It used to be that the LongPac and TransPac rules allowed you to anchor anywhere, and still continue the race as long as you didn't go ashore. So in theory, you COULD do that.
It used to be that the LongPac and TransPac rules allowed you to anchor anywhere, and still continue the race as long as you didn't go ashore. So in theory, you COULD do that.
1968 Selmer Series 9 B-flat and A clarinets
1962 Buesher "Aristocrat" tenor saxophone
Piper One Design 24, Hull #35; "Alpha"
That would be called Hurricane Barbara.
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac
- rob
From my perspective in the comfort of home... If the goal is to just complete the qualifier, looking at the forecasts, one strategy might be to consider going to Drake’s Bay on Wednesday, anchor for the night then head out in the early AM. The actual sea state offshore will be another deciding factor.
Be safe.
Tom
Outsider is going to sit this one out.
The weather forecasts make the course look lumpy and fast and not much pleasure sailing. As a qualifier conditions look good to test boats and skippers in solid offshore conditions without being boat-breaking.
Worst SSS TransPac conditions I have seen were solid 35 knot NW breeze for two days out the Gate, hard reaching in good size lumpy seas with the cockpit shipping a wave about once an hour - I found all the leaks around the companionway in short order. Twice a cresting wave struck the transom and spun Big Beetle through head-to-wind, which is an interesting feeling while hiding down below and the entire boat slowls down, leans the wrong way as the jib backs, the autopilot lets the boat spin entirely around in a slow circle, the jib shakes the rig like crazy, and suddenly it fills and we're off again headed towards Hawaii. The second time it happened I didn't even bother to go up into the cockpit it was so soppy wet. Mike Jefferson came up with his cry of 'Up Periscope' when he would pop open the companionway hatch to poke his head out to see if there was anything out there, and then he would promptly 'Down Periscope' and slam the hatch shut as a wave crest shot over the boat. It was a miserable two days - but fast.
- rob
Those conditions don't look too bad from where I'm sitting. We had consistent 28-32 knots for 36 hours or so of the 2017 LongPac. It seems like good ole NorCal boat testing conditions. As to VHF, when a few of us were at the turnaround point, we were making small talk on Ch. 16 when CG (LA/Long Beach, I think) interrupted us and said to move our chit chat somewhere else. Ooops. They hear everything!
Last edited by Gamayun; 07-02-2019 at 08:24 PM.
Here's a link to a short description of the major models:
https://windy.app/blog/what-is-a-wea...the-world.html
That's big! I didn't see those projections until after the race had started. Huge respect to all the racers who went forth this year knowing those conditions ahead of them as well as those who decided to call it early or not go at all. Those are some of the hardest decisions to make.