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Anyone thinking about the 2027 SHTP?

If there is one commonality with budgeting templates for SHTP, it is underestimating battery drain and over estimating charging. This is primarily because AP's and other ambient equipment use more power than anticipated. As well, with solar, it can be overcast the first 1/3-1/2 of the voyage, or more. And after LAN, the spinnaker or poled jib shade the solar panel(s). Having to hand steer 12 hours is a sure way to run down one's physicality and mental acuity, important in decision making and problem solving.
The 2027 SHTP will be the 25th.
 
Hi all, I'm preparing for 2027 as well! I bought Fury, my Baltic 42 DP, about 3 years ago and have done loads of refits & upgrades since then. I'm feeling close to ready but know I have some finishing touches to accomplish over the next year to check all the required boxes. My plan is to sail my qualifier June 2026 from San Diego up to San Francisco and hope to race in some of the Bay Area events later in the summer/ fall. Although, I haven't looked at the race schedule yet... Anyway looking forward to the comradery the SHTP seems to elicit!

Recent photo of Fury resting at 2 Harbors, Catalina Island after an overnight sail from San Diego.

~Mark
 

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Hi all, I'm preparing for 2027 as well! I bought Fury, my Baltic 42 DP, about 3 years ago and have done loads of refits & upgrades since then. I'm feeling close to ready but know I have some finishing touches to accomplish over the next year to check all the required boxes. My plan is to sail my qualifier June 2026 from San Diego up to San Francisco and hope to race in some of the Bay Area events later in the summer/ fall. Although, I haven't looked at the race schedule yet... Anyway looking forward to the comradery the SHTP seems to elicit!

Recent photo of Fury resting at 2 Harbors, Catalina Island after an overnight sail from San Diego.

~Mark
Mark, Thanks for the report! The more time spent sailing, especially offshore, the better things will go. Many SHTP first time entrants arrive at the start line wishing they'd had more shakedown and boat handling time.
 
Though not specifically required, it is a good idea especially if spill-able.
SER for 2025 states they be secured so they can't fly around during an event like a knockdown or rollover.

SERs are likely to be similar for 2027.

Even when strapped down batteries can move around a bit and that becomes a wear point, so I put mine in plastic boxes to have a buffer between the battery and hull.
 
Just an update, my Hydrovane should arrive in about 3 weeks. I forgot to factor in the new tariffs imposed by our dear leader so it was a bit more expensive than I had hoped. February promises to be stormy and rainy in Newport OR so I may not get the Hydrovane installed until March. Meanwhile I am reading up on the Iridium Go with Predictwind as my Grib and notification system.
 
@Desmond - Sorry to hear those ridiculous tariffs affected your purchase price. If you don't mind sharing, how much more did it cost?

My Hydrovane has been patiently waiting on the floor of the garage for several years.. I think that will be my next project when I'm done transitioning Rumour to LiFePO4 batteries and the new alternator/charging system.
 
I'm right there with Bob.

When I raced In 2018 I led up by doing most of the OYRA ocean races and all the SSS races and fared better than in 2025.

For 2025 I only had a couple heavy weather races and several light wind outings.
This made the start of the race more difficult.
 
"The more time spent sailing, especially offshore, the better things will go."
"I can't over-emphasize the need to get out there and sail - a lot. Singehanded Farallones, LongPac and/or your own coastal trips."

I think there are a number of us all facing the dual tasks for outfitting our boats (mine has the mast down right now) and gaining offshore experience (which is what led me to discover my rigging needed replacing sooner : )

--> Maybe some "guide" resoucres might be helpful for those of us new to offshore?

By way of examples, I found these links very helpful:

Great initial guide to issues involved in going outside the Golden Gate:

Very helpful guide to choosing when (in terms of weather, swell) to go / no go outside the Golden Gate:

and have been compiling my own information from these and other sources. But it would be great to have a "Overview and information for XX", where XX = Lightship, Duxship, SHF, Drake's Bay, HMB, LongPac (though the latter seems like sort of a different thing.) I'll throw in "transiting the Gate" as a starting point for all the above. Not so much guides to the races per se as compiled resources (analagous to the SF Bar one linked above) for people (e.g. some of us on this thread) wanting to practice on those courses/in those races to gain offshore experience.

--> @Daydreamer , @BobJ , @sleddog : To make it work, the idea'd need buy-in from senior people like you who actually have the advice to give (or can look at compliled advice and delete what's incorrect)... If you would be willing to contribute (information; organization/editing can be done by me/others) it might be a great resource to have here.
PS: I am unsure how this could work - I can imagine options like: one of you to starts a new thread on "initial offshore: Lightship" or whatever, or alternately I could set up an editable google doc, organize it a bit as a starting point, and then any/everyone could add/edit as they see fit. You probably know best how this could fit within the use of the SSS site here -- suggest away, if you think this is something worth doing at all.

--> I would be happy to volunteer to organize material into documents/guides for people -- I've already been doing a good bit of that for myself (mainly for the Farallones and gate transits). @Gamayun -- is this something that could now fit in a folder in the google workspace you once mentioned having been set up?

--> Others/Anyone on the thread: useful to know if there's interest. Speak up if so.
 
@Desmond - Sorry to hear those ridiculous tariffs affected your purchase price. If you don't mind sharing, how much more did it cost?

My Hydrovane has been patiently waiting on the floor of the garage for several years.. I think that will be my next project when I'm done transitioning Rumour to LiFePO4 batteries and the new alternator/charging system.
Delivered today, weather permitting I will install it next month. Cost break down. Hydrovane + a few extra bits, $6,411.00 Shipping, $480.00, T Tariff, $688.68 including $12 charged by UPS to process the special tax. Total = A lot more than I told my wife it would cost but now a major step forward the 2027 race.
 
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