Even better. A month on the beach, let the PacCup campers play and then sailing back anyway. I still like the 1-2 skippers option - one fleet and old school no seals, post own times, etc.
Bill
This Hanalei 1-2 has been bantered about before. If I weren't so old, I'd be a candidate. Just let us stay in Hanalei long enuf to warrant the effort of getting there....
Some years ago I posted a race proposal on Sailing Anarchy, somewhat tongue in cheek, titled the "Great Pacific High Regatta". The notion was to sail to about 25N and 155W, or so. No marks, just make it to those limits and come back to SF. The commentators were as what you would expect from SA. But it seems like a course that would have very interesting tactical challenges. BTW, Bubba's burgers isn't what it once was.
Harrier,
You almost have to be "old" to have the time to stay in HB for a while. BTW, I think that I'm catching up with you age-wise. Aging about a year to each of your months. May not bt able to reel you in, even at that rate, but don't stop looking over your shoulder.
I did a return on Green Buffalo last PacCup and it was more of a race with some boats than others but it certainly made it a bit more interesting (if you're bent enough to need something else that amzaing to be "more imteresting".
I even like the idea of: declare intent; log departure; SH or DH (one fleet0; no corrections; motoring cool; just get back, record time passing under GGB. JUst fun, old school for folks sailing back anyway.
Bill Merrick
Bob,
I'm probably getting ahead of myself since I'm still in Australia trying to find a buyer for Idefix, but after missing Tahiti this time around, I'm still looking for an excuse to go there. It would be a pity not to stop in the Tuamotus first though...
As for boat cooking, I've found that I can't really cook at sea on a boat with no galley, but heating up canned things with a couple fresh ingredients is a big step up from freeze-dried or dehydrated meals. I'm a fan of cabbage, yams, eggs and cured meats, but I was unpleasantly surprised how some perishables that will last a whole SHTP will go bad in 3 days once you're a little south of Hawaii.
Adrian