race from the West Coast to Hawaii in even years and a chance to doublehanded every year already. I have pitched this many times over the years but I think the SSS needs a board of directors, not just current short term officers. The board would have to approve any changes to the SSS rules, etc. that the current officers want to implement.
Hi Jonathan,
There is no "best" course to Hanalei. Leaving from SoCal or SF Bay encounter roughly the same winds, sailing angles, Ridge and southern lobe of the EPAC High. SF to Hanalei is 2,120 miles and SoCal to Hanalei is 2,300 miles, a difference of 180 miles.
Given the longer distance and a slightly higher probability of getting stuck in a "Catalina Eddy" as opposed to a "Southerly Surge," I'd guess the SoCal to Hanalei course would take the average singlehander about a day and a half longer to sail than starting at SF.
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
Their NOR has been taken down and according to prior posts in this thread, the replacement NOR won't mention the SSS or our race.
Not sure I'm going but if I do, I look forward to seeing these skippers.
This thread is one symptom of the reason I'm moving away from the SSS and planning on doing other things. I'll keep in touch with those I consider friends but the closed-minded mentality that leads to thinking, "this is our race, go away" boggles my mind. It's just sad. But, hey, this is not my fight. I'd rather walk away and be happy for the great memories.
solosailor
New member
Of course they can do and go where they want but I guess I'll be labelled with a "close-minded mentality" since I find it in very bad form to create an event with the same format, time and now finish location of another groups long running event. They could have simply held their race in odd years. Cheers