This is Steves' first time across and his objectives are to enjoy the ocean experience and build on his skills as a blue water sailor. Since the NOR states that both the sailor and the boat must qualify for the race, he recently completed his second 400 mile qualifier in April 2004 - this time on Kaien.

Steve first started racing in late 2002 in a few of the mid winter series on the SF bay. His goal last year was to complete all the SSS races including the Farallones race and the Longpac which he did except for the Half Moon Bay race. Great training for the 2004 SSS Transpac. One of the best moments of 2003 was the first time he didn't finish last in a race. He progressed from there to winning last year's In the Bay Race in the non spinnaker division on Time Out - a Tartan 35. A highlight of preparing for the SSS Transpac has been the association with the SSS and the other racers who have been really generous with their advice on how to improve equipment and techniques.

He managed to get the additional time off for the sail home which he is planning to do with his wife Valerie. Long term plans include more long distance blue water sailing, but probably not in a racing mode.

Navigation: Garmin 182C fixed mount GPS chart plotter; backup handheld Etrex GPS; Tamaya sextant and Celesticomp calculator. Steering: Primary Monitor windvane (liked it so much on the last boat, he kept it for Kaien); secondary Raymarine 6000 hydraulic. Food: PB&J sandwiches, Top Ramen, canned soup, dried fruit, rice and beans. Still working on the rest of the menu. Special thanks: Walter and Mavis Norman; Bill Merrick, Alan Hebert, Jim Kellem, folks at work for letting him take time off to do the race and the return trip back under sail; Valerie Saul for putting up with this sailing obsession all these years.