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SHTP Interest Poll

Are you joining the fleet for SHTP 2010?

  • "1" Long shot - 2012 is more likely.

    Votes: 3 13.6%

  • "2" Possibility - I'm thinking about it.

    Votes: 6 27.3%

  • "3" Likely - I'm actively preparing.

    Votes: 6 27.3%

  • "4" Serious - I'm well on my way.

    Votes: 4 18.2%

  • "5" Count me in - I'm going.

    Votes: 3 13.6%
  • Total voters
    22
  • Poll closed .
cr1 said:
And let me just ask one quicky... If I have the SSB, won't I need to install a wind generator to supplement the solar? (I've got 3ea. 105AH AGM's.) Let me know if I shouldn't ask questions here.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't count on a wind generator. Even in 'normal' wind conditions, you are likely to generate power only in the first 5 days or so of the race when you are reaching. After that, when the wind backs and it becomes a downwind race, the apparent wind is never really good enough to generate much power. And should there be light air conditions, you may not get any power at all for the entire trip. However, you will have plenty of power in the anchorage at Hanalei!

Keep in mind that you really only have the SSB on for the checkins, which is twice a day for 30-60 minutes, and for most of that time the set is receiving, which is at most a couple of amps. When you transmit, then you can go over 20 amps depending on how loud you speak, and whether you need to use the highest power setting. For my energy budget, where I listen a lot and comment only every so often, I figured about 6AH per day averaged out. So you may be perfectly OK with what you already have, though you didn't mention what your charging system was. Depending on how much you talk, your milage may vary. Any other veterans want to comment on what their SSB energy budget was?

- Mark/Alchera
 
Alchera said:
Any other veterans want to comment on what their SSB energy budget was?
Click to expand...

I didn't have a budget for SSB as I am intentionally running the engine to charge the batteries during roll call.

As Mark points out, a wind generator on TransPac is only useful for the 2-3 days off the California coast when the when might be blowing hard and you're reaching southwest fast. After crossing the ridge, the wind generator doesn't do much.

If a Contessa 26 has an inboard engine available for charging, I would concentrate resources there as regards a charging circuit. If no engine, I would add solar panels to the boat before adding a wind generator.

- rob/beetle
 
solar is a good way to go, some of the small boats relied in it exclusivley for all onboard power - on my boat I ran the engine once only, on day 8 or 9, for a couple of hours - it had been overcast since the start. Even then would have been alright not doing so since the sun came out the next day.

After that my battery bank was fully charged by noon of each day. I relied almost exclusivly on autopilot for steering but did not have refrigeration.

As far as an energy budget in concerned I really have no idea what mine might be . I prefer to over-design things instead of doing the math.

Jim/Haulback
 
Hi All,

I am listing myself as a 5 since I really enjoyed the last trip and am looking forward to this trip. Lots of work to do, but boat is in the yard since I haven't been able to get to it myself.

Solar is wonderful if you have sun (we basically didn't in 08) and your contacts are all weather proofed. Mine worked fine in the desert but were toast by the time I got to HI.

Re: Spot Messenger - I ran it last year and it worked great in the published coverage area. It stopped about about 2/3 of the way to HI coming and going.

I was comm boat for about a week on the last race and it's a lot of work, but it's also lots of fun. It does interfere if you are really trying to win the race. If you go without an HF radio, no matter what the requirements are, you miss a large part of the fun. I really enjoyed the coversations on HF after the checkins and plotting the positions of the boats I was competing with was also part of the fun. I have a Satellite phone as a backup (so the wife doesn't worry if the HF causes problems again) but I plan on HF as my primary means of both voice and email communication.

Hope some of the 2008 competitors come back but if they don't perhaps I will win my division. Still just get a belt buckle, but what the heck.......

John
Dream Chaser
1975 Valiant 40
 
Bob, Polar Bear has all the gear and the race kitty is full again ( I can not believe how many times they will let me refinance my house!) We are a likely three, got an offer to sail to Norway next summer on a boat with headroom, so we'll keep you updated.

ET
 
2010 shtp

So I put myself in at a 2 but am actively preparing my boat. It all depends if my money holds out. I should say if my ship of money rolls in. I am working towards moving up to a 3 ...

Scott
 
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Update on Horizon and SHTP

cr1 said:
Greetings...

As a few of you may remember I prepared for the previous SHTP but didn't participate although my wife and I did show up for the banquet and awards on Kauai. I'm committing to 2.5 which means that the boat is prepared from last year (3.0) but as far as personal committment, I'm seriously thinking (2.0).

I've got a SSB in a box with backstay antenna and ground already installed.

And let me just ask one quicky... If I have the SSB, won't I need to install a wind generator to supplement the solar? (I've got 3ea. 105AH AGM's.) Let me know if I shouldn't ask questions here.

(Yikes, quit thinking so hard and go!) On the other hand I'm getting a little bit of pressure to sell the boat so it's possible that I may just put Horizon up for sale as "good to go".

Thanks,

Rich
PSSA down here in Southern California
"Horizon"
Contessa 26
Click to expand...

OK here's the latest on me and the SHTP. I'm at 3.5 which is up a full point from last message. Even though I've got Horizon for sale until Christmas, if it doesn't sell I only need to install the SSB, get solar and windlass. Can't believe I couldn't find the number and code for the seminar last night. I feel like I should make a trip up there for a seminar so I can say hi...

Thanks,

Rich and Horizon in Costa Mesa
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Contessa 26 Transpac

Go Rich Go!
Then we could have an International Folkboat vs. Contessa 26 showdown! Jeremy Rogers and Tord Sunden would be soo proud. :) Your boat looks really nice...Hope you make it...

Adam

s/v Blue Moon
International Folkboat #175
 
Slacker is a definite maybe

Bob,

Prepping the T-Ten for the Guadalupe Race down here. What's keeping the number is the time commitment for the SHTP. A week to get the boat up there, then another month to do the race.

Whitall
 
Pondering the meaning of life/ TP?

I am preparing my rare Dick Newick trimaran for the trip. Downwind may not be my friend as she was built for upwind sailing (the OSTAR) and at this point there really isn't anyone to race against in my class. I ask anyone in my class who has raced or is planning to race to contact me as I need all the help I can get! I am planning on sailing south to qualify asap. Stephen Marcoe "Native" 775 827 2786
 
Guadalupe Island Race

Stephen,

Come on down for the Guadalupe Island race in March for your qualifier! The race will give you some downwind and upwind work. We're trying to get some other multihulls on the starting line.

Which Newick tri do you have? I'm familiar with a few of them from the late '70's early '80s.

Whitall
 
Newick tri

I have Moxie's older sister, she is Native hull #1 and is the only open wing Native ever built. She was first to finish in the single and doublehanded Farallon Island race 09. She won with only a main and a genoa! Stephen
 
Another point of view

Both Mark and Rob say that you can't count on a wind generator for power, but you have to remember that Rob's sailing a 45 ft boat that averages 10 knots on the way to HI and Mark's on a 40 ft racer that can average better than that. So I'm not surprised wind gens don't work for them in the trades.

On the Valiant 32 I sailed to HI, I averaged 4 knots or so and the wind gen supplied most of my electricity on the way over and back. What works for bigger, faster boats may not be right for smaller, slower boats - and vice versa.
 
Moxie

multihuler@aol. said:
I have Moxie's older sister, she is Native hull #1 and is the only open wing Native ever built. She was first to finish in the single and doublehanded Farallon Island race 09. She won with only a main and a genoa! Stephen
Click to expand...

Moxie was a quick boat, to be sure. Was Phil Weld the last American OSTAR winner? I guess the main and Genny is all you need! My father and I were caught in the same storm that flipped Gulf Streamer back in '76.

Whitall
 
I just upgraded "Warrior's Wish" from a 3 to a 4. I am almost done prepping the boat here in North Carolina, and we should be trailering to San Francisco in a couple of weeks. I am planning my qualifying sail sometime in February or March, and then we'll be a 5. :)

If anyone wants to track our progress in preparing for the SHTP, you can follow our blog at www.openbluehorizon.com.

Looking forward to meeting everyone,

Ronald A. Simpson
 
ronnie simpson said:
I just upgraded "Warrior's Wish" from a 3 to a 4. I am almost done prepping the boat here in North Carolina, and we should be trailering to San Francisco in a couple of weeks. I am planning my qualifying sail sometime in February or March, and then we'll be a 5. :)

If anyone wants to track our progress in preparing for the SHTP, you can follow our blog at www.openbluehorizon.com.

Looking forward to meeting everyone,

Ronald A. Simpson
Click to expand...

Ronald - good luck with your effort, stories like yours are always great to hear about. Warriors Wish is a fine boat and knows the way already, you will have a blast. Make sure you get all the burnt spinnaker off of her!

- Mark
 
So.......having been a eager participant since '02 in 3 starts and 4 finishes of the SHTP, it is with great regret that I have to inform the RC - and all competitors - that Haulback & I will not be coming down for this year's race to Hawaii.

Events and crewing limitations at work mean I will be unable to get away for the 2 1/2 months it takes for me to stage down to SF, across to Hawaii and back to BC, in our little corner of the Pacific

Seeing as I will probably retire early in 2012, I would strongly suspect that I will be along for the next one.

I guess this at least opens up the field for someone else to get the 'first to finish' trophy.

I will continue to watch this forum and the race itself, with great interest, from the sidelines

Jim/Haulback
 
I'm most disappointed to read this, Jim. You will be missed.

I'm hoping your circumstances change and you can join us after all, but if they don't we'll be here to catch your dock lines in 2012.

Bob J.
 
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