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LongPac Updates

T I don't have a racer's mentality because if I were faced with hand steering for 18 hours heading toward the gate and those shipping lanes, I'd accept the outside support and just call it.

No Racer here, but I couldn't round Pt.Sur once on my way North, and had to turn tail back to Morro; it took all night.
I haven't drank any soda in about 17 years, but I keep a few onboard, along with some Trader Joe's dark chocolate covered espresso beans for those times when I could get caught out.
 
Text message to RC from Bob on SURPRISE! indicating that he is in good shape for the last leg home:

Surprise! is hove to for dinner and rest. Talked on radio with Sea Wisdom after sighting him here 60 nm WSW of SE Farallon. All is well.

LP RC
 
LongPac Update 0730 7/6/19

At 0330 this morning SEA WISDOM contacted RC to let them know that they had lost their rudder about 5 nm SW of the Farallones and that they were steering with their hydrovane. William expressed concern as the rudder post was slamming against the hull and he feared it would breach the hull over time. He was in contact with the CG who were monitoring the situation. At 0530 SEA WISDOM contacted the CG to let them know that he had lost all steerage and to request assistance. They have dispatched a vessel to provide a tow. SEA WISDOM is currently SE of the Farallones, ~20 nm from the Gate.

SURPRISE! has apparently hove to twice overnight and is currently ~60 nm from the Gate. Last communication indicated that Bob is okay and the boat is sound.

RIFF RIDER now expected to be first boat to finish, likely in the early afternoon. We expect 7 of 8 boats to make it back to SF some time today. TORTUGA is ~100 nm from the Gate and will likely finish early tomorrow morning. Randy texted at 0800 this morning: "Rough night but all ok on tortuga. . C55. S5.8. . 36. 52.95. . 124.12.39. hoping the winds calm down".


LP RC
 
Seasickness took it's toll aboard Skye. Even with a Scopolamine patch, George got hit with it starting before we crossed the Potato Patch. It was a tough afternoon, with him functional but dry heaving and unable to keep down even water. AFter nightfall, he started shivering, which was not good. Wednesday night was one of the 2-3 most unpleasant nights I've spent at sea. Winds were 27-35, but it was the completely random washing machine of the sea state that was so tough. Skye held up fine, we had some minor gear failure but nothing big. I was glad I'd finished a really substantial emergency rudder earlier, but really did not want to have to deploy it. Thursday morning, George reported that for all that work we'd made 78 miles. If we turn around for Moss Landing we'd cover the 150 miles on the boat that I needed to qualify for Pac Cup, and he still had not eaten or drunk anything. Qualifying for Pac Cup was the main reason for doing the race, and neither of us could see putting George through another two days of that sort of misery, so around we went. Of course as soon as the motion changed George improved, so we actually had a nice sail back into Moss Landing. The first 4-5 hours though....still a washing machine with no discernable wave pattern out there.
 
Update on SHARK ON BLUEGRASS from RC

SOB's tracker shows him headed due West, obviously of concern. We asked the CG to contact him by VHF - happily he is in fact 15 miles from the Gate headed home. Must be a tracker malfunction.
 
I asked a friend who has a similar AP. He got back to me today. If someone want's to forward this to Bob, do so. Pat

Pat,

Just saw this. I’m probably not much help but here’s what I know.

We have a very similar or identical unit on Escapade. The clutch is a valve in the hydraulic circuit and is normally open (fluid just circulates) or closed when autopilot is engaged. The valve is controlled by a solenoid which in turn driven by electrical signal from AP Junction Box.

It sounds like the AP won’t engage, which would mean

  1. Electrical connection issue from AP Junction Box to HLD2000, specifically AP Clutch signal or ground
  2. If not 1 then clutch solenoid has failed.
  3. If not 1 or 2, then the system might be low in fluid (pump is pumping, clutch valve is closed)

As to at-sea fixes:

  1. Check electrical connection (voltmeter) – preferably at the HLD2000 end, both for the clutch and the pump motor drive.
  2. If the solenoid itself has failed (won’t close) I doubt there’s much that could be done.

Where would he be at this point?
 
Is anyone planning to meet the boats on their boat? I'd like to tag along if I can (415.484.6985)
 
2019 LongPac Update - 1430 7/6//19

SEA WISDOM was safely towed in by the CG. I spoke with Will and he is understandably disappointed to get within 20 nm of the finish as the runaway winner only to have his rudder break. He does not think he hit anything. The rudder apparently slipped down several inches and was banging back in forth in the lower bearing. He is getting it towed to KKMI for haul out and repairs.

The first four boats have finished! After 3 days and >400 nm, SHARK ON BLUEGRASS and LIBRA finished within 12 seconds of each other, followed 3.5 minutes later by GALAXSEA. RIFF RIDER followed 18 minutes thereafter.

Finish times:
SOB 1:42:18
LIBRA 1:42:30
GALAXSEA 1:46:00
RIFF RIDER 2:08:37

We are expecting NIGHTMARE in the next couple of hours, SURPRISE! later this evening, and TORTUGA some time in the early AM tomorrow.
 
LongPac Update

SURPRISE! crossed the line at 19:44:17 and headed to Richmond (and presumably to bed).

Expecting the last boat TORTUGA before 0200 tomorrow.


RC
 
TORTUGA crossed the finish line at 01:19:30 this morning to close out the 2019 LongPac. Final scoring will be posted contingent on racers providing proof of crossing the 126 degrees 40 minutes line of longitude.

I am sure there will be many exciting (and perhaps informative) stories at the awards ceremony on July 24, 2019 @1930 (location tbd). See you there.


RC
 
TORTUGA crossed the finish line at 01:19:30 this morning to close out the 2019 LongPac. Final scoring will be posted contingent on racers providing proof of crossing the 126 degrees 40 minutes line of longitude.
I am sure there will be many exciting (and perhaps informative) stories at the awards ceremony on July 24, 2019 @1930 (location tbd). See you there. RC

Big thanks and congrats Tom, for the many hours, days, weeks of challenging logistics and cat herding in the SSS efforts of getting the LongPac contingent out and back safely. This race would not have happened without your dedicated efforts.

A question for any who want to respond. What is a good online location for those out of the area and unable to speak with this year's LongPackers, whether finishers or not. I for one will not be able to attend the trophy presentation, yet would love to hear as many "debriefs" as possible. Maybe right here on this thread? Or someplace else?

There is a much experience to be shared, almost all valuable to SSS'ers and friends. Prep, safety, navigation, sail handling, breakage. Basically, what was done that worked, and what didn't.

As the fleet and RC decompresses, a couple of subjects where currently there are more questions than answers:

~ Did any skippers and/or crew take seasickness meds before or during the Race?
~ What was the proximate cause of SEA WISDOM's rudder loss? Did the rudder drop down, or disappear completely? What was the towline secured to?
~ What was the cause of SURPRISE's AP failure, and what could be done differently?
~ What was the best sail combo for what boats in 20-35 knots. Roller jib reefing, hanks, mains'l slab reefing or other.
~ What was the cause of possible broken ribs? Above or below decks?
~ Can the trackers be more synched in the fleet so boats are not pinging at different times and intervals?
~ What was the cause of tracker malfunction that caused a Health and Welfare call to the CG by the RC?

Thanks to AlanH for already having shared his and George's sobering but ultimately successful experience aboard SKYE.
 
Thank you race committee!!
I think this was a pretty busy race to monitor!

I felt Nightmare was well prepared and looked foreword to the race.
We had a decent start, footing off a bit for speed.

I am susceptible to seasickness and use scopolamine the effectively.
The washing machine however was no joke! I got hit anyway.
The first night being the worst, and next day only a little better.

Sail plan was a main with three reefs and a #3. Storm jib ready.
Working with the 1& 2 reefs kept us going.
The first a/p drive gave up early the second evening, and swapped in a backup.

Nearing the turn around point, the last degree seemed to take forever!
In my seasick addled brain I thought 126-20 to be the mark.
100 miles later the thought crept in, was I wrong?
Dug out the SI, sure enough, I messed up. Were we 25 or even 50 miles away I might have gone back, but at 100, nope.

As the point of sail turned more reachy, I began to eat and drink more and feel a bit better.
During the third night, the second a/p drive dis-assembled itself and as I came on deck a gully washer swept half its guts overboard. The little st 2000 backup just doesn't have te power or speed for these conditions but can give me a break for a nap.
Hand steering that last night was pretty surreal. Following the stars and going by feel.
Ultimately coming back too far north again I crossed into the Gulf of the Farallones at Noonday Rock.

I could hear the CG end of the Sea Wisdom conversation but too far away to get there before the CG.

The wind died out at Duxbury Reef and since I was already disqualified from the race, had no problem starting the engine to get us to Point Bonita.
I called in to the R/C announcing my approach to the finish and retirement from the race.

Nightmare fared well, skipper fairly well. A few more a/p spares and we'll be ready to go!
 
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Big thanks and congrats Tom, for the many hours, days, weeks of challenging logistics and cat herding in the SSS efforts of getting the LongPac contingent out and back safely. This race would not have happened without your dedicated efforts.

A question for any who want to respond. What is a good online location for those out of the area and unable to speak with this year's LongPackers, whether finishers or not. I for one will not be able to attend the trophy presentation, yet would love to hear as many "debriefs" as possible. Maybe right here on this thread? Or someplace else?

There is a much experience to be shared, almost all valuable to SSS'ers and friends. Prep, safety, navigation, sail handling, breakage. Basically, what was done that worked, and what didn't.

As the fleet and RC decompresses, a couple of subjects where currently there are more questions than answers:

~ Did any skippers and/or crew take seasickness meds before or during the Race?
~ What was the proximate cause of SEA WISDOM's rudder loss? Did the rudder drop down, or disappear completely? What was the towline secured to?
~ What was the cause of SURPRISE's AP failure, and what could be done differently?
~ What was the best sail combo for what boats in 20-35 knots. Roller jib reefing, hanks, mains'l slab reefing or other.
~ What was the cause of possible broken ribs? Above or below decks?
~ Can the trackers be more synched in the fleet so boats are not pinging at different times and intervals?
~ What was the cause of tracker malfunction that caused a Health and Welfare call to the CG by the RC?

Thanks to AlanH for already having shared his and George's sobering but ultimately successful experience aboard SKYE.

Regarding seasickness medications: I took the CVS generic meclizine, 25 mg tablets. The first one was about an hour before the start, the second one about 20 hours later. I had no issues. George had the scopolamine patch and he got hammered immediately.

Sails...Dacron, full batten main with two reefs. I've not sailed with full battens before and I'm sold for keeping the sail from flogging itself to shreds when the main is eased in heavy winds.

We had an 80% high-clew headsail up the whole time, but actually rolled it up to about 60% for most of Wednesday night.
 
Adding to Sled’s list of “more questions than answers...”
We hope to hear some debrief about energy management, especially with so many boats using electronics and electric autopilots. This is an obvious issue for anyone contemplating the SHTP. How was it? What were the charging issues on MULAN?
Tom P.
 
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