Fred admits he's wanted to do a race like the Singlehanded TransPac
for more than 20 years. Some of the best advice came only a few years ago,
though, when three-time SSS TransPac winner Dan Newland told him "the
only two things you really need to do well in this race are a life support
system for you, and a spinnaker." To that end, Hess will have at least
three kites aboard - and refrigeration for the important facets of life
support such as ice cream.
In his 40 years of sailing, Fred has owned more boats than most of his fellow TransPac'ers combined. He reckons Bravo "is about my 12th boat," in a long line that includes an O'Day 30, Folkboat, Islander Bahama, several Hobies and a number of smaller craft.
Hess plans to head right down rhumbline for Hawaii. He'll get most of his sleep during the day and be up at night. When he's not busy with steering, trimming sails, navigating or the 101 other tasks of running the boat, Fred plans to indulge his addiction to volumes 8 and 9 of Patrick O'Brien's swashbuckling sea stories. With a full galley below, he'll be eating more appetizing fare than that reported by most other competitors, including favorite dishes red beans and rice and beef stroganoff.
Fred thanks girlfriend Jean Novonty for her love and support (she'll help him deliver the boat back home), his two brothers and other family members "who never doubted I could do this" - and "everyone I work with so I'll have a job to come home to."
Navigation: GPSs (2), sextant backup; Steering: Monitor windvane, Alpha autopilot.
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