Cheese and Crackers for Sparky?

[Robert Stodieck]

Could any of the returning boats do a Cheese-and-Crackers, water, and clean underwear drop off to Sparky on the way home?

[tiger beetle]

Could any of the returning boats do a Cheese-and-Crackers, water, and clean underwear drop off to Sparky on the way home?
Relatively unlikely, and unnecessary; Sparky is more or less east and upwind from the finish, and boats departing Hanalei will be headed north on starboard tack.

Sparky has sufficient food and water to make Hanalei. I do not know about clean clothes, but one's thing for sure - when you're out by yourself you don't need to change clothes that often, perhaps once a week is sufficient :) It's one of the perks of sailing singlehanded.

Edit:

And come to think of it, one wouldn't want to hand anything to Ruben - it would put him out of the race for accepting outside assistance! When he gets to Hanalei by himself, under his own steam, he willl have finished the race. It maybe a Finish After Deadline - but it is a finish, and he will have earned it.

- rob/beetle

[Robert Stodieck]

Well, technically Sparky was disqualified on Aug 2nd. I thought he just might appreciate a visit about now. Even if no assistance is provided. There must be one "real" ;-) sailboat in this fleet planning to do the windward route.

[tiger beetle]

Well, technically Sparky was disqualified on Aug 2nd. I thought he just might appreciate a visit about now. Even if no assistance is provided.

Correction, sir - Sparky is absolutely not DSQ. He is on the course, and still sailing for the finish. That's what FAD is for: a boat that sails the course, even if they finish after the deadline, is recognised as Finishing After Deadline. FAD was created by The General - he declared in no uncertain terms that he didn't give a damn what the race deadline was, if he started and sailed the course then he finished.

And the SSS agreed.


There must be one "real" ;-) sailboat in this fleet planning to do the windward route.
Have you ever tried sailing upwind into the trades? For 2,000 miles?!

- rob/beetle

[Robert Stodieck]

I have sailed about 900 miles up the coast of Baja in mostly 25-30 knot winds. I was surprised to realize that we were apparently the only boat not motor-sailing on that section. That boat and the skipper had previously done a windward return from Hawaii. The boat was a Cal 48 named Jubilation (not the cruising version). We did 3 watches with 3 crew, one a 16 year old female first timer. Cold with lots of ships to dodge. Only one experienced sailor on board.

A good way to lose weight, from sheer nervous exhaustion.

[AlanH]

I'd like to reiterate that Sparky is not DSQ'd. He will finish after the deadline, but he will FINISH. He will earn his belt buckle.

He's already earned the friendship and respect of all the other 21 finishers of the 2008 Singlehanded TransPac. That was evidenced by the fact that the gathered skippers, at the end of the Awards Dinner, chanted "SPARKY, SPARKY, SPARKY" while the cameras and video cameras were rolling.

Nothing in the world, and certainly not the habit of posting on internet bulletin boards, can buy that sort of friendship and respect. Ruben Gabriel is going to have a hell of a story to tell his grandkids.

He's also a very very nice guy, a good skipper, and obviously has personal and emotional resources that he never realized he had. To cover the miles he's done under jury rig, to deal with the incredibly frustrating conditions of no wind that he's had to put up with, show me that Ruben has cajones that clank.

His girlfriend Robbie has been a rock while she's in Hanalei. She's unqualifyingly kind, beautiful both inside and outside, always cheerful though clearly under stress, and we all really like her. The community of racers and wives/girlfriends/husbands/kids in Hanalei have solidly been with Robbie during the last few days. We understand how she feels. We ALL believe in Ruben Gabriel; every man, woman and child at that Awards Dinner knows that Ruben is going to sail into Hanalei Bay.

........and no amount of snide commentary on this forum board will ever change that.