New Boat 4 Sled

[sleddog]

And, of course, today's weather forecasts are talking about tropical Storm Christine which is due to become a hurricane, located 700 miles S-SW of Cabo. I hope both rowers are able to ride out the upcoming weather in their individual craft. I am glad that I am not out there staring down to the S wondering...

Unclear how many rowers are currently attempting CA-Hawaii. Angela Madsen died 2 weeks ago on a second attempt. http://www.eastbaytimenews.com/2020...adsen-dies-rowing-alone-across-pacific-ocean/

Another Pacific rower's remains and his upside down craft was also recently found. Apparently his boat was non-self righting.
https://adventureblog.net/2020/05/remains-of-missing-ocean-rower-found-in-the-philippines.html

A third CA-Hawaii rower capsized yesterday 325 miles SW of LA, but is apparently continuing. Unclear if an EPIRB was activated, or if a search had been initiated by the US Navy.

 

[AlanH]

good news today from capitola boat club fleet surgeon: Dave w. Is home recovering from emergency appendectomy and feeling "best i've felt in weeks." brother-in-law tom has successfully weathered his first chemo infusion. Howard is riding his scooter 24 hours after cyst removal. And i just received an "all clear" on my 4th ct scan in 4 years as we monitor lung nodules resulting from many years accumulation of inhalation of boat building micro particles including fiberglas and wood dust.

excellent!!!

 

[sleddog]

We need to spice things up a bit on this Forum before it goes moribund. Therefore, offering lunch at a local Mexican restaurant (outside dining only) to the first to answer which one (one only) of the following 25 is not true about Transpac racing to Hawaii.

1. President Teddy Roosevelt fired the starting cannon.
2. 2 women crewed the Transpac 112 years ago.
3. First-2-Finish (Barn Door Trophy) did so with no mast.
4. First-2-Finish (MERLIN) not only missed the finish, but missed the Harbor and entire Island before turning back.
5. First-2-Finish crew member crossed Diamond Head finish line standing on top of the spinnaker.
6. Transpac maxi finished sailing backwards with no main mast, but a mizzen spinnaker flying astern (ahead?)
7. MERLIN crew swimming ahead, towing MERLIN across finish in 1979.
8. ULDB maxi surfing down Molokai channel at 15 knots and planing across finish with no rudder.
9. Singlehanded Transpac competitor finishing with lawn mower lashed to shrouds.
10. Transpac non-finisher passing Diamond Head Buoy finish on wrong side and sinking on the reef.
11. Transpac finisher finishing correctly, but entering wrong Harbor, and sinking on the reef.
12. Transpac entry DSQed for using racial animus on radio against another boat.
13. SHTP finisher on O-30 finishing under spinnaker, while steering w/ AP remote from foredeck hammock.
14. SHTP finisher carrying saddle and spurs below on his O-30.
15. Pacific Cup skipper going off his meds and threatening crew with knife, having to be hogtied and evacuated.
16. Transpac entry with a baby grand piano aboard, another with 1/2 cord of firewood aboard for wood burning stove.
17. 16 year old youngest woman ever on winning Transpac crew.
18. There are 3 Barn Door Trophies.
19. Crew of Pac Cup entry practicing skeet shooting enroute from the foredeck.
20. Pac Cup first-2-finish and new record holder going missing between finish line and yacht club dock.
21. Mod-70 trimaran losing one bow after running over a flashing yellow weather buoy the first night.
22. Pac Cup crew quarantined aboard for the duration of Hawaiian stay, unquarantined by sailing home.
23. A former Barn Door winner radioing for commercial tug tow into Hono, giving his Platinum Credit Card # on radio.
24. Head of US SAILING Safety looking over the side to discover the keel was missing 400 miles N. of Hono. (Same boat, but different incident than #23)
25. Last place finisher, COMMON SENSE, in Transpac blaming slow crossing on giant octopus (squid?) that had been a hitchhiker attached to bottom, with suction cup marks in bottom paint for proof.

Bonus margarita for boat names.

 

[AlanH]

We need to spice things up a bit on this Forum before it goes moribund. Therefore, offering lunch at a local Mexican restaurant (outside dining only) to the first to answer which one (one only) of the following 25 is not true about Transpac racing to Hawaii.

1. President Teddy Roosevelt fired the starting cannon.
2. 2 women crewed the Transpac 112 years ago.
3. First-2-Finish (Barn Door Trophy) did so with no mast.
4. First-2-Finish (MERLIN) not only missed the finish, but missed the Harbor and entire Island before turning back.
5. First-2-Finish crew member crossed Diamond Head finish line standing on top of the spinnaker.
6. Transpac maxi finished sailing backwards with no main mast, but a mizzen spinnaker flying astern (ahead?)
7. MERLIN crew swimming ahead, towing MERLIN across finish in 1979.
8. ULDB maxi surfing down Molokai channel at 15 knots and planing across finish with no rudder.
9. Singlehanded Transpac competitor finishing with lawn mower lashed to shrouds.the reef.
10. Transpac non-finisher passing Diamond Head Buoy finish on wrong side and sinking on the reef.
11. Transpac finisher finishing correctly, but entering wrong Harbor, and sinking on the reef.
12. Transpac entry DSQed for using racial animus on radio against another boat.
13. SHTP finisher on O-30 finishing under spinnaker, while steering w/ AP remote from foredeck hammock.
14. SHTP finisher carrying saddle and spurs below on his O-30.
15. Pacific Cup skipper going off his meds and threatening crew with knife, having to be hogtied and evacuated.
16. Transpac entry with a baby grand piano aboard, another with 1/2 cord of firewood aboard for wood burning stove.
17. 16 year old youngest woman ever on winning Transpac crew.
18. There are 3 Barn Door Trophies.
19. Crew of Pac Cup entry practicing skeet shooting enroute from the foredeck.
20. Pac Cup first-2-finish and new record holder going missing between finish line and yacht club dock.
21. Mod-70 trimaran losing one bow after running over a flashing yellow weather buoy the first night.
22. Pac Cup crew quarantined aboard for the duration of Hawaiian stay, unquarantined by sailing home.
23. A former Barn Door winner radioing for commercial tug tow into Hono, giving his Platinum Credit Card # on radio.
24. Head of US SAILING Safety looking over the side to discover the keel was missing 400 miles N. of Hono. (Same boat, but different incident than #23)
25. Last place finisher, COMMON SENSE, in Transpac blaming slow crossing on giant octopus (squid?) that had been a hitchhiker attached to bottom, with suction cup marks in bottom paint for proof.

Bonus margarita for boat names.

I have no idea which ONE is false, though I know that some of them are true. I have my doubts about skeet shooting, #19! The fact that "most" of them are true, is pretty entertaining!

 

[sleddog]

I have no idea which ONE is false, though I know that some of them are true. I have my doubts about skeet shooting, #19! The fact that "most" of them are true, is pretty entertaining!

Ahh, come on and take a chance. You have a 4% chance of being right. And either way, if you guess wrong or right, I'll give you the backstory. Alan, just say, "I think #19 is false," rather than "I have my doubts."

I'm adding #26) 2 hours after the 2008 SHTP start, this competitor was joined aboard by an uninvited sea lion. The incident elevated when the sea lion refused to leave and its weight was on the wrong side of the small ultra light. The skipper, having attempted verbal persuasion to no avail, then took up arms in the form of a foul weather jacket for the winning "Scottish Swatting" technique.

 

[AlanH]

Ahh, come on and take a chance. You have a 4% chance of being right. And either way, if you guess wrong or right, I'll give you the backstory. Alan, just say, "I think #19 is false," rather than "I have my doubts."

I'm adding #26) 2 hours after the 2008 SHTP start, this competitor was joined aboard by an uninvited sea lion. The incident elevated when the sea lion refused to leave and its weight was on the wrong side of the small ultra light. The skipper, having attempted verbal persuasion to no avail, then took up arms in the form of a foul weather jacket for the winning "Scottish Swatting" technique.

OK! I think #19 is false!

and gee, that sounds familiar! After she left, she went and checked out Don on Warriors Wish!

 

[sleddog]

OK! I think #19 is false! /QUOTE]

Sorry, #19 is true. In the 1982 Pacific Cup, Kent Massey aboard the Davidson 50 GREAT FUN had his weapons of choice, a shotgun and semi-auto rifle aboard. And the crew would practice skeet shooting off GREAT FUN's stern. The semi-automatic was to sink "one of those Japanese glass balls we heard about." But they never sighted one.

 

[Bob Buell]

I submit that Common Sense was last to finish the 1934 Transpac due to losing her mast and sailing in with jury rig, also the smallest boat to have entered at the time.
So I say #25 is FALSE, no hitchhiker Giant Squids allowed on Transpac !!

 

[sleddog]

I submit that Common Sense was last to finish the 1934 Transpac due to losing her mast and sailing in with jury rig, also the smallest boat to have entered at the time.
So I say #25 is FALSE, no hitchhiker Giant Squids allowed on Transpac !!

Congrats, Cap'n Bob! #25 is false. 1-24, though strange as they may sound, are true.
COMMON SENSE did finish last in '34, but because of a broken mast.
A giant squid attached to the hull did slow a Pacific voyager. But not in a Transpac Race.
https://www.cruisingworld.com/giant-squid-hitches-free-ride-marquesas/

Capt. Bob wins a meal at the local Capitola Mexican restaurant of choice. Unfortunately, he and Mary Jo just canceled their Mainland vacation to the San Juan Islands in September. The San Juans are, unofficially, discouraging tourism for the foreseeable future.

 

[Dazzler]

Looks like there are a lot of good stories in that list. So, Sled can you relate the story of “7. MERLIN crew swimming ahead, towing MERLIN across finish in 1979.” Were you one of the swimmers?

 

[sleddog]

Looks like there are a lot of good stories in that list. So, Sled can you relate the story of “7. MERLIN crew swimming ahead, towing MERLIN across finish in 1979.” Were you one of the swimmers?

The '79 Transpac was exceedingly slow. With 644 miles to go, we on MERLIN had a 44 mile lead on our competition, DRIFTER, who was further north. Then the leading pack hit a giant wind hole and essentially sat for 3 days. It was here Stan Honey, navigator on DRIFTER, made the decision to gybe behind MERLIN and head due south for 24 hours. End of Race, as DRIFTER found wind and sailed away.

Meanwhile, on MERLIN the crew was not happy, food was low, and the propane stove had blown the regulator. Popcorn and cold instant coffee is not a good look.

At one point I took a shiny winch handle and lowered it over until it disappeared. Measuring the line showed the water clarity was 120 feet from the glassy surface.

Finally, beating in light head winds, we got MERLIN to Makapuu Point, 10 miles from the finish. And then the wind really died on a hot morning as we drifted eastward on the flood tide. It took us 5 hours to go the last 6 miles as the charterer/skipper was slowly going nuts. Then, as we approached the finish line, Diamond Head R"2" buoy, the tide turned to ebb, leaving us boat length short. We could see the foul current wake beginning on the nearby buoy. And we began to drift backwards.

Not your typical Transpac sleighride "bring what you got" finish.

While the crew attempted to nurse the draping sails for any forward progress, I tied 2 light spinny sheets together and to MERLIN's bow, then jumped off and swam over the finish line, a boat length ahead. On the right side of the line by a boat length, I configured my body for max drag and tried to pull MERLIN forward.

I don't know whether it was my pulling, or a vagrant puff. But we got word from the RC at the Diamond Head Lighthouse that we had finished. Then the rest of MERLIN's crew jumped overboard. All except the charterer, who, sweating at the helm, was considering how much money he had spent chasing MERLIN's record set 2 years earlier. We were 3 days behind that. Did we really need those new spinnakers and extra long spinnaker poles?

Though Stan Honey was always a student of the game of offshore racing, weather, navigation, and tactics, his decision to head due south this race with DRIFTER was one of the defining moments when his intuitive skills came to the fore for the world to see.

 

[sleddog]

I submit that Common Sense was last to finish the 1934 Transpac due to losing her mast and sailing in with jury rig, also the smallest boat to have entered at the time.
So I say #25 is FALSE, no hitchhiker Giant Squids allowed on Transpac !!

Here is a model of COMMON SENSE, designed and built by the "Wizard of Hurricane Gulch," Matt Walsh, in San Pedro in 1932. Six were eventually built, and proved so fast that Transpac YC changed its eligibility rule to disallow a boat this small (28 feet LOA) from entering. The then revised TPYC rule of minimum LWL of 28 feet stood for many years until more recently supplanted by a minimum rating. I attempted to enter WILDFLOWER in the 2007 Transpac, but she was deemed "too slow," and ineligible to compete.

Little COMMON SENSE, though leading boat for boat at the West End of Catalina in the '34 Transpac and for the next 4 days, fell afoul of a broken mast when the standing backstay parted. No giant squid involved in the mast's demise.

 

[solosailor]

I attempted to enter WILDFLOWER in the 2007 Transpac, but she was deemed "too slow," and ineligible to compete.

Did Wildflower have an inboard?

 

[sleddog]

Hi Greg,

When originally launched in 1975, and sailed in the 1978 SHTP, WILDFLOWER had no engine, just a sculling oar. Then we briefly suffered a Seagull outboard on the stern. In 1982 we put in a small BMW diesel. And in 1995 graduated to a Yanmar one cylinder inboard which we ran on bio-diesel.

 

[solosailor]

Ahhh.... got it. The Azzura is no welcome in the Transpac as she has an outboard.

 

[sleddog]

Ahhh.... got it. The Azzura is no welcome in the Transpac as she has an outboard.

If your boat wants to race Honolulu Transpac, here are the requirements regarding engines, outboards and inboards. Nutsy rule that an outboard must be an inboard, with a hole in the bottom. WTF? I call it the "Schock 40" rule, as that is what they have.

8.3 Propellers may not be banded or restrained in any way. All yachts must power to the starting line and into harbor after finishing. If any damage or other circumstance prevents motoring to the start or from the finish, the circumstances must be logged and reported to the Race Committee. The inability to power to the start or from the finish line may constitute grounds for protest by the Race Committee.

Inboard power shall be in accordance with SER 2.7.1 .An exception is provided for power by outboard motor providing ALL the following five conditions are met:

8.6.1 The outboard motor shall be stored in the location from which it will be deployed, such that the only action required to deploy it is to lower it into the water. The mounting clamps must remain tight during deployment. Retractable hull fairing is permitted in the area where the propeller is retracted. Such fairing must be in place for measurement and while racing.

8.6.2 The outboard motor must be mounted in an inboard location. Transom mounting does not meet the requirement.

8.6.3 There shall be a separate, permanently installed electrical generating and storage system sufficient to meet all electrical needs including running lights, emergency communications and those described in NOR 14, which may include fossil fuel generator that complies with OSR 3.28.2, wind generator, hydro generator and/or solar generator.

8.6.4 Fuel for both outboard motor and any generator fulfilling the requirements of NOR 8.6.3shallbe stored in permanently installed fuel system(s), which comply with SER 2.7.3.

8.6.5 The speed under power shall be no less than that required for inboard power.

 

[Philpott]

hahaha! Those are byzantine rules, worthy of recent missives by public health officials. My eyes are so crossed I need to go sailing to straighten them out. Wish I could see ya out there, Skip!

 

[AlanH]

OK, then! You have to have your "outboard" set up in a "trap door" arrangement, like the Hotfoot 27 did, or the Flying Tiger 10M, or the Seascape 27.

You know, that's just a bizarre rule. There's no safety logic behind that rule, at all.

 

[solosailor]

Deployment and cavitation seem to be the concern. Outboard running gas in an outboard well is VERY dangerous. A fan needs to be run to evacuate the fumes to prevent an explosion. The Hobie 33, Melges 32, Henderson 30, Seascape 27, etc. all have outboard wells. I've designed several well setups for the Azzura but I just can't bring myself to cut a giant hole in the middle of my cockpit.

 

[BobJ]

This was all about selecting the fleet they want in the LA TransPac. It would embarrass those big-bucks programs when (not if) an Olson 30, Moore or Express 27 won it.

I looked into doing that race with Ragtime! (which had an inboard) and she wouldn't qualify. Once you studied the rules it became apparent what they were doing.

There used to be a couple of turbo'd Hobie 33's down there with well-connected skippers. The outboard rule was probably crafted to allow them into the fleet.
.