I learned to sail 39 years ago, here in Berkeley. Most of my sailing had been in dinghies but I began stimulating the maritime economy (by buying a keelboat) in 2000. The following year I started racing my bright red J/33 with the SSS. I got hooked on this strange form of sailing and started looking for a boat that was easier to single-hand. After reading about Derek Hatfield’s Transatlantic and Bermuda 1-2 exploits in his J/92 “Gizmo,” I bought a J/92 sight-unseen from its owner in Massachusetts and had it trucked out to Alameda. It’s just about perfect for what we’re doing. (Standing headroom would be nice.)

My first SHTP (and first-ever visit to Hawaii) was in 2006. The feeling of accomplishment that came from getting to the starting line and then crossing the finish line in Hanalei Bay cannot be described. As Mark wrote, there’s something addictive about this behavior so although I had not planned to go again until 2010, I find myself buying boat parts on E-Bay, jamming myself under the cockpit to drill holes and run wiring, and otherwise anticipating the July 12th start.

Dr. Lou (“Seabird”) Freeman observes that we all get amnesia between races - I’ll be soloing “Ragtime!” home again from Kauai.

My goals for this race are to actually receive my own weather information underway (although I still plan to follow “Alchera”), and to be more competitive.