After several months pause - It's about time to break cover on this, and start planning for 2023.
If you're planning on Sailing to Hanalei in the 2023 Single Handed Transpacific Yacht Race you're racing now, whether you know it or not!
Some thoughts as we begin:
SHTP - Philosophical Touchstones
To my way of thinking, the SHTP is all about the belt buckle.
While there are probably as many reasons for doing the race as there are participants, at its core the individual achievement is what matters most.
To the extent the marketing and promotion of the event can reflect and raise this up, it should do so.
The SHTP attracts a wide variety of participants, from experienced ocean Racers (with a capital R) to those simply wanting an organized way to sail safely by themselves across an ocean.
There is no reason I can see that the “race” cannot continue to meet the needs of everyone who wants to take up the challenge; competitively or not.
Bringing that thinking full circle, the organization of the race should revolve around getting participants to the line, across an ocean, and re-orienting them upon arrival.
It is a race about individual accomplishment, and the reason for the race is to celebrate and facilitate that.
Goals for 2023–
- I want to have 20-25 skippers start & complete the race & and safely return their boats from Kauai.
- I want the skippers to feel supported & well prepared, regardless of their motivation; cruiser to serious ocean racer and everything in between.
- I want SHTP 2023 to epitomize the Mission of the SSS, to wit, with emphasis added:
The Singlehanded Sailing Society (SSS) was conceived to provide a forum where sailors and others interested in the sport of singlehanded sailing could share their ideas and experiences.
It is the intent of the SSS to make it possible for such sailors to compete in seaworthy sailing vessels of various types and designs on a fair and equitable basis. The purpose of the races is to provide an organized arena in which ideas, equipment, designs, and vessels specifically created, built, modified, or equipped for long distance singlehanded racing may be tested and evaluated through friendly sportsmanlike competition.
The development of personal skill in singlehanded sailing is encouraged through sailing events and seminars.
With that said, here are some things I would like to improve:
While I am acutely aware that there are many opportunities and suggestions for specific improvements to logistics, budgeting, etc. for the for right now, I will keep my ideas high level -
Advance The Schedule forward
The entire NOR, Race Documents, Entry and Seminar Schedule will be advanced about a year from current with the idea being to give potential participants as much runway as possible.
We've made a start, in that we have an official race date 6/25/2023 and a published NOR. Stand by for Race Documents and a preliminary schedule of seminars in the next few weeks.
Improve Communication
To EVERYONE - Competitors, Press, Family, etc. On more than one occasion I have heard potential participants referred to “the forum” as the fount of all knowledge about the race. There is no doubt that the pool of knowledge and participants here are without peer and is a very welcoming community. With that said, it's not a great communication medium.
My intent is to stand up and maintain a website for the race before April 2022 to act as an outward face to the race and a centralized location for updates, events, racer info, etc.
Focus on Racer Support
It is inescapable that racers need to own the responsibility of getting to and from a remote tropical anchorage on their own. From an OA perspective, our mindset needs to be about providing the best possible support to our participants, from seminars to helping shoreside friends and family, and this should be our guide for most decisions; They are, after all, who the event is all about.
OK thats probably enough for right now.
As I mentioned an updated NOR is available on Jibeset
Look for further threads & updates in this space.
Best to all -
DH
