Race
News!
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 1998 15:29:40 -0700 Subject: ALL FINISHED!!!! From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
The last two racers have finished!
Mike Dranginis on Compass Rose arrived in Hanalei Bay at 11:27:58 PDT on the nicest morning we've had so far. He thanked the Race Committee for the nice weather, but we had to decline the thanks...otherwise we would have had to take the blame for the overcast over most of the other finishes.
And four hours later at 15:29:31 PDT, Bob Gay on Bravo crossed the finish line. He was greeted at the line by an air-horn salute from Giggles - carrying many of the other racers on board. Bravo has been the communications boat - and we owe Bob a great THANK YOU for all his work keeping us in touch with the race.
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 19:18:51 -0700 Subject: 7-12 evening reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Still looks like our last two finishes will be in daylight tomorrow - and the racers that are already here are planning to run out in boats or dingies to escort them in - should be quite a party!
Bravo - 23-09 157-51 229M 6kt 107mtg
Compass Rose 22-46 157-59 230M 6kts 90mtg
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 07:50:13 -0700 Subject: 7/12 a.m. reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Only two boats still out on the course this morning - both likely to finish in daylight tomorrow:Compass Rose: 23-49 156-44 227M 5.5kts 180mtg
Bravo: 23-14 156-38 228m 6.5kts 169mtg---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 02:46:54 -0700 Subject: Harrier finishes From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Ken Roper and Harrier have just finished the race - at 05:12:10 on 7/12. Harrier arrived in Hanalei under moonlit skies - no squalls in sight!---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 19:19:51 -0700 Subject: Color Blind finishes... From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Delayne Brink and At Last finished the race this morning, at 12:00:53. He came across the line in fine style, carrying main and jib...and just the tack panel of one of his asymmetrical kites fluttering from the boswprit.Then Greg Morris and Color Blind came across the line into Hanalei Bay at 16:27:39 PDT this afternoon, under a neon green and lavendar spinnaker, which matched the hull colors all too well. Fortunately, there was enough cloud cover to make the sight bearable to the naked eye...
We haven't been able to get hold of evening reports from the remaining three boats (Harrier, Bravo, and Compass Rose) but based on earlier reports we expect Harrier to finish early tomorrow morning, and the others on Monday.
Later: Position reports from 2100 for the remaining three boats (relayed by Giggles - thank you Dale):Compass Rose: 23-41 155-18 239M 6-7 kts 247mtg
Harrier: 22-50 158-43 210M 7kts 56mtg
Bravo 24-18 155-40 228M 6kts 245mtg---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sat, 11 Jul 1998 07:17:38 -0700 Subject: 7/11 0900 reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
It was a busy night last night! Bruce Nesbit on Razzberries finished at 04:13:12 PDT, still(?) wearing his lei and haku from the Aloha dinner in Oakland! And as we were tracking Bruce's approach, we got a VHF call from Endangered Species to say he was 30 miles out - first time we'd heard from him in several days. He finished at 06:04:38 PDT. (Subtract three hours from those numbers for local time, and you have a good excuse for the sorry state of my typing this morning.)The rest of the numbers:
At Last 22-25 159-08 230M 7.5kts 22mtg
Compass Rose 24-11 153-58 229M 6kts 327mtg
Harrier 23-14 151-37 210M 6.7kts 137mtg
Bravo 24-51 154-36 227M 6kts 309mtg
Color Blind 23-51 159-44 228M 56mtgThe list keeps on getting shorter!
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 21:29:39 -0700 Subject: 7/10 2100 report From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
This report is somewhat late for the best of reasons - we were busy taking Solitaire's finish. Steve Faustina crossed the line just now, at 23:55:20 PDT, moving along very nicely on flat water and light wind. And this afternoon Dale Parshall and Giggles finished at 16:39:28 PDT, in a somewhat stiffer breeze, squalls and more waves - thoroughly soaking the race committee. And we just got our first VHF call from Razzberries, so expect his finish within a few hours.Other positions, at 2100:
At Last: 23-13 157-47 230M 7-8 kts 110mtg
Compass Rose: 24-26 152-43 235M 5.5kts 398mtg
Harrier: 24-34 156-30 210M 6-8kts 217mtg
Bravo: 25-21 153-32 228M 5.5kts 377mtg
Razzberries: 22-41 158-35 230M 7.5kts 54 mtg
Color Blind 23-51 157-38 227M 7kts 142mtg
Solitaire 22-25 159-12 222M 8kts 20mtgSo as you can see by the numbers, the next day or two are going to be busy!
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 21:42:18 -0700 Subject: 7-9 2100 report From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Here are the positions from 2100 this evening:At Last 24-23 155-18 230M 5kts 265mtg
Bravo 26-34 151-07 228M 6kts 527mtg
Compass Rose 25-33 150-20 240M 5kts 541mtg
Harrier 26-02 154-07 220M 6.5 372mtg
Giggles 23-37 157-11 220M 7kts 153 mtg
Razzberries 23-17 155-37 220M 7.5kts 226mtg
ColorBlind 25-17 154-50 235M 6kts 316mtg
Solitaire 24-03 156-31 230M 7.5kts 197mtgCraig Haggart of the Race Committee jury-rigged an antenna North-South the width of the RC living room in Hanalei, so we could listen in on this evening's checkin on our portable shortwave receiver. Quite a treat to hear Bravo calling in to Avalon in Alameda, and even get occasional echoes of Avalon's responses. Fortunately, Etosha was also participating in the roll-call from his anchorage in Hanalei Bay, and was able to fill in all the numbers we missed. OK, the MAJORITY of the numbers. Still and all, a victory for Radio-Shack science (and thanks in particular to Heli for remembering to bring the paper clips with which we connected the antenna.)
Bravo reports being in squalls today, making good speed under main & wung out jib. Also cleaning up the spaghetti factory in the cockpit.... Harrier reports his first spinnaker casualty of the trip - pretty good compared to the shredding on some past trips.
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 10:00:44 -0700 Subject: Etosha arrives in Hanalei From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Bob Cranmer-Brown and Etosha arrived in Hanalei this morning at 07:06:29 PDT under moonlit squall clouds. Quite a sight - made getting up in the wee hours worth it!---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 10:00:00 -0700 Subject: 7/9 am checkin From: Cindy Gay <Parrotdaze@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
At Last 25.00 154.05 239 6kn 340mtg
Bravo 27.12 149.53 230 5.5kn 602mtg
ComRose 26.03 149.03 227 6.5kn 616mtg
Harrier 26.47 153.00 234 6.5kn 447mtg
End Species-no report
Razz 24.12 154.17 240 7kn 313mtg
ColBlind 25.42 153.32 240 6kn 388mtg
Giggles 24.30 155.56 225 7kn 240mtg
Solitaire 24.20 155.07 260 7kn 273mtgThis is the morning report from Avalon. Bravo reported a heavy night of squalls, very bumpy, reefed back. Skies were clearing this morning. Yesterday he saw lots of flying fish.
Cindy Gay
assisting Terry McKelvey
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 20:24:54 -0700 Subject: 2100 7/8 reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Relayed from Cindy Gay on Avalon...At Last 25-51 152-57 218M 6-7kts 419mtg
Bravo 27-50 148-47 230M 6kts 693mtg
Compass Rose 26-37 147-46 231M 6kts 693mtg
Harrier 27-28 151-49 222M 6-7kts 522mtg
Etosha 22-32 158-14 240M 7-8kts 73mtg - expected to finish early a.m. 7/9
Razzberries 25-08 158-06 220M 7.5kts 395mtg
Giggles 25-21 145-28 210M 6.5kts 334mtg
Solitaire 25-13 153-43 220M 8kts 363mtg
Color Blind 25-54 152-03 250M 6kts 464mtg---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 10:07:45 -0700 Subject: 7/8 Am checkin From: Cindy Gay <Parrotdaze@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
At Last 26.41 151.47 230 6kn 498mtg
Bravo 27.61 147.50 262 5.5kn 738mtg
Com Rose 27.18 146.44 240 4kn 759mtg
Harrier 28.12 150.39 210 6.5kn 598mtg
Etosha 23.06 156.41 240 10kn 165mtg
Razz 26.04 151.57 215 7kn 475mtg
Giggles 26.15 153.13 225 7kn 427mtg
Sol 26.11 152.31 220 8kn 459mtg
ColBlind 25.54 150.29 290 7kn 542mtg
End Species-no reportCindy Gay
assisting Terry McKelvey
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 22:21:15 -0700 Subject: 7/7 pm checkin From: Cindy Gay <Parrotdaze@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Received on Avalon, loud and clear.AtLast 27.30 150.35 219 6.5kn 579mtg
Bravo 28.51 146.34 235 6.5kn 804mtg
Com Rose 27.44 145.32 229 5.5kn 828mtg
Harrier 28.57 149.31 225 6.5kn 672mtg
Etosha 23.43 155.03 200 262mtg
Razz 27.08 150.48 215 7kn 558mtg
ColBl 26.19 148.55 220 7.2kn 629mtg
Giggles26.47 151.39 255 7kn 508mtg
Sol 27.12 151.17 220 8kn 537mtg
End Species-no reportBravo reported sun today, after a night of squalls. Saw another sailboat. He also saw what Harrier calls a moonbow?
Cindy Gay
assisting Terry McKelvey
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 10:46:49 -0700 Subject: 7/7 am checkin From: Cindy Gay <Parrotdaze@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
At Last 28.11 149.17 245 7kn 658mtg
Bravo 29.17 145.25 5kn 870mtg
Com Rose 28.12 144.02 220 6kn 898mtg
Harrier 28.52 148.00 240 6.5kn 738mtg
Giggles 27.17 150.03 250 7kn 598mtg
Sol 28.08 150.00 234 8kn 625mtg
Col Blind 27.04 147.40 250 6.5kn 709mtgThis was all I got for the morning report. The interference was very bad. I stood by for Bravo to come back, because he was working topside, but never heard back. I think he said he didn't have a report from the others(?). The evening checkin is much better.
Cindy Gay
assisting Terry McKelvey
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 23:04:12 -0700 Subject: July 6 PM checkin From: Cindy Gay <Parrotdaze@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
At Last 28.30 14739 236 7kn 743mtg
Bravo 29.36 144.20 240 5kn 929mtg
Com Rose 28.30 143.03 235 7kn 967mtg
Harrier 29.07 146.31 235 6.5kn 812mtg
End Species no report
Razz 28.45 148.20 222 7.6kn 722mtg
Col Blind 27.50 146.27 250 6kn 786mtg
Giggles 27.53 148.31 235 7kn 688mtg
Solitaire 28.27 148.13 230 8kn 716mtg
Etosha 24.42 151.36 241 10kn 460mtgThe report was that all is well. Solitaire was finished sewing his spinnaker, but flying a double headsail, as was Bravo. At Last was watching an action video. Color Blind was keeping things together. Razz was quiet, and Harrier just keeps on going. A note to you, that today was kind of a down day for all of them. Cindy
Cindy Gay
assisting Terry McKelvey
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 10:20:57 -0700 Subject: July 6 Am Checkin From: Cindy Gay <Parrotdaze@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Here are the mornings positions, received from Avalon.
At Last 28.57 146.10 234 6kn 825mtg
Bravo 30.04 143.04 240 6kn 1000mtg
Com Rose 28.56 141.57 222 6kn 1031mtg
Harrier 29.43 145.24 260 6kn 882mtg
Razz 29.31 146.59 235 7.5kn 806mtg
Col Blind 28.17 145.22 250 6.6kn 850mtg
Giggles 28.21 146.50 236 6.5kn 780mtg
Solitaire 28.55 146.37 223 6kn 804mtg
Etosha 25.18 150.04 240 9.5kn 550mtgThere was a lot of interference this morning but we managed to get this report. All is well with the fleet.
Cindy Gay
assisting Terry McKelvey
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 23:42:10 -0700 Subject: 7/5 2100 report From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Here are the numbers from this evening's checkin:
At Last 29-16 144-51 240M 7kts 896mtg
Compass Rose 29-23 140-42 230M 6kts 1102mtg
Harrier 29-38 143-53 245M 6.5kts 951mtg
Bravo 35-51 141-55 244M 4kts 1060mtg <--- Halfway mark!!!!
Razzberries 29-46 145-28 250M 7kts 882mtg
Color Blind 28-51 144-02 250M 6-7kts 922mtg
Giggles 28-31 144-59 235M 7kts 857mtg
Solitaire 29-53 145-40 250M 7kts 875mtg
Etosha 25-51 148-29 240M 10kts 643mtg
Harrier reports his spinnaker sock getting stuck at the masthead...but there's plenty of time to fix it tomorrow (one's sense of time does change during a trip like this...). Solitaire and Color Blind both report close encounters with their booms - but nothing serious in either case. Weather is an esy 10-15 kts of wind, 18 in the squalls...and so far not much sun in paradise....
I talked to Steve Fosset this afternoon - in addition to setting a new elapsed time record, he also had a really good time. His main frustrations were with gear failures - he had a big gennaker blow up on him in addition to some other sail damage, and his hi-tech antenna system didn't behave all that well. But the sailing was good, and now he's off to the mainland for some more sailing - he's set to do a couple of Great Lakes races in the next two weeks....
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 12:55:57 -0700 Subject: Lakota finishes - new record! From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Steve Fossett and Lakota crossed the finish line in Hanalei Bay this morning, 7/5, at 10:28:26 PDT (7:28 local time). Pat Zajac was there to record the finish - she says she spotted him on the horizon at 6:30 local time when he was about 15 miles out...he was doing a fast reach in from the north under reefed mainsail and a small jib, with a gorgeous sunrise for backdrop. Elapsed time for his race was 7 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, 26 seconds - taking almost a day off the previous record of 8 days, 20 hours, 3 minutes set by Peter Hogg in 1994 on his Antrim 40 Trimaran Aotea.
Congratulations to Steve!
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 10:36:43 -0700 Subject: 7/5 0900 reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
The headline from this morning is that Lakota is near the finish - only 18 miles out at the 0900 checkin!
Other stats:
At Last 29-44 143-20 230M 7kts 979mtg
Bravo 30-40 140-37 240M 6kts 1131mtg
Compass Rose 29-55 139-32 200M 5.5kts 1170mtg
Harrier 29-59 142-26 210M 6.4kts 1029mtg
Endangered Species 30-22 144-25 254M 5.5kts 946mtg
Razzberries 30-06 143-59 235M 5.5kts 961mtg
Color Blind 29-10 143-09 250M 5.5kts 978mtg
Giggles 29-05 143-50 235M 6-7 942mtg
Solitaire 30-10 144-24 224M 5.2kts 941mtg
Etosha 26-25 146-39 243M 10kts 745mtg
The numbers for Endangered Species are much more reasonable numbers than what we had yesterday - also shows he passed the halfway mark sometime yesterday. And Harrier hit halfway last night.
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 22:34:47 -0700 Subject: 7/4 2100 checkin From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Here are the stats from the Saturday evening checkin - relayed from Bravo to Avalon to Berkeley...
At Last 30-12 141-57 250M 6-7kts 1056mtg
Compass Rose 30-40 138-27 205M 6.6kts 1238mtg
Harrier 30-26 141-06 205M 6.5kts 1104mtg
Bravo 31-04 139-24 235M 5.6kts 1198mtg
Lakota 23-24 156-57 190M 17kts 157mtg
Razzberries 30-26 142-45 235M 6.5kts 1020mtg
Color Blind 29-40 141-53 250M 6kts 1050mtg
Giggles 29-28 142-20 240M 6-7kts 1024mtg
Solitaire 30-15 143-04 255M 7.1KTS 1006mtg
Etosha 26-49 144-48 242M 8kts 848mtg
Four boats - At Last, Razzberries, Color Blind, and Giggles - all passed the halfway point today! And Lakota is on pace to take the multihull record - expected to arrive Sunday morning. Michael Jefferson on Foxxfyre had a long ham-band chat with the General. Otherwise, an uneventful day - just nice sailing in the tradewinds...
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 11:42:04 -0700 Subject: 7/4 0900 checkin From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Here are the numbers from Bravo for the a.m. checkin - relayed via marine operator and land line from Avalon - at anchor in Drakes Bay (and getting a lot more wind in the anchorage than the boats out on the course have!
A couple of these figures may have gotten mangled in the series of relays - they are noted in the list....
Lakota 22-35 154-46 280M 15kts 280mtg
At Last 30-24 140-36 260M 6-7kts 1126mtg
Bravo 31-27 138-44 240M 5-6kts 1159mtg (I think we got this wrong - my GPS calculates 1241mtg)
Compass Rose 31-28 137-38 212M 5.2kts 1292mtg
Etosha 27-14 143-03 242M 7.5kts 945mtg
Harrier 31-00 139-50 211M 6.5kts 1177mtg
Razzberries 31-00 141-28 215M 7.3kts 1101mtg
Giggles 29-58 140-54 250M 6-7kts 1104mtg
Color Blind 29-51 140-32 210M 7.3kts 1122mtg
Endangered Species 30-14 134-45 276M 5-6kts 1183mtg (long. has to be wrong - 139-45 squares better with his mtg)
Solitaire 30-41 141-56 206M 7kts 1069mtg
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 23:38:04 -0700 Subject: 7/3 2100 report From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Here are the position reports from 2100 Fri 7/3 - relayed from Avalon, at anchor in Drake's bay (and definitely not experiencing tropical weather...)
At Last 30-45 139-20 250M 5.7kts 1195 mtg
Lakota 22-00 152-04 295 16kts 413mtg
Etosha 27-31 141-26 243M 8kts 1029mtg
Razzberries 31-02 140-06 240M 6.8kts 1169mtg
Color Blind 30-11 138-59 250M 7.4kts 1202mtg
Giggles 30-14 139-21 240M 6.5kts 1185mtg
Solitaire 31-24 141-07 250M 7.1kts 1124mtg
Compass Rose 32-06 136-39 221M 5.7kts 1353mtg
Bravo 32-10 137-47 234M 4.7kts 1296mtg
Harrier 31-11 138-44 229M 6.5kts 1236mtg
Solitaire reports getting his spinnaker wrap undone. Etosha is still in the midst of Navy maneuvers and considering re-enlisting. Otherwise - no exciting news to report...just another spinnaker run in paradise.
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 16:41:26 -0700 Subject: Update From: Steve Faustina aboard Solitaire To: oster@###.com
Last night I had the spinnaker wrap from hell. I tried everything including jibing which cost me a knock on the head and a small cut. I never lost consciousness but it certainly got my attention. This morning I went up the forestay and removed the mess and am now sailing a[Link to WTT2928 lost while downloading]
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 10:49:33 -0700 Subject: 7/3 0900 checkin From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
From the Friday morning checkin - relayed by Bravo to Avalon on 8110 after the fleet checked in on 4024 (too far for us to hear 4024 any more, so we have to take Bob's word for the positions!)
At Last 31-12 138-01 240M 5.5kts 1267mtg
Bravo 32-19 136-37 238M 5.5kts 1358mtg
Compass Rose 32-34 135-22 224M 5.5 1424mtg
Etosha 27-53 139-44 240M 7 1126mtg
Harrier 31-30 137-19 231M 6.5kts 1309mtg
Lakota 24-18 149-54 200M 16kts 543mtg
Giggles 30-42 137-49 240M 6kts 1270mtg
Razzberries 31-20 138-44 235M 6.5kts 1249mtg
Color Blind 30-34 137-31 250M 6.3kts 1280mtg
Endangered Species 30-35 138-45Bravo reports that the wind has picked up to 20 knots-but on the beam so he's not having much luck flying the spinnaker. On the other hand, his most serious gear failure to date is that one of his sailing gloves has gone missing. Solitaire has been flying a spinnaker (see his note from yesterday) but overnight got a major spinnaker wrap that will give him some work to unravel. If he has to cut it free, he'll be down to one kite.
Very discouraging news from At Last - he's run out of ice cream (even before the halfway mark!) and has only had time to watch one video. At least he does have enough of a surplus of raisin cookies so that he's offering to share them with passing ships.
The strangest news of the night is from Etosha - Bob woke up to find himself in the middle of Navy maneuvers - they wouldn't answer his hails on VHF, but when he sent up a white flare to get their attention, they sent a couple of helicopters over to check him out. And Bob was hoping for an uneventful passage.
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 07:14:53 -0700 Subject: Update From: Steve Faustina aboard Solitaire To: Joseph Oster <email disabled>, sensei@###.com
Hi Joe and Terry,It's 1230 PDT on Solitaire and I just awoke from a morning nap since I didn't get to sleep this morning until after the 0900 radio check-in because I was up all night trimmng sail, driving and sorting out a charging problem.
I've been flying the 1.5 oz shute around the clock since day 3 when I blew up the .75 oz. Last night I had an accidental jibe and got my first chance to put the Stan Honey jibe recovery technique to work. It was pitch dark with the boat on her ear, the spinnaker and main both back winded, wind blowing like mad and the only thing I could hear in my head was Stan saying, in his calm matter of fact way, when this happens, "just jibe back"! Well, there is a little more to do but Stan's advice did the trick. The boat came back to her course, the spinnaker popped through the fore triangle and I was off and running again.
Earlier in the day I used his method for de-powering the spinnaker when you round up. Pull out the outgrabber (which I had rigged after hearing Stan's SSS seminar), ease the topping lift and crank in the foreguy. It worked like a charm also. I feel real confident now with both of these techniques so that when the squalls come in the middle of the night I will be less inclined to dowse the kite.
Today has been absolutely gorgeous, blue, blue sky, blue, blue sea and warm sunshine. Winds from astern at12-16 kts. This is what the Transpac is all about.
Last night, prior to our check in Cynthia Petroka on Grey Ghost in the Pacific Cup hailed us to say hello and wish us luck. She said that they escaped the gale that we saw on the weather fax as being off the Calif. coast. I guess some of the later starting boats got clobbered.
That's it for now. I'll try and write later tonight after 2100 check-in.
Steve
ps I tried sending this earlier today but couldn't get through.
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 23:20:57 -0700 Subject: 7/2 Thurs 2100 reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Position reports from the radio watch on Avalon:
At Last|31.47|136.54|240|6.5|1333
Compass Rose|33.05|134.01|235|7|1499
Harrier|31.48|135.49|235|6.5|1388
Bravo|32.46|135.43|212|4|1410
Lakota|26.55|148.25| | | 657
Razzberries|31.45|137.15|230|7|1330
Color Blind|31.01|136.06|244|8|
Giggles|31.17|136.25|230|6|1349
Solitaire|31.53|138.35|240|8.5|1256
No news to report...
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 98 10:35:56 Subject: 7/2 0900 reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Here are the 0900 position reports, relayed by Cindy Gay - Ms. Bravo - who is listening from Avalon in Alameda: (thank you Cindy!)At Last: 32-19 135-24 240M 6kts 1416mtg
Bravo 33-08 134-23 235M 5.5kts 1480mtg
Compass Rose 33-56 133-06 207M 6.2kts 1558mtg
Harrier 32-11 134-25 240M 6.5kts 1462mtg
Etosha 28-46 136-41 239M 6-8kts 1295mtg
End. Species 31-42 135-45 238M 7.5kts 1389mtg
Lakota 27-15 146-13 285M 16kts 784mtg
Razzberries 32-20 135-43 235M 7kts 1413mtg
Color Blind 31-28 134-33 250M 6kts 1445mtg
Giggles 31-51 134-51 235M 6.5kts 1436mtg
Solitaire 32-15 136-49 238M 7.5kts 1350mtgBravo reports 3 ft seas, squalls and patchy sun - and not as much wind as the boats further south. Harrier has the 18-20 knots that Bravo is wishing he had. Etosha says that the autopilot isn't getting along well with the spinnaker...otherwise no problems to report!
Reception is too faint on 4024 - we got this report on 8110, and plan to use 12359 as the next backup frequency if the 8k frequencies fade out.---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 00:22:32 -0700 Subject: Wed. 7/1 position reports From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled> Mostly just the numbers - reception is getting pretty faint so we don't get much of the conversation....
7/1 0900 - from Avalon, on 8110
The evening position reports: (see charts!)
Latitude Longitude Heading Speed Miles to go At Last 33-24 132-36 220 6-7 1567 Compass Rose 35-16 130-43 235 4 1693 Harrier 32-48 131-19 225 6-8 1620 Bravo 33-56 131-45 222 5.5 1626 Endangered Species 32-55 132-43 218 7.4 Etosha 30-13 133-55 220 7 Razzberries 32-57 132-37 235 7 1578 Color Blind 32-38 131-54 239 7 Giggles 33-19 132-02 220 7 1596 Solitaire 33-20 133-30 220 7 1526 Lakota 26-26 140-32 185 16
No problems to report...some boats flying kites - At Last tore a clew. The trades haven't settled in for anyone yet, even Lakota. Most reporting wind at 80-130 apparent. Bravo has been fishing, but no catch to slow him down. Lots of rainbows seen...
Wed. midafternoon, Dave Smith on Magic Carpet Ride called me to report that he is back in the bay, with a beat up boat (broken gooseneck, shredded sails), but he's OK...aside from being very bummed out.
Wed. 2100 report:
Etosha: 29-29 135-14 225M 7-12 kts 1385 mtg
Endangered Species 32-16 134-14 7.5 kts 1473 mtg
Solitaire 32-42 135-15 234M 8.5 1433 mtg
Giggles 32-35 133-28 225M 6-7 kts 1517 mtg
Razzberries 32-37 134-12 235M 6.5 1498 mtg
At Last 32-47 133-50 230M 6-7 kts 1493 mtg
Bravo 33-31 133-10 236M 5.5kts 1546 mtg
Harrier 32-26 132-50 235M 6-7 kts 1544 mtg
Compass Rose 34-21 132-01
Wind is 10-12 kts, much more northerly than they expected. Some spinnakers up - they are talking to Pac Cup boats - otherwise no news. Just another uneventful day in the middle of the ocean...
Date: Wed, 01 Jul 1998 15:14:25 -0700 Subject: Hi From: Steve Faustina aboard Solitaire To: Joseph Oster <email disabled>, sensei@###.com
Hi Joe and Terry,I guess you received the 1 Jul 0900 positions via ssb so I won't repeat them.
I had a Mr. Toad's wild ride last night with the spinnaker most of the night. I took it down this morning after the wind came back more North than NE and before the Spinnaker God taught me another lesson. For about 3 hrs this AM the wind was 10-12 kts at about due North so it was just as fast sailing a broad reach with #1 genoa without any of the hairy roundups.
I just finished putting the shute back up since I think I finally may have hit the NE tradewinds. The sun has come out and I'm surfing along at 8 plus kts, all is well with the world of a Transpac racer! Only 1500 more nm to go.
At this morning's check-in everyone seemed to be in good spirits with no major damage to report. At Last reported that she had a spinnaker join the rag heap along with mine. No one has heard anything from Magic Carpet. Has the race commitee had any reports?
If it warms up today I think I'll take my first shower. Things are beginning to get a little musty and 5 days of beard make me look like I should be pushing a shopping cart instead of on yacht sailing to Hawaii (smile).
Bye for now,
Steve
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 23:26:53 -0700 Subject: Position reports Tuesday 2100 From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled> Here are the Tuesday evening positions - from Avalon: (see charts!)
Latitude Longitude Heading Speed At Last 34.06 131.36 225 5-6 Bravo 34.37 130.42 217 6 Compass Rose 35.39 129.37 ? 6.5 Razzberries 33.20 131.09 235 7 Harrier 33.37 130.14 220 6.5 Giggles 34.06 130.53 220 5-6 Solitaire 33.57 132.07 238 7 Lakota 28.57 138.14 ? 15 Color Blind 33.07 130.32 242 7
Etosha is recovering from a close encounter with a freighter - info is sketchy, but sounds like Bob & the boat are fine & continuing on. Giggles reports getting his autopliot fixed - quadrant had come loose and he re-bolted it. Weather is mild but not tropical - highs 65 degrees, overcast, mostly light seas and 8-15 kts wind (from Bravo). Most boats are broad reaching, trying out the chutes with mixed success... Radio reception on shore was better this evening than this morning, but still getting pretty marginal.
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 18:27:45 -0700 Subject: Update From: Steve Faustina aboard Solitaire To: Joseph Oster <email disabled>, sensei@###.com I'm sorry for the last report being late but I had a difficult time making the connection with the shore base. I understand that the race committee didn't get 6/30 0900 position reports so here they are:
At Last: 34 47N, 130 15W
Bravo: 35 11, 125 24
Color Blind: 33 45, 129 13
Compass Rose: 36 23, 129 22
Giggles: 34 52, 129 39
Harrier:34 21, 129 00
Lakota: 30 08,136 36
Leilani Too: Returned to SF
Razzberries:33 51, 129 39
Solitaire: 34 42, 130 44Last night I set the 3/4 oz spinnaker and this AM God took it down! I was just a little too slow in getting to it when a gust came and I spun out. When the sail filled again it was with a loud bang and the leech split from head to foot. I'm now flying the 1.5 oz and things are under control. One good thing about this event is that when I lowered the halyard I saw that it was frayed almost through near the shackle. If the kite hadn't blown up I would have lost the halyard. Now I have been able to cut the frayed end off and will be able to use the starboard wing halyard again.
Right now (1800 on Tue)I'm doing 8 kt on course 234 deg. My current position is N 34 05, W 131 48 (trip nm: 557). I will try and send another email after tonight's checkin.
Bye for now,
Steve
Hi Joe,
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 17:53:06 -0700 Subject: Hi From: Steve Faustina aboard Solitaire To: Joseph Oster <email disabled>, sensei@###.com We've never met but I want to say that you do a great job on the sss web page. I regret that I can't see the race updates since I don't have an internet connection. Stan Honey and Jim Corenman have done a great job though with setting up SailMail.
I will try to send you position updates and other thoughts as they come to me and I have the time. I understand that the race committee is providing you with position reports and other info that they pick up during our twice daily radio check ins so I won't repeat any of that.
Personally, this has been a great race so far except for a few frustrating moments trying to get out the Bay on a 3.8 k flood tide. For a while there I thought I would get swept back under the bridge by
the So Tower but Solitaire pulled through and we cleared Fort Point and made a few short tacks to Mile Rocks where we again had to fight the ebb to make it to Pt Bonita and out of the channel.The last two days have been a windy reach (18-20k NW winds). Today, the wind has come around to a beam reach (12-16K). Hopefully by tomorrow I can start flying the kite and do some of the kind of sailing we all look for in doing this race.
Again thanks for everything and bye for now.
Steve
p.s. I tried sending this yesterday but couldn't get through.
Terry, Greg Morris says to call his wife, Kay, and tell her that he is ok. Give her your number so she can get any reports.
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 23:29:23 -0700 Subject: Transpac checkin - 2100 6/29 From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled> The evening position reports: (see charts!)
Latitude Longitude Heading Speed Wind At Last 35-19 128-44 240 6.5-7 Bravo 36-04 128-22 218 5-5.8 12-15 kts from 77 apparent, flat seas Compass Rose 36-30 127-03 236 5.5 Razzberries 34-44 128-30 215 7 Harrier 35-10 127-50 205T 6.8 wind 16-18 kts Giggles 35-43 128-25 230 6.7 Solitaire 35-40 129-28 226 7 wind 10 kts Lakota 29-54 133-52 260 16 wind 18 kts from 027 Etosha 32-36 129-31 215 10 Color Blind 34-45 128-13 220 7.6 Endangered Species 34-50 129-44 230 7.1 relayed in via VHF
Leilani Too arrived back in Sausalito this evening - Jay turned back Sunday afternoon because he was taking on lots of water through the hull-deck joint near the forestay.
The weather has smoothed out & is warming up - most of the fleet is just waiting to put up spinnakers. Color Blind already has; also Etosha (Put up a chute...autopilot went out...took down the chute....fixed autopilot...put chute back up. Sounds like good exercise!) Bravo reports that Mondays are hot dog days, and that he should have brought more beef jerky. Solitaire eating well...OK, his actual words were "eating like a pig". Several reports of ship sightings - Bravo broke away from the checkin to talk to freighter Lihui. Checkin turned into a radio diagnostic session - At Last called in strong but with distorted signal - figured out that the trick was to disconnect the extra grounding copper he'd just hooked up.
Transmissions still received clearly on Avalon but fainter and fainter...
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 13:30 Subject: Monday morning positions... From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
They all sound cheerful. Good reception from Bravo and At Last and could hear Harrier. Wind is much lighter. High is moving East. Bravo disappointed at no morning paper delivery, planning an afternoon Bar-B-Q. Harrier might start a bonfire in the cockpit and join him...Morning Positions: (see charts!)
Latitude Longitude Heading Speed At Last 36.02 127.17 220 6-7 Bravo 36.29 126.53 236 6 Compass Rose 37.13 125.38 237 5 Razzberries 35.33 127.13 220 7 Harrier 36.10 126.47 214 6.5 Giggles 36.36 127.13 215 6 Solitaire 36.08 127.56 238 8 Lakota 31.32 132.30 255 17 Etosha 33.44 127.55 215 10 Color Blind 35.43 127.10 221 6.5
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 23:39:26 -0700 Subject: More news... From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
We listened in on the 6/28 2100 checkin from on board Avalon - got a few more positions this time... (see charts!)
Bravo: 36 58 N 126 13 W, course 226M, speed 6-7 kts
Harrier: 36 47 N 124 57 W, 230M (?), 6.5 kts
Solitaire: 36 36 N 126 17 W, 238M, 7-8 kts
Giggles( I think): 37 20 N 125, 220M, 7 kts
Razzberries (maybe...got the position clearly, but not so clear on whose it is!) 37 20 N 125 48 W, 230M, 6-7 kts
Etosha: 34 50 N 126 21W, 215M, 10 kts.
At Last: 36 52 N 126 13 W, 226M, 6-7 kts
Lakota (relay in via Harrier): 32 04 N 129 21 W, 220M, "fast"
Comments: Harrier says he's "beat up and cold" (61 degrees out), but less wind than this time last race, 1970 mi to go, holding to the rhumbline. At Last has got his radio figured out...and is looking for the source of some water making its way into the bilge (not serious). Bravo wants to know "how long till it gets nice?" - current weather is 15-20 kts of wind, beam seas 5-6 ft with 2-3 ft wind waves on top - and he's seeing lots of shipping traffic.
---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 20:09:19 -0700 Subject: Transpac Update From: Steve Faustina aboard Solitaire To: sensei@###.com, oster@###.com Hi Terry,
I received your email. This system works but it is difficult at times to get connected and it uses a lot of power so I have to keep my messages brief.This AM only 7 boats were on the net:
Bravo 37deg 13 min N 123 57W
compass rose 37 34, 123 12
harrier 37 02, 123 53
lakota 33 47, 126 48
razzberries 37 17, 124 36
solitaire 37 05, 124 30
etosha 36 02, 124 32Last night the wind was a steady 20 k w/ gusts to 25. I had 1 reef in main and #3 jib up and was making 8 k. Today wind moderated to 15-17 k and relative flat seas. This is some great sailing.
I'll try and send another email after tonites checkin.
bye,
steve
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 10:51:18 -0700 Subject: some tpac progress notes... From: "Terry McKelvey" <sensei@###.com> To: "Joseph Oster" <email disabled>
Fred Hess listened in on last night's and this morning's checkins...Not much position data but here's what I have:Sat night: Could hear Bravo & Harrier loud & clear, others only via relay or faintly. Harrier was 1 mi south of the Farallones. Razzberies was at 37-25 N x 123-52 W. They had VHF contact with Giggles & Endangered Species, SSB contact with Etosha, Color Blind. Winds had lightened up & everyone sounded relaxed. (We'd heard on VHF in the afternoon that Giggles was having trouble with the autopilot & had switched to windvane, that sounded fine with him = "I've switched from race-mode to cruise-mode").
Sun am: Bravo still coming in loud & clear, also hearing Harrier, not the others. Harrier was relaying in reports from other boats. Etosha, Leilani Too, Compass Rose all doing fine. Lakota doing 18 kts - definitely more than fine! Wind sounds pretty good - Fred though he heard 18 kts, but that may have been an echo of Lakota's speed. No problems to report - everyone sounded rested and the conditions pretty benign. Folks are sailing courses around 226 (rhumb line) - noone going as high as great circle.
I'm going to go down to Fred's boat tonight and listen myself - will report what I hear. ---T
TransPac Race Committe Chair
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