And here comes VENTUS, beam reaching also under white sails, 3 miles out at 0923 HST, ETA 0945 HST. Check out the webcams.
http://www.balihai.com/Blog/kauai-hd-webcam/
http://www.balihai.com/Blog/kauai-hd-webcam/
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New Boat 4 Sled
- Thread starter sleddog
- Start date
VENTUS crossed approximately 0950 HST. I was too busy from the point watching Chris planing and surfing by at 10-15 knots boatspeed in the now 20 knot NE tradewinds to go check the clock. VENTUS was beam reaching on port tack under #3 blade jib and full main. No spinny, the wind angle too close, the breeze too fresh, for that wardrobe. Chris was likely having the finish of his life, especially approaching during morning hours in fine conditions. Aloha, Chris!
Here's a couple of shots of KATO and VENTUS. Apologies for my 15 year old Pentax aim and shoot photo delivery. Christine should have much better (professional) for Lat.38 and NorCal Sailing.com...
KATO at the finish from beach level at Pu'u Poa Point:
Plastic rope on the rocks. Don't want this on your keel.
VENTUS hauling transom
:
Here's a couple of shots of KATO and VENTUS. Apologies for my 15 year old Pentax aim and shoot photo delivery. Christine should have much better (professional) for Lat.38 and NorCal Sailing.com...
KATO at the finish from beach level at Pu'u Poa Point:
Plastic rope on the rocks. Don't want this on your keel.
VENTUS hauling transom
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"Who are those guys?" says Butch to Sundance.
"Who is that guy??" says sleddog.
Robert MacDonald, aboard his Olson-29 NINA ("little girl"), is not listed in the 2016 SHTP Program.
This afternoon I was privileged to watch probably the most stirring and photogenic finish of a SHTP in many a year.
At my 200 foot cliffside elevation, I first spotted NINA inshore, up by Kilauea Point, 5 miles east of Hanalei. Through the binos I could see NINA, on port pole, was running fast in the 15-25 knot trades. I phoned Jackie down at Race headquarters in Hanalei to alert to NINA's approach. VHF radio reception in NINA's direction is notably unreliable.
NINA, coming down the beach, 1/2 mile offshore, was getting bigger real fast. In less than 10 minutes I could see NINA clearly, flying her white, black, and pink spinny.
5 minutes later I could see NINA's spinny pole was well forward, main boom skimming the wave tops, the bow wave as high as the hull, as Robert carried his spinny on the hairy edge of a round-up.
With NINA a mile off, my heart began racing. As dark gusts off the cliffs would catspaw downward onto the water, NINA would heel to leeward, the luff of the spinnaker quivering, the boat on the brink of control. Masterfully, Robert would bear off, never once losing it.
NINA, aligned with the white horses of the tradewind swells, would dip her bow in a curtsy, tip of the bow at water level. Then, whoosh, off she'd go down the wave, the forefoot fully clear back to the mast, the bow wave amidships at windward lifeline height.
Yiiii doggies.
NINA kept coming. She crossed the Hanalei Finish about 1317 hours HST at full pelt, spinnaker still on edge. Looking down at her stern wake as she blew by, I'm guessing NINA was averaging 10, with bursts to 14-16 as she'd accelerate down the ocean wave.
It appeared from a distance that Robert was having such a memorable ride, he kept right on going past the finish, towards Bali Hai in the distance.
At the conclusion of a most inspiring demonstration of sailing virtuosity and helmsmanship, Robert blew the afterguy, the spinny came smartly down to leeward, and NINA turned to port to enter Hanalei Bay.
Aloha, Robert and NINA. Mahalo for the memories!
"Who are those guys??" indeed.
It's Robert and NINA.
"Who is that guy??" says sleddog.
Robert MacDonald, aboard his Olson-29 NINA ("little girl"), is not listed in the 2016 SHTP Program.
This afternoon I was privileged to watch probably the most stirring and photogenic finish of a SHTP in many a year.
At my 200 foot cliffside elevation, I first spotted NINA inshore, up by Kilauea Point, 5 miles east of Hanalei. Through the binos I could see NINA, on port pole, was running fast in the 15-25 knot trades. I phoned Jackie down at Race headquarters in Hanalei to alert to NINA's approach. VHF radio reception in NINA's direction is notably unreliable.
NINA, coming down the beach, 1/2 mile offshore, was getting bigger real fast. In less than 10 minutes I could see NINA clearly, flying her white, black, and pink spinny.
5 minutes later I could see NINA's spinny pole was well forward, main boom skimming the wave tops, the bow wave as high as the hull, as Robert carried his spinny on the hairy edge of a round-up.
With NINA a mile off, my heart began racing. As dark gusts off the cliffs would catspaw downward onto the water, NINA would heel to leeward, the luff of the spinnaker quivering, the boat on the brink of control. Masterfully, Robert would bear off, never once losing it.
NINA, aligned with the white horses of the tradewind swells, would dip her bow in a curtsy, tip of the bow at water level. Then, whoosh, off she'd go down the wave, the forefoot fully clear back to the mast, the bow wave amidships at windward lifeline height.
Yiiii doggies.
NINA kept coming. She crossed the Hanalei Finish about 1317 hours HST at full pelt, spinnaker still on edge. Looking down at her stern wake as she blew by, I'm guessing NINA was averaging 10, with bursts to 14-16 as she'd accelerate down the ocean wave.
It appeared from a distance that Robert was having such a memorable ride, he kept right on going past the finish, towards Bali Hai in the distance.
At the conclusion of a most inspiring demonstration of sailing virtuosity and helmsmanship, Robert blew the afterguy, the spinny came smartly down to leeward, and NINA turned to port to enter Hanalei Bay.
Aloha, Robert and NINA. Mahalo for the memories!
"Who are those guys??" indeed.
It's Robert and NINA.
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UNOFFICIAL
In the pre-dawn darkness I walked to the cliff to scan the NE horizon for DOMINO. It was lightly sprinkling. The distance-to-finish part of the tracker does not appear to work when the boat of interest is within sight of Kauai.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a red light. I thought it was the taillight of a car on the nearby golfcourse. It took me half-a-minute to realize it was DOMINO coming down the beach, just off the surfline at Anini.
I did a double take as David shined a spotlight on the nearby cliff and turned offshore. The offshore wind in the lee of the Princeville cliffs was light, and DOMINO, on port jibe, was spinnakering at about 2-4 knots.
About 5 minutes later, at 0300 local (HST) DOMINO passed about 75 yards offshore my clifftop perch, which is about 1/4 mile east of the SHTP finish line. I had to refrain from speaking in a normal voice to my friend passing below, afraid his concentration on finding the finish in the darkness would be thrown off.
David's red tricolor changed to white as he drifted by. Whew, that was close. I am on Kauai on vacation and as a supporter of the SHTP, not part of the official Race Committee. My estimate of DOMINO's finish is about 0307 HST. Please note this is unofficial. Times and finish positions are in charge of Brian and his hardworking Race Committee.
It appears we may have an Overall and Kane class winner of the 2016 SHTP.
Aloha, and Congratulations David and DOMINO!
[UNOFFICIAL]
In the pre-dawn darkness I walked to the cliff to scan the NE horizon for DOMINO. It was lightly sprinkling. The distance-to-finish part of the tracker does not appear to work when the boat of interest is within sight of Kauai.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a red light. I thought it was the taillight of a car on the nearby golfcourse. It took me half-a-minute to realize it was DOMINO coming down the beach, just off the surfline at Anini.
I did a double take as David shined a spotlight on the nearby cliff and turned offshore. The offshore wind in the lee of the Princeville cliffs was light, and DOMINO, on port jibe, was spinnakering at about 2-4 knots.
About 5 minutes later, at 0300 local (HST) DOMINO passed about 75 yards offshore my clifftop perch, which is about 1/4 mile east of the SHTP finish line. I had to refrain from speaking in a normal voice to my friend passing below, afraid his concentration on finding the finish in the darkness would be thrown off.
David's red tricolor changed to white as he drifted by. Whew, that was close. I am on Kauai on vacation and as a supporter of the SHTP, not part of the official Race Committee. My estimate of DOMINO's finish is about 0307 HST. Please note this is unofficial. Times and finish positions are in charge of Brian and his hardworking Race Committee.
It appears we may have an Overall and Kane class winner of the 2016 SHTP.
Aloha, and Congratulations David and DOMINO!
[UNOFFICIAL]
It is foggy and cold,with whitecaps to the breach, and sand blowing across the road, here in Santa Cruz.
So you can imagine the frustration when I open the SSS forum this morning to see our Cat whispering Sled Dog standing shirtless on a SUNNY, & WARM beach, in the mid Pacific.
Oh well its back to work for me!
So you can imagine the frustration when I open the SSS forum this morning to see our Cat whispering Sled Dog standing shirtless on a SUNNY, & WARM beach, in the mid Pacific.
Oh well its back to work for me!
Hanalei is filling with Buglighters; Yesterday afternoon the Cal-40 SEAZED ASSET blew into town at the height of the afternoon seabreeze, 20-25 knots. The Santa Cruz-27, GIANT SLAYER, finished just before sunset last evening, spinnakering prettily down the shoreline at 8 knots.
Early this morning SHAMAN, PAKALA, and our own webmaster TEMERITY finished, Dave on TEMERITY winning Ku Class. Congratulations, David!
I can't help but note the Santa Cruz connection to the SHTP: The Olson 30 KATO (F2F), NINA (Olson-29), DOMINO (Overall winner), GIANT SLAYER, and TEMERITY all products of Santa Cruz boatbuilding of yesteryear.
In a "run what ya got" race across the Pacific, you could do worse than sailing a boat built in Howard's and my hometown of Santa Cruz.
It was fun meeting several of the early finishers at TreeTime. Chris of VENTUS looked great in his just purchased Honu T-shirt and tan shorts. No post race scruffliness of having just crossed an ocean for Chris. Chris told of almost turning back early on, due to the forecast proximity of tropical hurricanes...a common theme this summer amongst Vic-Maui, Pacific Cup, and SHTP competitors.
Chris sailed downwind at night with a poled out jib and full main, AP steering. His speeds would average 10-15 knots, often planing DDW, in 20-25 knots. Good stuff, Chris! He also discovered his missing gooseneck pin under the jib track, and was able to re-insert that missing part, the only piece of gear he had not removed to check pre-race. Although Chris has helped deliver a Santa Cruz 50 back from Hawaii, this was Chris's first race to Hawaii. Well done, Sir.
Stories are being told into the night by weary sailors, several happy to be sleeping on the couches at Race Headquarters. In a tour-de-force of near epic proportion, RC Chairman Brian swims out into Hanalei Bay, often in the dark of night, to board Larry's outboard anchored out near VENTUS. Brian then starts the recalcitrant outboard and motors out to welcome arriving boats. That's dedication to the sailors of the 2016 SHTP!
Here comes GIANT SLAYER, dressed in white. Aloha, Dave!
Early this morning SHAMAN, PAKALA, and our own webmaster TEMERITY finished, Dave on TEMERITY winning Ku Class. Congratulations, David!
I can't help but note the Santa Cruz connection to the SHTP: The Olson 30 KATO (F2F), NINA (Olson-29), DOMINO (Overall winner), GIANT SLAYER, and TEMERITY all products of Santa Cruz boatbuilding of yesteryear.
In a "run what ya got" race across the Pacific, you could do worse than sailing a boat built in Howard's and my hometown of Santa Cruz.
It was fun meeting several of the early finishers at TreeTime. Chris of VENTUS looked great in his just purchased Honu T-shirt and tan shorts. No post race scruffliness of having just crossed an ocean for Chris. Chris told of almost turning back early on, due to the forecast proximity of tropical hurricanes...a common theme this summer amongst Vic-Maui, Pacific Cup, and SHTP competitors.
Chris sailed downwind at night with a poled out jib and full main, AP steering. His speeds would average 10-15 knots, often planing DDW, in 20-25 knots. Good stuff, Chris! He also discovered his missing gooseneck pin under the jib track, and was able to re-insert that missing part, the only piece of gear he had not removed to check pre-race. Although Chris has helped deliver a Santa Cruz 50 back from Hawaii, this was Chris's first race to Hawaii. Well done, Sir.
Stories are being told into the night by weary sailors, several happy to be sleeping on the couches at Race Headquarters. In a tour-de-force of near epic proportion, RC Chairman Brian swims out into Hanalei Bay, often in the dark of night, to board Larry's outboard anchored out near VENTUS. Brian then starts the recalcitrant outboard and motors out to welcome arriving boats. That's dedication to the sailors of the 2016 SHTP!
Here comes GIANT SLAYER, dressed in white. Aloha, Dave!
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Ken, daughter Lee, and grandson Bradley arrived yesterday in Hanalei. After setting out from San Pedro on June 30, the General and Lee turned back and took the silver bird to Kauai.
Ken was seen last evening under the Tree, a beer in one-hand and one of Amy's Mojitos in the other.
"I don't remember so many women being here in Hanalei involved with the SHTP," says Ken, happy to be back.
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
Please say Hi to the General (that party animal) for me.
Meanwhile around Noon PDT in the beach shack on Weke road - some of these guys can't seem to stop racing. KATO, NINA, DOMINO and TEMERITY have dropped anchor but GIANT SLAYER is still making a half-knot, SHAMAN is running at 1.1 and VENTUS is winning at 2.7 knots!
What to do when you've been racing for a couple weeks and now you're bored: Tracker Races on the dining room table.
.
Meanwhile around Noon PDT in the beach shack on Weke road - some of these guys can't seem to stop racing. KATO, NINA, DOMINO and TEMERITY have dropped anchor but GIANT SLAYER is still making a half-knot, SHAMAN is running at 1.1 and VENTUS is winning at 2.7 knots!
What to do when you've been racing for a couple weeks and now you're bored: Tracker Races on the dining room table.
.
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At sunrise this morning, a largish black-hulled sloop appeared on the horizon, flying twin jibs and full main. It is Michael on MOUTON NOIR, backlit to perfection. Knowing Michael, I suspect his entry was well choreographed. MOUTON NOIR is one of the best traveled and outfitted boats in the SHTP fleet, and Michael, 5 time SHTP vet, knows how to get here.
MOUTON NOIR, "Black Sheep" , is also a fine wine. Does Michael have a wine cellar under his floorboards? He carries everything else needed for ocean crossings aboard his aluminum-hulled beauty.
Michael is single-handedly responsible for the FOXX FYRE trophy, awarded to the skipper who demonstrates outstanding repairs in the face of adversity. I suspect many, if not all, of the '16 SHTP fleet are eligible to win the FOXX FYRE trophy this year. But until sea stories are told around the Tree and the RC decides, the recipient of this hallowed and famous trophy will remain unknown.
Aloha, Michael!
MOUTON NOIR, "Black Sheep" , is also a fine wine. Does Michael have a wine cellar under his floorboards? He carries everything else needed for ocean crossings aboard his aluminum-hulled beauty.
Michael is single-handedly responsible for the FOXX FYRE trophy, awarded to the skipper who demonstrates outstanding repairs in the face of adversity. I suspect many, if not all, of the '16 SHTP fleet are eligible to win the FOXX FYRE trophy this year. But until sea stories are told around the Tree and the RC decides, the recipient of this hallowed and famous trophy will remain unknown.
Aloha, Michael!
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Not many native species of birds left in the Hawaiian Islands. 23 species extinct, and the remaining 48 species mostly listed as "endangered" and "vulnerable."
The official state bird of Hawaii is the Nene Goose, a medium large goose similar to a Canadian goose. How the ancestors of these geese arrived from North America approximately 500,000 years ago, shortly after the Big Island of Hawaii was formed, makes for interesting speculation.
At the time of Captain Cook's visit to Hawaii in 1778, there were an estimated 25,000 Nenes in Hawaii. The Nenes made for succulent eating. As well, introduced populations of feral rats, cats, dogs, pigs, and mongoose reduced the Nene down to only 30 birds left in 1952.
Sir Peter Scott, in the mid-1950's, began a successful breeding program that brought the Nene back from the brink of extinction. Scott, an ornithologist, conservationist, painter, sportsman, and glider pilot, was the inventor of camoflage paint jobs for English warships during WWII.
Scott was also a sailor, and skippered the English 12 meter SOVEREIGN in the 1964 America's Cup, which the Brits lost 4-0 against the faster CONSTELLATION.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5z2A_j4iJk
Today, there are approximately 2,500 Nene on the Hawaiian Islands, of which at least 14 live on the nearby Princeville golf course and parade daily across the lawns. #460 and #468 like to visit, finding toes an interesting nibble. Yesterday, DOMINO and I sat on the lanai, DH "decompressing" from an epic SHTP crossing and watching the local Nene.
Just offshore, DOLFIN did a 360 in the calm and big seas following the passing of ex-TS Celia. We felt badly for Bill being stopped 1/2 mile short of the finish as his boat rolled heavily in the 10-15 foot groundswell breaking on the reefs.
Can't say what Peter Scott would think: Nenes on the cliffs above and Singlehanded sailors passing below.
The official state bird of Hawaii is the Nene Goose, a medium large goose similar to a Canadian goose. How the ancestors of these geese arrived from North America approximately 500,000 years ago, shortly after the Big Island of Hawaii was formed, makes for interesting speculation.
At the time of Captain Cook's visit to Hawaii in 1778, there were an estimated 25,000 Nenes in Hawaii. The Nenes made for succulent eating. As well, introduced populations of feral rats, cats, dogs, pigs, and mongoose reduced the Nene down to only 30 birds left in 1952.
Sir Peter Scott, in the mid-1950's, began a successful breeding program that brought the Nene back from the brink of extinction. Scott, an ornithologist, conservationist, painter, sportsman, and glider pilot, was the inventor of camoflage paint jobs for English warships during WWII.
Scott was also a sailor, and skippered the English 12 meter SOVEREIGN in the 1964 America's Cup, which the Brits lost 4-0 against the faster CONSTELLATION.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5z2A_j4iJk
Today, there are approximately 2,500 Nene on the Hawaiian Islands, of which at least 14 live on the nearby Princeville golf course and parade daily across the lawns. #460 and #468 like to visit, finding toes an interesting nibble. Yesterday, DOMINO and I sat on the lanai, DH "decompressing" from an epic SHTP crossing and watching the local Nene.
Just offshore, DOLFIN did a 360 in the calm and big seas following the passing of ex-TS Celia. We felt badly for Bill being stopped 1/2 mile short of the finish as his boat rolled heavily in the 10-15 foot groundswell breaking on the reefs.
Can't say what Peter Scott would think: Nenes on the cliffs above and Singlehanded sailors passing below.
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19 Buglighters finished, 4 still at sea .. Today, while visiting famous Kilauea Lighthouse, 6 miles east of the Hanalei finish line, HAUNANI passed a mile offshore, Margie looking good, close reaching at 7 knots. The wind in the wake of remnants of TD Celia has swung SE, making today's finishers like Barry's red FAST LANE and David's SARABAND sail close hauled on port tack.
FAST LANE finished about 1030 a.m HST this morning in 5 knots of wind, flying his small orange storm jib, the only headsail left for Barry. There's a story there!
SHTP vet and 1988 Pacific cup overall winner David King, on the Westsail-32 SARABAND, finished at ~ 1330 hours under working staysail and main. David would have been a serious contender for overall honors, but got stuck early on in a 2 day wind hole near the Farallones...C'est la vie.
While at the Kilauea Lighthouse, the phone rang: it was Synthia Petroka onboard the Hobie 33 AERO 500 miles from the Pacific Cup finish at Kaneohe Bay."It's been windy for a week ....we ran 250 miles yesterday. Scared ourselves, but OK now. Will likely finish in 9 days and change."
Here's an e-mail from Syn:
Be careful what you ask for......We all asked for wind, and we got it. Unlike two years ago (no wind for two days, AERO bobbing like a cork at the Farallones), the racers are seeing winds between 15-30 knots, mostly in the upper band with higher gusts. This race is FAST!! It could be a record breaking speed year. For perspective, AERO is now projected to finish as early as Thursday, most likely early to mid day Friday. In 2014, AERO finished the equivalent of Monday late morning, at least three days slower.
Why so windy? The racers are basically riding the coattail of Hurricane (fading to tropical storm) Cecilia. Wind is plentiful, constant with big gusts, and in a favorable direction. The race is turning into a spinnaker run for the last 2/3-an eventual benefit to AERO. But, the storm also brought big and confused seas. Racers are facing large swells from all directions, very lumpy and unorganized. Big wind and waves equal challenging conditions: cold, wet, seasickness, crew injuries from being tossed around (lots of bruises), and an environment for boat stuff to break.
This race (Pacific Cup) has seen at least 6 boats returning back to California. Reasons include: dismasting, unspecified serious but non life threatening crew injuries, water supply contamination due to taking on so much water, etc. All remaining boats are facing their challenges: knockdowns, ripped kites, pulpit ripped from bow of boat, water rationing, low to no battery due to cloudy conditions hampering solar charge up. It is Rough out here.
AERO's Race:
Thus far AERO's race is going as Joe predicted. For starters, AERO's handicap is such that she owes up to 17 hours to the boats in her division "C". Next, her competition is made up of some very experienced ocean racers; crews that know how to get the most out of their boats. Joe knew this would be a fight to win. Finally, the race conditions needed to set up to favor AERO's strengths: the more downwind, the better. While the wind cooperated with 1.5 days hard upwind, 1.5 days hard reaching, all spinnaker runs thereafter, those first three days were slow for AERO. Is there enough time and speed left for AERO to run down her competition? Well, maybe, but....
-During an especially rough night, AERO's spinnaker halyard broke. This created a long, intense series of events as our large kite fell overboard. Crew rushes to manhandle kite before it wraps around keel underwater, pull it in, hope that emergency spin halyard is operational (it was!), reset spinnaker back up only to find out it had ripped, take it down, drag out back up kite and hoist etc. All while going head to wind and losing time. I'm exhausted just typing it...crew was dead tired dealing with it. After all that, crew decided to pull back intensity and sail with a smaller, easier to control sail plan until morning. Joe and our team had planned/practiced for a way to dial back without losing too much sail footage as a safety and sanity saving improvement over last race. We went "wing on wing" ...
Go Synthia, Joe, and Bruce!
FAST LANE finished about 1030 a.m HST this morning in 5 knots of wind, flying his small orange storm jib, the only headsail left for Barry. There's a story there!
SHTP vet and 1988 Pacific cup overall winner David King, on the Westsail-32 SARABAND, finished at ~ 1330 hours under working staysail and main. David would have been a serious contender for overall honors, but got stuck early on in a 2 day wind hole near the Farallones...C'est la vie.
While at the Kilauea Lighthouse, the phone rang: it was Synthia Petroka onboard the Hobie 33 AERO 500 miles from the Pacific Cup finish at Kaneohe Bay."It's been windy for a week ....we ran 250 miles yesterday. Scared ourselves, but OK now. Will likely finish in 9 days and change."
Here's an e-mail from Syn:
Be careful what you ask for......We all asked for wind, and we got it. Unlike two years ago (no wind for two days, AERO bobbing like a cork at the Farallones), the racers are seeing winds between 15-30 knots, mostly in the upper band with higher gusts. This race is FAST!! It could be a record breaking speed year. For perspective, AERO is now projected to finish as early as Thursday, most likely early to mid day Friday. In 2014, AERO finished the equivalent of Monday late morning, at least three days slower.
Why so windy? The racers are basically riding the coattail of Hurricane (fading to tropical storm) Cecilia. Wind is plentiful, constant with big gusts, and in a favorable direction. The race is turning into a spinnaker run for the last 2/3-an eventual benefit to AERO. But, the storm also brought big and confused seas. Racers are facing large swells from all directions, very lumpy and unorganized. Big wind and waves equal challenging conditions: cold, wet, seasickness, crew injuries from being tossed around (lots of bruises), and an environment for boat stuff to break.
This race (Pacific Cup) has seen at least 6 boats returning back to California. Reasons include: dismasting, unspecified serious but non life threatening crew injuries, water supply contamination due to taking on so much water, etc. All remaining boats are facing their challenges: knockdowns, ripped kites, pulpit ripped from bow of boat, water rationing, low to no battery due to cloudy conditions hampering solar charge up. It is Rough out here.
AERO's Race:
Thus far AERO's race is going as Joe predicted. For starters, AERO's handicap is such that she owes up to 17 hours to the boats in her division "C". Next, her competition is made up of some very experienced ocean racers; crews that know how to get the most out of their boats. Joe knew this would be a fight to win. Finally, the race conditions needed to set up to favor AERO's strengths: the more downwind, the better. While the wind cooperated with 1.5 days hard upwind, 1.5 days hard reaching, all spinnaker runs thereafter, those first three days were slow for AERO. Is there enough time and speed left for AERO to run down her competition? Well, maybe, but....
-During an especially rough night, AERO's spinnaker halyard broke. This created a long, intense series of events as our large kite fell overboard. Crew rushes to manhandle kite before it wraps around keel underwater, pull it in, hope that emergency spin halyard is operational (it was!), reset spinnaker back up only to find out it had ripped, take it down, drag out back up kite and hoist etc. All while going head to wind and losing time. I'm exhausted just typing it...crew was dead tired dealing with it. After all that, crew decided to pull back intensity and sail with a smaller, easier to control sail plan until morning. Joe and our team had planned/practiced for a way to dial back without losing too much sail footage as a safety and sanity saving improvement over last race. We went "wing on wing" ...
Go Synthia, Joe, and Bruce!
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Congratulations and a "Well Done" to David Herrigel and DOMINO, 2016 Singlehanded Transpac Overall winner.
Congrats also to Class winners TEMERITY, SEAZED ASSET, and SARABAND.
2016 was not an easy SHTP. with squalls, a southerly cross swell, and reinforced tradewinds. All finishers have done an exceptional job dealing with adversity on their crossings to Hawaii.
And congrats to Brian and the RC and committees that have made this happen. You are the Best!
Aloha!
Tree Time for the Bug Lighters. A large green picnic table was relocated to an alternate position, under the original 1978 tree (an ironwood) on Hanalei Beach Park lawn.
Cool drinks and stories flowing, some with no discernable beginning, middle, or end.
Here's "Snap-on" with a pocket full of 10mm bolts to fix Gregory's broken rudder pintle. What would the SSS fleet do without Michael Jefferson?
GIANT SLAYER's EPIRB accidently triggered? A C-130 flying overhead attempting to locate?
We've got things to talk about.
Boats dragging anchor at Hanalei, one 4 times? Michael's got a 50 pound anchor he'll loan you.
Wanna crew on the Westsail 32 ELIZABETH ANN back to Brookings, Oregon?
Why is Sleddog walking around with only one Flip-Flop? Seems the bottom of his West Marine Reef Walkers has the only bottle opener available for these beer drinking Tree Timers. The General says, "gotta get me a pair of those."
Cool drinks and stories flowing, some with no discernable beginning, middle, or end.
Here's "Snap-on" with a pocket full of 10mm bolts to fix Gregory's broken rudder pintle. What would the SSS fleet do without Michael Jefferson?
GIANT SLAYER's EPIRB accidently triggered? A C-130 flying overhead attempting to locate?
We've got things to talk about.
Boats dragging anchor at Hanalei, one 4 times? Michael's got a 50 pound anchor he'll loan you.
Wanna crew on the Westsail 32 ELIZABETH ANN back to Brookings, Oregon?
Why is Sleddog walking around with only one Flip-Flop? Seems the bottom of his West Marine Reef Walkers has the only bottle opener available for these beer drinking Tree Timers. The General says, "gotta get me a pair of those."
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Timing is everything:
Here comes PATIENCE past our cliffside eyrie, last-to-finish the 2016 SHTP. The sunrise outlines a black squall cloud with a golden aura. A double rainbow is parked over the finish line. The tradewinds are filling towards the North Shore of Kauai. The almost full moon is setting over the Pali ridges of Bali Hai, as Kanaloa turns on his myriad of waterfalls, one falling thousands of feet from near the summit of Waialale.
Aloha, Lee and PATIENCE.
Here comes PATIENCE past our cliffside eyrie, last-to-finish the 2016 SHTP. The sunrise outlines a black squall cloud with a golden aura. A double rainbow is parked over the finish line. The tradewinds are filling towards the North Shore of Kauai. The almost full moon is setting over the Pali ridges of Bali Hai, as Kanaloa turns on his myriad of waterfalls, one falling thousands of feet from near the summit of Waialale.
Aloha, Lee and PATIENCE.
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