Yesterdays Stats, getting closer to Hawaii, Wind: Trade Winds, Direction: Trade Winds direction duh?, Distance on Course: 237 nm!!, DTF: 765, Barometer: 1017, Cloud Cover: 85 percent (broken), Sea: 3 feet.
The home town heroes had a stellar day on the water Thursday night and Friday - some of which has already been reported below.
The first news is an impressive 237nm distance covered on course averaging just short of 10 knots!
Yesterday they sailed into a band of strong Trades (20 to 25 knots) that extends along their course for about 400 miles. This morning things are expected to lighten up a little but then rebuild for about another 150 of today's miles.
The normal 15 to 20 knots Trades return until about 100 miles out.
According to forecast the Molokai Channel is set not to disappoint. Winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected while diurnal winds in the afternoons could reach 30 knots. The wind is also expected to do that classic little Transpac veer nearer the islands - making their short final port gybe a productive one for VMC.
They had another pretty long day yesterday. With an hour left to go they already had 211 miles in the bag.
About now the crew onboard begins to experience mixed emotions. On the one hand they are enjoying some of the best sailing conditions in the world and their little world among it has become simple, organized and easy. There is freedom that comes with being minimalist. They are self sufficient in water and they could carry on indefinitely if the food and sun screen holds out! The Tropical Paradise Islands of the south seas lie just another 8 days down that track and the draw to continue the comfortable pattern they have developed at sea is a strong one.
On the other hand is reintegrating with their lives.
Because of long experience with the deepest and darkest of Post Regatta Syndrome (PRS) the Transspac Committee arranges the Aloha experience for crews come in from the sea. Three local Yacht clubs hold receptions honouring the racers and there is the Gala Awards Banquet in there too. In the long Hawaiian Islands tradition each Transpac boat is assigned a Honolulu sponsor - like Ben in the LBC only with an even better tan (?). The Island sponsor arranges an arrival party, day or night on the dock, to meet the sailors. It is common for other finishers to join in and it is not long and usual for a riotess time to be had by all.
I have been in touch with the crew's loved ones and they are all anxiously awaiting Narrow Plan Darts arrival. In fact Ali has been standing at the dock head in the Ala Wai, sort of like that bronze statue at Oak Harbor on Whidbey island, since she arrived in Hawaii on Thursday. Helen and JD asked if she could give them a ding at Duke's Canoe Club when the boat turned up.
I think I will push the boat away from the dock today in solidarity with our crew at sea and their great adventure! The only thing wrong with my plan is that it ends around dark for me.
Blogmeister Billy
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