|
Positions
08/08/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
37
48N x 124 28W
|
87
|
096
|
6.4
|
|
Harrier
|
34 07N x 126 18W
|
405
|
091
|
6.2
|
|
Pakele
|
46 48N x 132 51W
|
340
|
070
|
6.2
|
Hi Guys,
This will be the final email position report for 2010. I will finish
noon (ish) tomorrow if the wind holds reasonably well.
Bob and Rob - Thanks again for a great race!!!!
We will stay in touch.
SeeYa,
John
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
08/07/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
37
46N x 127 31W
|
210
|
080
|
7.3
|
|
Harrier
|
34 20N x 128 57W
|
533
|
091
|
5
|
|
Pakele
|
45 457N x 136 05W
|
483
|
068
|
6.1
|
|
Southernaire
|
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Guys,
This will be the next to last position report. I will finish Monday morning
and Harrier and Pakele don't have email capability, so they will be out here
all by themselves. Ken was only on a second tonight, he had an
autopilot failure to deal with, but I think he has 5 spares ready to
go........ Gary figures he will have a 22 day passage the same as
me. I didn't ask Ken but will try to tomorrow night.
Today finally turned sunny, cold but sunny with 22 Kt winds reaching at 7+
Kts. Perfect. Well perfect except for the cold thing.
Cheers,
John
|
|
Positions
08/06/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
37
23N x 130 51W
|
399
|
070
|
6.7
|
|
Harrier
|
34 45N x 131 44W
|
676
|
091
|
6.5
|
|
Pakele
|
48 08N x 139 08W
|
620
|
066
|
5.5
|
|
Southernaire
|
37 53N x 123 43W
|
29
|
103
|
5
|
|
|
|
From Adrian (Idefix):
This is probably more than you were asking for, but I started
typing and got carried away. I intend to post a very detailed account of my
experience on my website: http://adrianjohnson.info
It was a pretty amazing trip, and much more pleasant than what I expected. I
suspect that leaving a couple days earlier let us sail in easier conditions
than the others for the first couple days. Nevertheless, Peter got seasick
shortly after leaving Hanalei Bay, which lasted for 3 days before slowly
subsiding as the seas got smoother and he got acclimated. After about a week
of close reaching the seas were very flat and the boat was on rails. We had a
relatively easy time staying dry. We fished a couple dorados and had fresh
fish for dinner. Seems like every check of the weatherfax showed the high
moving in the opposite direction we wanted it to. Without an engine, our
options were pretty limited, so I tried to find a balance between keeping my
distance from the center of the high and making as much distance towards
Seattle as possible. One day we suddenly hit westerlies and I was pretty
happy because I figured we were going to have good wind the whole way, but a
couple days later it shut down on us. I was a little bummed because it waited
until we were in cold water to shut down. If it had shut down earlier we'd
have had warm nights and an 18000-ft deep swimming pool, but as it was, I
couldn't convince myself to go for a swim in the cold water. We caught a
couple tuna to stretch our food supply. We sailed past a whale that was
sitting on the surface and watched it dive in front of the setting sun. We
spent a day chasing down a sailboat which Peter had spotted on the horizon at
dawn, and by evening we'd rafted up to them for some drinks. We got really
bored. We read two or three books each, debated things like politics,
sailboats, fishing, women, money, Napoleon Bonaparte, and hygiene. We watched
TV shows on the computer, and invented stupid games like skipping orange
peels off the water. After a couple days of very slow progress, the wind
picked up again and increased in strength quite a bit. Our mood tracked very
closely with the speed of the boat, as Peter was going to be late for work if
we didn't start moving fast. Paul was very kind to give Peter's boss a call
on the satphone for us, twice. The nights and mornings got very cold and
damp, which meant no more showers or drying our clothes in the sun. The waves
picked up and Peter got seasick again. This time I remembered my supply of
seasickness medication (oops!) and gave him some, which helped a lot. We had
an amazing night of running under the spinnaker in dense fog, with the ocean
completely ablaze with phosphorescence. You could pick up a handful of water
and watch it sparkle in your hand. The wind picked up to 25 kts and I had to
hand-steer the boat, guiding it along waves of green sparkles, hitting 10-11
kts regularly. It felt like I was wearing night-vision goggles. Eventually I
decided the wind was too much for us and we'd better take the kite down. Less
than an hour later the wind died to 10 knots, then 3. We were pretty
depressed to be sitting within 50 miles of Vancouver Island, completely
shrouded in fog. We spent 3 days working hard, milking whatever wind we had
to get the boat into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Eventually we sighted a
sliver of beach and rocks and drifted into the Strait. The wind started to
pick up again and we set the biggest chute. Soon we were doing 7 knots,
surfing down the Strait in thick fog. Night came and the wind kept picking
up. This time there was no taking the spinnaker down. We'd done enough
drifting to know we needed to take advantage of whatever wind we had. I sat
down at the tiller and hand-steered through the cold, foggy night, despite
not having slept much in the last 24 hours, while Peter sat at the nav table
and guided us down the Strait, dodging buoys and rocks on the chart and ships
on the AIS and keeping us out of the worst of the 2-knot ebb. We started
seeing flashes in the darkness above our heads. I figured they might be St.
Elmo's fire, but was later told they were the aurora borealis. At daybreak
the wind started subsiding, and we had a beautiful finish in light air, with
the sun finally starting to warm our cold bodies as the fog broke up. Besides
that sliver of beach on Vancouver Island, we had not seen land since Kaua'i,
which is unfortunate, because going up the Strait is a beautiful sail.
Arriving in Port Townsend after almost 2 months away from home, and a 23-day,
2864 mile passage was an emotional moment, which took a 180-degree turn when
I received a phone call informing me that a good friend and colleague had
died while I was at sea. I can't really begin to describe how I felt for the
rest of the day. We had breakfast and stretched our atrophied legs walking
around Port Townsend, ran into the crew of the sailboat we'd rafted up to as
they were coming in, met a friend who'd driven our outboard up from Seattle,
then I got back on the boat, alone, and had a long and peaceful motorsail
back to Seattle, with lots of time to reflect on the last 8 weeks, the
wonderful people I've met on this extraordinary adventure, and how much the
people in my life mean to me. I was greeted at the dock by a rather large
contingent of friends which I'd never been so happy to see.
Adrian
|
|
Positions
08/05/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
36
47N x 133 54W
|
550
|
070
|
6.4
|
|
Harrier
|
35 25N x 134 39W
|
821
|
092
|
6.6
|
|
Hecla
|
no contact
|
|
|
|
|
Pakele
|
44 18N x 142 01W
|
753
|
052
|
6
|
|
Saraband
|
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
Southernaire
|
38 23N x 125 45W
|
162
|
100
|
6.5
|
|
|
|
Talked to Dave (Saraband)
tonight at checkin time and he is home. Sam will be next to finish
probably day after tomorrow. I will finish Monday midday as it stands
now. Long run for me, time wise, 22 days, but I am fine and eating well
and chest cold is gone so don't get to share it with anyone.......
SeeYa,
John (Dream Chaser)
|
|
Positions
08/04/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
arrived
SF
|
|
|
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
36
16N x 136 42W
|
689
|
069
|
6.1
|
|
Harrier
|
35 59N x 137 32W
|
962
|
093
|
5
|
|
Hecla
|
38 34N x 136 14W
|
648
|
070
|
9.5
|
|
Idefix
|
arrived PNW
|
|
|
|
|
Pakele
|
43 32N x 143 44W
|
841
|
042
|
3
|
|
Saraband
|
26 07N x 126 39W
|
107
|
090
|
6
|
|
Solar Wind
|
arrived SF
|
|
|
|
|
Southernaire
|
38 47N x 128 47W
|
306
|
095
|
6.6
|
|
|
|
Culebra crossed under
the Golden Gate at about 0400 this morning, Aug 4. We're home safe now, yeah!
Sailed a bit over 2800 miles to get here, going as far north as roughly 42N. We
(meaning me and the boat) were en route for 20 days and 16 hrs. We motored
for about 48 hrs leading up to the High and while crossing it. Nearly all the
rest was sailing on a close reach or close hauled (sounds insane? well it
is.) We weren't able to loose the sheets until the very last day (yesterday)
while approaching the CA coast. I will say, yesterday's experience was
exhilarating. We had some sizable winds and seas, and even though the boat
was thoroughly reefed down, it surely wanted to fly. At one point (coming up
onto Cordell Bank and going from 10,000 ft deep to 300 ft deep), the seas
looked like mountains, as large or larger than I've ever seen first hand, and
the winds were gusting to 30 while the boat slipped effortlessly downhill,
several times hitting roughly 11.5 kts (and this was under #4 and a triple
reefed main). It was like sailing through a tempest, but the boat seemed to
love it... and the autopilot did all the work while I cowered in the cabin
hoping nothing would break. I was astonished to find just a few hours later,
as I was shaking out the reefs (it had calmed considerably some miles before
I was to cross the Potato Patch shoal), that the bolt securing the boom to
the goose neck had lost its nut and about 2/3 of the bolt had backed out of
the (unthreaded) fitting. The boom had literally clung on by virtue of a few
obstinate threads that refused to let the bolt slip all the way out. It was
an easy repair on the spot, but who knows for how long the boom (and I and
the main) had been in that precarious condition!
The boat is mighty salty and damp still, but thankfully in one piece, along
with me. Best yet, I'm now clean and fed... and happy to be home!
Paul/Culebra
Aug 4, 2010
|
|
Positions
08/03/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
37
56N x 123 15W
|
38
|
106
|
7
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
35
55N x 139 05W
|
806
|
065
|
4.8
|
|
Harrier
|
36 43N x 140 08W
|
1091
|
093
|
5.7
|
|
Idefix
|
48 24N x 124 48W
|
61
|
122
|
7
|
|
Pakele
|
42 30N x 145 25W
|
935
|
025
|
4.5
|
|
Saraband
|
45 47N x 130 09W
|
255
|
080
|
6
|
|
Solar Wind
|
38 01N x 124 57W
|
118
|
100
|
6
|
|
Southernaire
|
39 09N x 132 02W
|
457
|
096
|
6.8
|
|
|
|
Culebra
and Idefix should arrive in port tonight.
|
|
Positions
08/02/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
38
39N x 126 15W
|
188
|
105
|
7
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
36
06N x 141 04W
|
899
|
100
|
3.4
|
|
Harrier
|
37 24N x 142 05W
|
1187
|
100
|
4.2
|
|
Idefix
|
48 38N x 125 32W
|
117
|
88
|
1.2
|
|
Pakele
|
41 14N x 147 07W
|
1040
|
058
|
5
|
|
Saraband
|
46 13N x 133 34W
|
402
|
080
|
5.5
|
|
Solar Wind
|
38 35N x 128 10W
|
272
|
100
|
6.7
|
|
Southernaire
|
39 28N x 135 02W
|
598
|
096
|
5.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
08/01/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
39
17N x 129 17W
|
333
|
103
|
7
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
36
45N x 143 00W
|
983
|
097
|
4.4
|
|
Harrier
|
37 46N x 144 15W
|
1291
|
070
|
4.1 - motoring
|
|
Idefix
|
48 51N x 127 14W
|
186
|
100
|
7.7
|
|
Pakele
|
40 13N x 149 09W
|
1151
|
057
|
5
|
|
Saraband
|
44 46N x 136 35W
|
533
|
070
|
5.5
|
|
Solar Wind
|
39 08N x 131 11W
|
417
|
100
|
6.6
|
|
Southernaire
|
39 48N x 137 44W
|
724
|
094
|
5.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
no contact
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/31/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
39
53N x 132 28W
|
485
|
101
|
6.3
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
37
16N x 144 23W
|
1043
|
138
|
3.8
|
|
Harrier
|
37 05N x 146 00W
|
1379
|
050
|
5.1
|
|
Idefix
|
49 08N x 131 04W
|
338
|
087
|
7
|
|
Pakele
|
38 41N x 149 51W
|
1229
|
000
|
3.6
|
|
Saraband
|
43 48N x 139 03W
|
651
|
065
|
4.7
|
|
Solar Wind
|
30 32N x 134 26W
|
569
|
105
|
6.4
|
|
Southernaire
|
40 05N x 140 26W
|
859
|
096
|
4.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
no contact
|
|
|
|
from saraband:
Ahoy, Saraband is 630 miles off the Oregon
coast and sailing slowly in light SW'erlies. I was hoping to finish
this cruise with a 1000 mile week but it is not going to happen now. It
would have been Saraband's 10th. All is well aboard. We are on
our last pound of bacon though so speed is of the essence. Just to end
any speculation about the refrigerator, I don't believe it was plugged
in. Thanks to all of you for just being there. Dave
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/30/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
40
22N x 135 35W
|
632
|
100
|
6
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
37
00N x 145 28W
|
1097
|
080
|
4.1
|
|
Harrier
|
36 29N x 148 23W
|
1489
|
080
|
4
|
|
Idefix
|
48 54N x 135 22W
|
507
|
070
|
4.8
|
|
Pakele
|
37 18N x 150 33W
|
1307
|
045
|
4
|
|
Saraband
|
42 43N x 140 44W
|
743
|
090
|
5.3
|
|
Solar Wind
|
40 06N x 137 16W
|
704
|
105
|
6
|
|
Southernaire
|
no contact
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
no contact
|
|
|
|
[afternoon report]
Culebra here again,
Well, right after my last post, conditions really deteriorated. There was a
momentary nostalgia when I discovered the conditions felt more like home.
That feeling was quickly replaced. No, this nasty weather was now a major
annoyance. I think a dozen squalls came my way over a 24 hr period. The wind
repeatedly went from a beam wind of about 12 or 13 to a wind well forward of
about 20. It was more often 20. The seas kicked up steeply to match. It was
almost impossible for the boat to tend to itself, and I was continually
making adjustments. And it was not comfortable.
Ah, but now, thank heavens, I have made it through the mini gauntlet. At
about 1330 today, winds backed and eased off, no more squalls, and even the
seas are beginning to subside. It actually changed quite suddenly. The wind
instrument was registering 20 kts true, and suddenly further forward than
usual. I wasn't able to hold my desired course. I'd have to fall off and I
didn't want to. I looked around for a squall to blame, but none was there.
What was going on? I was considering putting in another reef, and I had the
reefing line in hand. Then quite suddenly the wind just blew out, dropped to
about 14 kts and backed to about 120 deg (from the port bow). It a great
feeling, very cool. Could these conditions please stay? I hung out with the
reefing line still in hand for another half hour until I was sure, but it
occurred to me as I stood there... hey, the sky is different. Not a single
gnarly-looking storm cloud anywhere to the N, E or S, only behind me, to the
W. So, I let the boat tend to itself and treated myself to a much needed nap.
We've been moving along comfortably all afternoon at about 6 kts. The main
has a single reef in it just to be nice to the autopilot while we're still
plowing through these beam seas. I'd love to put up the #2 again and get
another knot, but that would be greedy. Besides, I'm gun shy. No, 6 kts is
just fine and it keeps me on target for a Wed. arrival.
Culebra out
[moring report]
Culebra here,
You know you're in for a workout when the morning dawns with a horizon
swarming with squalls. Wait a second, wasn't it just 24 hours ago I was
motoring over a glassy sea!? The gribs called for about 10-11 kts of wind on
the beam today, all day. So I figured I'd be sleeping in, reading a book,
relaxing for yet another day. That lasted all of about an hour this morning.
The band of squalls--3 of them visited me directly--lasted a couple hours.
Then the wind went forward and stayed in the mid-teens and kicked up the sea.
Now it's even further forward and hovering around 13 kts true. So I tinkered
with sail combinations, where to lead the sheet (inboard on the track or on
the rail outboard of the lifelines), reefing the main, etc. I settled on a
deeply reefed main and keeping my #2 up, sheeted so it spills the air on top.
The boat speed is low enough to keep the cockpit free of spray (well,
mostly), while I still have enough umph to get through the chop and swell.
Plus this combo lets me maintain a boat speed high enough (6.5 kts) so I can
get home by Wed. And if by chance conditions do moderate to what the gribs
"promised" (yeah, right), then all I have to do is shake out the
reef in the main. I will say, it was fun tinkering and watching the variety
of conditions play out in such a short period of time.
I'm just 150 miles east of the High and still over 500 miles from the the
nearest land (Cape Mendocino, to be precise), and yet the water temp has
quickly dropped to just 62 deg (was 10 deg higher a couple days ago) and the
air temperature has dropped along with it. It feels just like home! A lively
sea, a bit of mist in the air, a fresh breeze, and foulies for protection.
Yep, just like home. It won't be long. I'm 660 nm from the gate as of this
writing.
See you soon,
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/29/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
40
44N x 138 31W
|
766
|
097
|
5
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
36 14N
x 146 50W
|
1172
|
075
|
5.5
|
|
Harrier
|
35 21N x 150 33W
|
1600
|
050
|
5.3
|
|
Idefix
|
48 29N x 137 31W
|
595
|
045
|
1
|
|
Pakele
|
35 55N x 152 22W
|
1427
|
040
|
6
|
|
Saraband
|
41 57N x 143 52W
|
890
|
050
|
5.2
|
|
Solar Wind
|
41 01N x 139 34W
|
815
|
120
|
4.5 - motoring
|
|
Southernaire
|
40 04N x 143 14W
|
978
|
027
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
41 01N x 130 15W
|
405
|
085
|
7.2
|
Greetings from the E side of the High.
Culebra managed to slip across the S ridge of the high last night, as the
high was expanding and finally presenting a glassy sea. Was very nice.
Sailing on port tack now in about 7 kts true, a north wind. Solar Wind
is close behind and should be through soon.
Idefix is unfortunately stuck in a calm. The High expanded and swallowed
them. They did, however, chance upon another sailboat heading their
direction. They caught up and came along side, and the other boat proceeded
to invite them aboard. So they tied up and shared a drink together. Now
that's a fun story.
Positions attached.
[relay from Culebra:]
Max (Solar Wind) says, Happy Anniversary Rebecca! Sorry I'm delayed getting
back, but pick out a great place for dinner and drink, and we'll celebrate when
I get home.
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/28/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
41
02N x 141 13W
|
891
|
095
|
4.7 -
motoring
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
35
20N x 149 38W
|
1317
|
078
|
6.2
|
|
Harrier
|
34 01N x 152 38W
|
1713
|
055
|
6
|
|
Idefix
|
48 12N x 139 18W
|
669
|
095
|
3.8
|
|
Pakele
|
34 16N x 153 52W
|
1548
|
038
|
5.8
|
|
Saraband
|
40 49N x 146 37W
|
1031
|
065
|
5.8
|
|
Solar Wind
|
41 12N x 141 28W
|
902
|
090
|
4 - motoring
|
|
Southernaire
|
39 34N x 145 41W
|
1092
|
062
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
could not copy
|
|
|
|
Greetings,
Idefix caught a tuna today. So now they have completed a trifecta, Mahi,
Tuna, King Mackerel. Solar Wind and Culebra traded places. The high sneaked
north of us and presented a 10-12 kt wind dead on the nose starting in the
morning and lasting much of the day. Both boats beat into as best they could.
Easy going now, right down the great cir route home, with a light SE wind
assisting while motoring.
The group has been discussing different foods that work on a boat. A good
topic of conversation. Also discussing routing options for the boats that
haven't reached the high yet. No garbage reported, just fishing floats (no
glass balls today).
Culebra is hoping to exit the Hi on Thursday,
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/27/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
41
26N x 143 25W
|
991
|
095
|
5.5 -
motoring
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
34
54N x 151 59W
|
1436
|
069
|
4.6
|
|
Harrier
|
32 54N x 154 40W
|
1821
|
050
|
6.3
|
|
Idefix
|
47 58N x 141 24W
|
754
|
083
|
4.7
|
|
Pakele
|
32 52N x 155 19W
|
1658
|
035
|
4.8
|
|
Saraband
|
39 41N x 149 23W
|
1175
|
060
|
5.3
|
|
Solar Wind
|
41 11N x 143 16W
|
983
|
100
|
3.7 - motoring
|
|
Southernaire
|
39 29N x 148 20W
|
1216
|
082
|
3.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
42 13N x 136 51W
|
714
|
085
|
6.8
|
Solar Wind and Culebra are smack in the middle of
the high now. Glassy seas. Very pretty. Idefix is flying a kite. Saraband has
also been broad reaching for the past 3 days, carrying a chute much of the
time. Very nice.
Kestrel reports 7-15 kts of breeze, somewhat fluky. But on the home stretch
and on the east side of the high.
Harrier saw more garbage today, a float with a mess of fishing net and other
stuff attached, about 5' diameter.
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/26/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
41
38N x 146 03W
|
1111
|
093
|
6
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
34
14N x 153 55W
|
1539
|
011
|
3.7
|
|
Harrier
|
31 10N x 156 15W
|
1925
|
010
|
5
|
|
Idefix
|
47 41N x 143 33W
|
842
|
078
|
4.7
|
|
Pakele
|
30 59N x 156 25W
|
1777
|
020
|
4.4
|
|
Saraband
|
38 27N x 151 48W
|
1310
|
045
|
4.1
|
|
Solar Wind
|
41 22N x 145 28W
|
1084
|
070
|
4.1
|
|
Southernaire
|
39 17N x 150 09W
|
1300
|
082
|
4.6 - motoring
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
42 31N x 139 39W
|
1845
|
088
|
6.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/25/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
41
25N x 149 01W
|
1244
|
090
|
6.5
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
32
57N x 154 50W
|
1607
|
007
|
4.4
|
|
Harrier
|
29 06N x 156 46W
|
1925
|
015
|
6
|
|
Idefix
|
47 05N x 146 52W
|
982
|
064
|
5.2
|
|
Pakele
|
29 10N x 156 59W
|
1876
|
018
|
6.4
|
|
Saraband
|
37 23N x 153 42W
|
1420
|
050
|
5.2
|
|
Solar Wind
|
41 22N x 147 53W
|
1194
|
063
|
5.1
|
|
Southernaire
|
39 03N x 152 41W
|
1420
|
082
|
4.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
42 47N x 142 05W
|
|
092
|
4 - motoring
|
Harrier has picked up a glass ball, Pakele is
headed for Cape Flattery, Saraband sailed past a floating, upright, full size
refrigerator... and Southernaire
is practicising position reports with the sextant.
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/24/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
41
25N x 151 51W
|
1370
|
088
|
6.3
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
31
22N x 155 26W
|
1670
|
350
|
4
|
|
Harrier
|
27 16N x 157 49W
|
2074
|
021
|
6
|
|
Idefix
|
46 17N x 149 48W
|
1112
|
056
|
6.7
|
|
Pakele
|
27 14N x 157 53W
|
|
014
|
5.1
|
|
Saraband
|
36 00N x 156 06W
|
1562
|
050
|
6.4
|
|
Solar Wind
|
41 29N x 150 38W
|
1319
|
085
|
6
|
|
Southernaire
|
38 53N x 154 48W
|
1519
|
082
|
3.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
42 26N x 144 19W
|
1050
|
083
|
5
|
Harrier and Pakele are within site of each at the
report time, and Solar Wind reports a large log at 41 24N x 151 50W.
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/23/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
41 09N
x 154 08W
|
1506
|
085
|
6.5
|
|
Dream
Chaser
|
30
13N x 156 37W
|
|
|
|
|
Harrier
|
25 15N x 158 77W
|
|
020
|
5
|
|
Idefix
|
45 00N x 152 50W
|
1250
|
074
|
5.7
|
|
Pakele
|
25 05N x 159 38W
|
|
028
|
5.9
|
|
Saraband
|
34 24N x 158 06W
|
1697
|
035
|
3.5 - motoring
|
|
Solar Wind
|
41 00N x 153 18W
|
1441
|
090
|
5.7
|
|
Southernaire
|
38 45N x 150 01W
|
1623
|
093
|
4.4 - motoring
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
42 02N x 146 57W
|
1170
|
070
|
5
|
hi all, I would like to request that the boats that
just started recently do a separate check-in. the distances are just too
great to make communication effective. tonight saraband relayed positions but
it was difficult. also, I'm hoping in this way John won't mind sharing the
task with me. if this is okay, then John would send in a report separate from
mine... 2 files. if there were a way to get us all on one frequency, or relay
easily, then I would even ask (beg) John to take the whole task, if he would
be so kind. But I don't think that is practical given the inability to copy
well.
So here are all the boats, but notice that there is missing information due
to difficulty hearing.
thx, Paul
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/22/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
40 39N
x 156 48W
|
1599
|
068
|
4
|
|
Idefix
|
could not copy
|
|
|
|
|
Saraband
|
33 09N x 159 06W
|
1782
|
020
|
4 - motoring
|
|
Solar Wind
|
40 38N x 155 17W
|
1534
|
040
|
3
|
|
Southernaire
|
37 28N x 158 46W
|
1719
|
035
|
5.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
41 57N x 149 27W
|
1243
|
092
|
5 - motoring
|
Hi all,
Propagation was poor tonight, so there was
little chatter. Missed Idefix unfortunately. Winds light up here at 40N, but
at least they are somewhat southerly. Almost able to ride along the great
circle course to SF. Most of the day was spent in the sunshine, finally
enjoying a dry and comfy cockpit! Also spent more time cleaning up the
electrical cabinet... taking advantage of a rather steady boat to work in.
Winds were from 3 to 8 kts true. It's pretty cool when you can close reach
(very close) with a flat #2 and full main at 3/4 of the true wind speed. Even
though that still only turns out to be 4 or 5 kts. The seas are quite low
now, very enjoyable. Saw a pod of dolphins today but couldn't get close
enough to take pics. Lots of sea birds, including the ever-present boobies.
No albatross unfortunately.
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
From
AJ (Second Verse) 07/22
|
Second Verse is now safely
in Oahu, berthed at the Waikiki Yacht Club.
I tell you what, that
channel sucked! We left at 0300 and made the channel by first light. At
that point it was not too bad, but about 1300 the winds picked up and the sea
state was yucky. From then on it was a bash all the way to the lee of the
island. We cracked off a bit to help the motion, but there is just not much
else one could do except to suck it up and go! Gary and I were in good
spirits and made each other laugh the entire way (no sleep with the motion of
the boat!).
The funny thing is that
we made better time than we expected and we got to Honolulu too early, 0300.
I did not want to enter the harbor at night so we had to stand off for three
hours. We almost ran into two boats about five miles off that were not on AIS
and had no running lights! The only way I saw them was with radar and
Gary and I kept saying there is something there, we can't see it, but let's
turn away. Sure enough, at first light we saw them! Weird.
All is well now and we are berthed right next to these huge PacCup boats.
Pegasus is next to me as well as a huge sled. My Cascade looks good!
Pakale and Harrier should be off last night or today. Warriors Wish is here
with me and it looks like Blue Moon is sold.
Second Verse, signing off.
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/21/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
39
34N x 158 51W
|
1700
|
035
|
5
|
|
Idefix
|
43 27N x 157 53W
|
1496
|
053
|
6.2
|
|
Saraband
|
31 17N x 159 43W
|
1875
|
350
|
5.5
|
|
Solar Wind
|
38 59N x 157 10W
|
1633
|
050
|
5.9
|
|
Southernaire
|
35 34N x 159 47W
|
1794
|
023
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
40 36N x 151 08W
|
1344
|
001
|
5.2
|
And for tonight's broadcast from the Pacific...
All is good. Most of the boats have benefited, starting earlier today, from a
significant wind shift, giving us a lift of 30-50 degrees. Hopefully those
southerlies that are in the forecast come very soon. We would all like to
bend around further to the right. This is turning out to be a strange
return... even for those of us who have never done it! No point speculating
yet what the course will be from here. There are many days and miles between
us and the high, currently. We're just hoping the current forecast for the
position of the high turns out to be wrong.
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/20/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
37
27N x 159 24W
|
1748
|
355
|
6
|
|
Idefix
|
41 29N x 158 48W
|
1646
|
352
|
6.3
|
|
Saraband
|
29 30N x 160 01W
|
1955
|
350
|
4.8
|
|
Solar Wind
|
36 45N x 158 25W
|
1717
|
0
|
6.4
|
|
Southernaire
|
33 30N x 160 11W
|
1850
|
10
|
5.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
39 06N x 152 21W
|
1415
|
5
|
5.8
|
note: Kestrel is a Valiant 39 en route
to Brickyard Cove, skipper "Mike" WDD3860
Greetings from out West...
Idefix reports that they are now closer to Alaska than to Hawaii. A fun way to
look at it. Going to Alaska anyone? Idefix also reports they saw a pod of
dolphins and a basking shark. Surprised they didn't try to catch 'em and eat
'em. (kidding of course)
Everyone would love to make some easting, but it is difficult. Kestrel (a friend
we picked up along the way, headed back to Brickyard Cove in their Valiant
39) reports that the squalls offer a lift and allow some easting. For me,
those lifts thankfully compensate for the often dictated left of N course.
Solar Wind and Culebra are in nearly the same place on the course home, and
both experienced fluky winds during much of the night and today. Windy
clouds, not squalls really, seem to have gotten us up to our normal day's
run. But a change is in the air. I can feel the gradient weakening. A good
sign. Hopefully we will be able to start turning right fairly soon, 1-2 days.
Culebra's latitude is now the same as Half Moon Bay, an often visited and fun
destination.
Culebra last night discovered what could have become a serious electrical
problem, but it revealed itself in a friendly way and was easily resolved. A
very small amount of seawater found its way into one of the banks of circuit
breakers in the electrical panel. I'm certain it happened during the patch of
stormy weather we had at the beginning of the race (some weeks ago now). At
the time it looked as if the water hadn't penetrated behind the face plate. I
wiped it off and inspected behind... dry. That was then. But last night one
of the LED lights for a breaker that was OFF began to glow dimly. Hmm, that's
not supposed to happen. I inspected again today in daylight. Corrosion and
ooze were beginning to form at the seams of an entire bank breakers, where
the contacts protrude. Water must have gotten into the interior of the breakers
where the little toggles intersect the body of the breaker. There was no
other water behind the panel to be found. I removed
the source power to the bus feeding that bank of breakers and re-routed
critical systems to other breakers that were unaffected. Actually, the AIS,
GPS and VHF are all individually fused (all the electronics are), so I
connected them directly to the positive bus. They were going to stay on for
the duration anyway. So, problem solved and sigh of relief! And thank you
Larry for the helpful consultation.
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/19/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
35
03N x 159 20W
|
1781
|
0
|
6
|
|
Idefix
|
39 05N x 158 43W
|
1784
|
2
|
6
|
|
Saraband
|
27 23N x 160 09W
|
2045
|
5
|
5.5
|
|
Solar Wind
|
34 23N x 158 39W
|
1765
|
355
|
6.8
|
|
Southernaire
|
31 28N x 160 13W
|
1892
|
0
|
5.5
|
Hello from out here with the fishes.
Idefix caught another. A Mahi. Frying it up now. Nice. Saraband had Spanish rice
for dinner and eggs and bacon for breakfast. Oh boy. Next time I'm hanging
out with those guys! Culebra, not having the courage to fire up the stove
(bumpy), had cold turkey and dressing. Not bad, considering, but I'll
definitely have to learn to cook at sea. I've been reading a crime mystery
set in Sweden, and there are many references to the food served in the
countryside. My mouth is watering... part of the fun of reading the book for
sure. Max on Solar Wind reports that his foot is doing quite well. Great to
hear that news.
We had some discussion of the forecast. The High looks like it will split
apart; a low will squash its eastern half up against the coast (expected);
and lucky for the Pacific NW boats a corridor of favorable wind will set up
between the H and L and may carry them their desired direction. For Idefix
who is already well north, this is good timing. For Saraband there's no
telling. Also looks like a wave in the isobars is coming through the next few
days and may affect Saraband further south, hopefully not too badly (with
light air). For us SF Bay boats, it looks like we may not have to sail as far
north as thought earlier, and we may even get some help from favorable winds
in the SW quarter of the weakened high as it moves east. All maybes. Much
beyond 3 or 4 days, one doesn't tend to put too much weight on a model
forecast, but the developments are encouraging nonetheless.
Culebra out
|
|
|
|
|
Positions
07/18/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
32
40N x 158 59W
|
1809
|
0
|
6.5
|
|
Idefix
|
36 37N x 158 37W
|
1931
|
0
|
5
|
|
Saraband
|
25 13N x 159 46W
|
2121
|
345
|
5.5
|
|
Solar Wind
|
31 45N x 158 30W
|
1810
|
350
|
6.2
|
|
Southernaire
|
29 20N x 160 05W
|
1937
|
10
|
6.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
no report
|
|
|
|
Today is my wife's birthday!!
Happy Birthday Melissa.
A few comments from the crew: Idefix at 36N reports smooth sailing, finally.
Seas have turned smaller and somewhat S of E. But winds are still ENE and light,
about 7 kts. Here at Culebra's 32N winds are starting to abate some, down to
15-18, and seas are rounder but still bigger than I like, around 8 ft. Still
taking water over the bow and into the cockpit. Will be most enjoyable when I
can spend some time in the cockpit instead of hiding out in the cabin to stay
dry. Solar Wind has decided not to bust into the headwinds all the way home
and will follow the traditional route over the high. Nevertheless, a more
direct route home sure has appeal given the forecast position of the high,
which seems to be moving west and staying up at 43N. Saraband reports that
his repaired boom is doing quite well. Not vanged. He also says he is sorry
to report that of all the return trips he has made from the islands, this is
the worst... that's based on sea state, wind direction, and the track he must
take as a result. But he and crew are in good spirits and good condition.
Actually, it's encouraging to know this is not a normal return
"splash." If it were, I'd have to conclude that our revered
TransPac vets are gluttons for punishment. Well, wait. Why again does anyone
intentionally sail from roughly 22N to 43N (over 1200 nm) against seas and
headwinds? I question my sanity daily. Adrian on Idefix, by the way reports,
that he and Peter are enjoying themselves. Gotta love that guy... fast,
brilliant, talented... and... he even enjoys sailing 1200 miles into the
wind.
(As before, there will be no morning report on the 19th)
Culebra out
|
|
Positions
07/17/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
30
08N x 159 01W
|
1868
|
5
|
6.5
|
|
Idefix
|
34 04N x 159 06W
|
2064
|
0
|
6.6
|
|
Saraband
|
23 04N x 159 30W
|
?
|
0
|
6.1
|
|
Solar Wind
|
29 16N x 158 07W
|
1851
|
20
|
6.3
|
|
Southernaire
|
27 57N x 159 39W
|
?
|
2
|
5.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kestrel
|
33 30N x 154 05W
|
?
|
0
|
6
|
Happy to hear that Saraband joins us
now. Departed Hanalei Bay at noon local today. We have been keeping company
with a Valiant 39, "Kestrel" from Brickyard Cove. Also en route
from HI back to Richmond. Skipper is Mike. It is good to have his company and
he has been a helpful "probe" for reporting conditions to us where
his is, further north. Nobody is liking the forecast position of the high. We're
expecting ENE winds for a long way northbound. Solar Wind continues to make
easting, intentionally now. Culebra has large, sharp seas. Hopefully the
worst along the way and abating soon. I have to lie in the relative
protection of the berth with its lee cloth to be able to strike the correct
keys! Very bumpy. Idefix reports the seas are kinder where he is. So I look
forward to that.
The group agrees again that there will be no morning report on 7/18.
Please post Kestrel's position if the RC is okay with that.
Culebra out
|
|
Positions
07/16/2010 at 2100:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
27
35N x 159 19W
|
1949
|
2
|
6.5
|
|
Idefix
|
31 57N x 159 37W
|
2086
|
0
|
6.7
|
|
Solar Wind
|
26 55N x 158 48W
|
1949
|
30
|
6
|
|
Southernaire
|
24 48N x 160 00W
|
2062
|
24
|
5.7
|
|
|
Positions
07/16/2010 at 0900:
|
|
Boat
|
Lat /
Lon
|
Distance
|
COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
|
26
21N x 159 24W
|
1988
|
3
|
5.5
|
|
Idefix
|
no report
|
|
|
|
|
Solar Wind
|
25 49N x 159 11W
|
1999
|
1
|
5.8
|
|
Southernaire
|
23 45N x 159 54W
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?
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2
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5
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Winds are building for the northerly
boats. Seas too. Idefix reports 18kts/T. Culebra had multiple squalls for the
first several hours of the day, one immediately following the other. Made for
a fast and wet ride! Winds stayed up in the high teens all day. Expect more
of the same. Put in a 3rd reef to reduce the pounding of the seas. Lost a kt
of boat speed, but necessary. Got showered with a boarding sea, one of many.
Good excuse to take a fresh water shower! Felt great. Max on Solar Wind made
some easting... says he's letting the Monitor do the driving for now, and it
goes where it wills. But he thinks he will have to reign the beast in soon.
Morning time propagation is not
good. The group has decided not to do morning check-in tomorrow. Repeat: NO
MORNING POSITION REPORT ON 7/17. We may reinstate later.
Culebra out
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Positions
07/15/2010 at 2100:
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Boat
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Lat /
Lon
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Distance
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COG
|
SOG
|
|
Culebra
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25
16N x 159 22W
|
2019
|
358
|
6.5
|
|
Idefix
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29 26N x 159 44W
|
2232
|
10
|
6.7
|
|
Solar Wind
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24 38N x 159 20W
|
2043
|
0
|
6
|
|
Southernaire
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22 56N x 159 43W
|
?
|
2
|
5.8
|
Idefix reports catching
a little dorado last night and frying it up for dinner. Way to go. Solar Wind
reports being bored enough to take up fishing! Culebra is melting in the
heat. Southernaire joins us for his first night out. Winds are up tonight.
Bumpy!
Paul/Culebra
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Positions
07/15/2010 at 0900:
|
Culebra,
24 05N x 159 27W, 2059, COG=18 True, SOG=6
Idefix, 28 06N x 159
46W, 2309, COG=355, SOG=6
Solar Wind, 23 33N x
159 26W, 2083, COG=355, SOG=5.7
Good morning. Still
decent conditions here. A few squalls during the night, but not very strong.
Winds oscillate quite a lot, weaker, stronger, backing 30 deg then veering 30
deg. All boats doing well. A booby tried landing on the boat last night as I
was reefing. They just don't give up!
Paul/Culebra
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Positions
07/14/2010 at 2100:
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Culebra,
23.06N x 159.27W, 2090, COG=10 True, SOG = 6.5
Idefix, 26.54N x
159.48W, 2380, COG=10 True, SOG=7.0
Solar Wind, 22.29N x
159.31W, 2122, COG=355 True, SOG = 6.3
Culebra departed Hanale
0930 yesterday morning, Max followed suit on Solar Wind at 1500.
Culebra reports:
Seas are a bit lumpy but small. Winds go from about 8 to 12 True for all the
boats. Apparent wind is well forward. Idefix reported a squall. None here
yet. All boats and crew doing just fine.
Paul/Culebra
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Idefix,
07/13/2010 at 2100:
|
24.47N, 159.31W, 2500 miles to the coast, COG=0 degrees True, SOG=5.5 knots.
Some seasickness
reported but otherwise well
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