|
June 26, 2010- 31* 53 N, 140* 47 W
After an absolutely wonderful day yesterday, I had a few very very difficult hours. All is well right now though and we are sailing under full main and masthead spinnaker in the trade winds right now. Also, I anticipate hitting the halfway point of 1060 nm to go sometime tonight. It's all downhill from there.
|
|
June 24, 2010- 6 pm- 33* 03 N, 135* 45 W
For the first time in this trip, I feel as if i'm actually racing towards Hawaii. I no longer feel that i'm just sailing around in the ocean. The breeze is filling in and clocking back to its normal direction, and it's becoming warmer and blue. I need to download a more recent grib, but I believe i'll be putting a kite up tomorrow, and judging by several indicators, it will be filled by a trade wind breeze.
Sitting around in no wind, Idefix took 27 miles from me in a 12 hour period to claim a 10 mile lead to the finish. By the next check in, I had reclaimed a 16 mile lead. This morning, it was 15. So we are definitely running neck and neck. He is south and east of me though, so I have no idea what breeze he has had today. Tonight's 9 pm check in will be very interesting.
|
|
June 23, 2010- 10:10 AM- 33* 27 N, 132* 38 W
Another day is passing aboard the good ship "Warrior's Wish". An EXTREMELY slow night. From our 9 pm check in last night to the check in at 9 am this morning, I only made good 22 miles towards Hawaii. I had a brief spurt of some very peaceful and beautiful sailing, making 4 knots to weather under a full moon and overcast sky, where the moon seemed to disappear for 5 minutes at a time, only to come back and make the water glisten off my port side. At last night's check in, I was holding a 17 mile lead over Idefix. By this morning's check in, he had a 10 mile lead on me. The good news is that the latest high pressure area (of 1022 mb. wtf) appears that it would hit me first, and hit Adrian later. I am now moving along at 4-5 knots, while at check in, he was making 1.5 knots. Hopefully by tonight's check in I can reclaim the monohull lead.
|
|
|
June 22, 2010- 3:50 pm- 33* 56 N, 131* 43 W
The Pacific High jumped me. It snuck up on me from around a corner, jumped on my back, punched me twice in the kidneys and then stole my lunch money. Then it said mean things about my mom. Damnit.
|
|
June 21, 2010- 4:45 pm- 34* 56 N, 129* 11 W
So i've been out here for a bit more than two days and i'm finally getting my sea legs. The first couple of days were very rough. After a less than stellar start, we pounded to windward in 30 knots of breeze just to leave the gate. With 1 reef and a #4 I was overpowered and went down to 2 reefs. Heading southwest from San Francisco at about 225 degrees, the breeze would eventually ease a bit and I could return to 1 reef. Hard to weather I was happy with our progress. Before the day was through, the breeze would pick back up significantly. Back in went the 2nd reef, then the 3rd reef. For the rest of the first day and most of the 2nd day, my sail plan would remain like this.
|
|
The time has come. The Singlehanded Transpac starts today. All 15 boats are at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon for this morning's start. The boat is completely ready to go, and so am I. It's midnight now, and in a little bit, I will go to sleep, only to wake up at 6 AM and head back down to the yacht club. The first few days should be blowing 30 knots out of the NNW, so it's shaping up to look like it may be an ass kicker. I've got my strategy, and my competitors have theirs. I doubt anyone in the fleet will read this, so here goes. I am going to shoot offshore, going for maximum boat speed until I can hook into the 1025 millibar line, and then follow that into the trades. Once going downwind in the trades, it's all about pointing for Kauai. Let's see how it all works out.... Wish me luck.
Ronnie |
|
Well, it's 3 days before the Singlehanded Transpac. The good news is that i'm pretty much totally ready for the race. The bad news is that it's blowing 40 out in the ocean right now....
Packing the boat, organizing gear and stowing sails..... The final touches in getting ready for Singlehanded Transpac
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 4 of 21 |
