Getting close: Singlehanded TransPac

[Alan H]

I worked on the boat all weekend, but took time to sail with the emergency rudder on Saturday. Three hours up to Alameda from Coyote Point, in 20+ knots of breeze at the beginning suggests that the thing is up to the task. It does load up a bit when the boat is on the edge of overpowered, but I can always shorten sail. Upshot is, this will get me to Hawaii if it has to.

The SSB radio works like a charm. I can talk to guys 30 miles away, here in the Bay and that means I'll probably have 150-200+ mile range out on the ocean on the 4 meter band and 500+ miles on 8 meters. Voice over the sat phone is solid. I'm having fits over getting e-mail over the satellite phone, but seem to be able to send it out OK. So I may not have any weather information besides the High Seas voice broadcast, but I will download 8 days of GRIB forecasts (computer model) right before the start. I'll figure that it's some sort of an educated guess by s moe smart computers and smart guys and gals and go with that. Then again, I just fired up a secret yahoo account and maybe I'll be able to send and receive mail through that. I'll find out tonight. Whatever the case I can send mail to the Luminous Joan and also my co-worker Steve and they can forward the messages to the race committee and the webmaster, so my messages and updates will be on the SSS site..

The solar panels are on and have been keeping my batteries topped up for 3 weeks. The liferaft is on, all the sails are on, and checked out. I have four GPS units, including one that's big enough for me to read even if I stomp on all my glasses! I have five pairs of reading glasses, too! I can plot my position on paper charts or electronic ones on the laptop. I have an AIS unit that detects "big ships". (Thanks for letting me borrow it, Piper George!). I have three autopilots. Radar reflectors, strobe lights, jacklines (to keep me on the boat) etc. etc....all done, all installed, all ready to go. Tonight is the "Weather and Strategy" seminar. All that's left is:

1. last bit of grocery shopping, and load on food
2. final triple-check of the SSB radio, tomorrow night...more for my friend Rubens benefit than mine.
3. motor up to Tiburon if no wind on July 10th, sail up if there's a breeze
4. pull the outboard motor and gas can off the boat and bolt on the Navik windvane (an hours bit of work on Friday July 11th)
5. fill all the water jugs and stow them
6. go to the requisite party (kilted, of course) on the 10th
7. Friday night, download the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 day GRIB weather models for the Eastern N. Pacific and stare at them...knowing that much beyond 4 days is fantasy.

Hang loose on Friday the 11th and just enjoy the whole scene because I'M READY. Get lots of sleep Friday night....

and the gun goes off at noon, Saturday, July 12th.

for anybody that wants to follow the race, you can look here:

General TransPac web site:

http://www.sfbaysss.org/TransPac/tra...008_index.html

Singlehanded Sailing Society forum

http://www.sfbaysss.net

Northern California Coastal NOAA Weather

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/

WeatherFax: ocean-wide weather, NorPac
http://weather.noaa.gov/fax/ptreyes.shtml

scroll down and grab the 24 or 48 hour wind-wave forecast :
"24HR Wind/Wave Forecast VT00Z 18N-62N E of 157W "

Note that these WxFx charts don't show pressure isobars. the lines show the areas of significant wave height, but they do give you an idea of what's going on, on the course.

I'll be offline for basically a three weeks and change, starting the evening of the 9th. I should be back in the Bay Area on August 4th.

see ya's!

Alan

[O'Neille]

I'm Jealous. Remember Rapa Nui @ 27 deg South latitude has better sunsets. I'd have a difficult time doing a reciprocal course. Always wanted to see Pitcairn too. Why stop?

[Panache]

Alan,

I wish you fair winds and calm seas. The F-H.C.A.G. and i will be following your progress.

Oh, and since it helped you focus last time...

DON'T DIE!

Cheers

Jamie

[BEEDEE]

ALan - take care and have a great race. I will be following you on your trip. What are your plans for getting the yacht back?

Brian

[Arizona Scot]

Alan take care and smooth sailing we will be anxiously awaiting to hear from you again.

[bigdad1]

Good luck. I wish you fair winds and calm seas.

[Alan H]

ALan - take care and have a great race. I will be following you on your trip. What are your plans for getting the yacht back?

Brian

I'm selling her on Kauai. In fact, she's already sold, with four backup buyers, waiting in case the primary buyer flakes out..

[Splash_4]

Good luck Alan! I will be watching from the Right Coast!

[Coinneach]

How exciting! Have fun and best of luck! Will you have better winds if we all swish our pleats in the right direction at the same time?

[Yaish]

Awesome Alan. I'll be following along with your journey too. I hope you have good luck, and I hope even more you never need to use it!

Have a blast and write up a journal for us to read afterwards.