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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 12, 2012 - 02:49pm PT
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Perhaps you could enlist the help of a motorized dinghy
actually I do use the dink sometimes when we have it inflated and the situation will work. I love "tug boating" It seems so funny when I'm pushing a big boat around in my little dink. But it works! People always stare. Some people ask me if Mouton has a motor.
This week end will be very exciting in Hanalei Bay. A bunch of the fleet look to be coming in! Yeah! Mike expects a Monday arrival. I hope its during the day.
Susan
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jul 12, 2012 - 04:12pm PT
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Looks like Michael is riding the 1022 Mb isobar of a complex multiple High. Since a High rotates clockwise in the N hemisphere he is getting a nice shove along to the east. Of interest is the remains of Hurricane Daniel which is now a Tropical Depression and still cranking out 30-40 kts winds and marching along to the west is Hurricane Emelia with 100kt or 120 mph winds and 35-40 ft seas!
You can see an interesting vertical blip of the isobar above Tropical Depression Daniel.
If Daniel had maintained its original forecast position of further north, the fleet would be "flying" into Kaui.
Also notice how the High isobars are squashed up against the Cal coast. Under this scenario you can often get some nasty weather.
Next in line off the coast of Mexico and soon to be a hurricane is Fabio. Looks to be an exciting year in he eastern Pacific for hurricanes with already 6 to date. Actually more like a normal year.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Jul 12, 2012 - 09:51pm PT
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right now Michael is making over 6kts with 15kt following wind.
Almost perfect (single-handed) sailing conditions for Mouton Noir.
Looks as if he'll make it through before Emilia gets near.
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murcy
Gym climber
sanfrancisco
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Jul 12, 2012 - 09:53pm PT
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538 mi to go? He's going to cruise in to leis and shaking grass skirts.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 13, 2012 - 06:07pm PT
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Well Friday the 13th had to raise it's ugly head. Michael's boom came disconnected at the goose neck. He's got it secured but not in full operation yet. He's hoping that he doesn't have to finish the race with jibs only and the precariousness of the boom is that it can wipe out our brand new dodger. Just like in any great adventure you just have to find your way through it. It's another risk for single handing a boat this size, esp a cruise boat. Everything is big and heavy. Really big and heavy.
On a brighter note, Turbo Camper came in about 7 a.m. to rainy Hanalei Bay and a rainbow appeared! How neat is that! Guido posted a neat pic of Turbo Camper at the start of the race. A very nice young man.
Turbo Camper just after crossing the finish line.
Happy Mother and Sailor Son
The next 48 hours will be having many of the fleet coming in.
Susan
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Jul 13, 2012 - 06:10pm PT
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Same conditions/boatspeed as yesterday, wind still dead astern
now 393 nm to go.
About 3 days if the wind holds.
Several of the boats are tacking downwind to make better speed, although with somewhat more work.
We generally tacked downwind when cruising in Windflower because the windvane was not very effective straight downwind; for a variety of technical and comfort reasons. And we got better boat speed which almost made up for the somewhat increased distance.
Edit:
Susan
OUCH, we posted at the same time. Sorry to hear about the broken boom gooseneck. That's a bad deal. Good thing the breeze is moderate. Only about 10kts apparent. I presume he got the mainsail down safely. He might be able to jury rig it or even make a permanent fix. As long as he can keep the boom from thrashing around he'll be safe enough. The boom might be more stable if he keeps the main up but double reefed and then belayed.
If he's got his big jib wung out (advantage of running downwind) he might make the same boat speed. Tacking downwind would not be so advantageous with jib only.
Good luck to Michael and keep us posted!
Another Edit:
armchair sailing is nearly as obnoxious as armchair mountaineering.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 13, 2012 - 06:55pm PT
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It's fixed...with no damage on deck. He did say it was one of the scariest issues he's ever had to deal with, primarily because of the single handed aspect.
Arm chair advice always welcome...with Sat phones nowadays you just give the adventurer the best tips.
Susan
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jul 13, 2012 - 07:05pm PT
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That's good news but it does cast a light on going hi-tech in that it can be
a lot harder to fix - not everyone is equipped to weld stainless.
What would Josh Slocum have done? Seize it and get the glue out! ;-)
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Jul 13, 2012 - 08:11pm PT
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He did say it was one of the scariest issues he's ever had to deal with I've had the gooseneck failure nightmare on a small boat in San Francisco Bay.
Which is how I know the double reef and belay the boom trick.
Glad he got it fixed.
Clever fellow that ferretlegger guy.
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BASE104
Social climber
An Oil Field
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Jul 13, 2012 - 09:33pm PT
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Is the Alaska/west coast leg a part of the race?
Watching the race has me reading all of my bluewater sailing books.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 13, 2012 - 10:36pm PT
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Is the Alaska/west coast leg a part of the race?
No , that's the pleasure part of the cruise . Depending on if you have a perverse sense of pleasure. Oh yeah climbers, you get it. Nothing worth doing unless you make it tough as nails
Susan
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murcy
Gym climber
sanfrancisco
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Jul 13, 2012 - 11:30pm PT
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I've been following the race on that tracker, and it was funny to see Turbo Camper's boat located in a bar a few blocks from the coast. :)
Go FerretLegger!
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SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
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Jul 14, 2012 - 02:50am PT
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Susan, does Michael have a banding tool aboard? bands top and bottom on the gooseneck along with a reef might keep his main alive. Or...he can try winding on spectra lashing with a Spanish windlass at the gooseneck. (we tore a vang loose in 2005 and this worked)
I don't know that you can get this fixed on Kauai, and it's an upwind slog to Honolulu. I have friend with family in Princeville. I'll see if Tommy has a recommendation for you guys.
We're leaving on Monday at 1300. Check in with us (the whoe Paciific Cup fleet) on 4A at 1700 PDT.
Cheers
Nick
s/v No Strings Attached
Richmond, CA
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The Alpine
Big Wall climber
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Jul 14, 2012 - 09:18am PT
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What happened to the boom gooseneck connection? Rivets?
Glad he's doing ok and almost there!
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 14, 2012 - 05:28pm PT
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The Pogo, Team Open Sailing, ran up on the reef to the entrance of Hanalei Bay just past the finish line. He got towed off by some locals and all appears to be ok. He's not taking on water and is set up with a moor instead of having to anchor.
Guido posted a great pic of the Pogo at the start. They are fabulous small race boats.
Susan
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 15, 2012 - 06:53pm PT
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Ferretlegger due in between midnight and 3 a.m.
Some very sad news, Bela Bartok had to abandon the race and his boat. He ended up ith a very serious staph infection and was picked up by a freighter bound to Oakland. His boat still has the tracker on it so there is hope for a salvage.
Brutal stuff...so close. So close.
Susan
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jul 15, 2012 - 07:06pm PT
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WOW, staph infection, that would be one of the less likely hazards of single-handed sailing! hope he can recover his boat, that will be a difficult task for sure.
Job well done Michael!
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jul 15, 2012 - 07:26pm PT
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So sad about Derk on Bela Bartok. I know he was planning on heading south into the South Pacific after Hawaii. Dam, I hope he gets his boat back! All that work and energy and it is his home.
Staph is a real problem on boats with the salt air, humidity and warm ocean water, any nick and scratch can quickly develop into a serious and life threatening medical condition. Like living on a petri dish.
I watched Derk masterly sail his Sweedish Vindo 40, 31 ft in length, out of the dead-end section of the marina to start the race, and was most impressed.
Would be fantastic if Bela, under the Monitor self-steering vane, sailed into the harbor on its own.
Fingers crossed.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 15, 2012 - 07:48pm PT
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Staph is a real problem on boats with the salt air, humidity and warm ocean water, any nick and scratch can quickly develop into a serious and life threatening medical condition. Like living on a petri dish.
Yes, I almost lost a toe once that started with a hang nail that developed into a mess. Luckily we weren't at sea but still on the Island, but I couldn't believe what happened in a just a matter of days. I initially blew it off and did some Neo or Poly-sporin. I learned a lesson.
Derk is an experienced sailor so he did not pull the plug lightly, and being experienced he undoubtedly knew he was getting into deep doo-doo. I so hope being this close that a salvage can be effected. The tracker still has some good battery power left. Here's hoping he heals well and quickly and Bela is recovered.
Susan
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Jul 15, 2012 - 09:14pm PT
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Please post up when Ferretlegger finishes!!
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