I saw your video on the BAHA; nice going, got your name out worldwide due to Latitude. Also, I see you wrangled yourself another trip to Hawaii on the premise that you know how to sail a boat. I thought eastbound was a difficult sail. Doing it for the experience, or just to sail?
Aloha my Son,
Love,
Dad
I offered, well asked, if I could be part of the delivery crew to bring Chasch Mer to Long Beach for the Transpac next July. Gib said sure and forwarded my info to the delivery captain. I will do the Transpac on this boat next year too.
I currently have 19k offshore miles and think I will reconsider what I'm doing when I hit the magical number of 25k which basically equals a circumnavigation. Funny thing is I am pretty good at it now and have lots of experience so why stop. With the CA/HI round trip next year I will be in the 23.5k range. I've been wanting to do the HI to CA run for a while and yes it is kind of into the wind and waves in some parts and could be tough.
I'm sticking with it until I really burn out on it and then I'll probably transition to flying gliders. Gotta get that out of my system, too.
David
12/1/10
Bill,
I was able to open your resume but not Mark's; damaged file or whatever and just chalk it up to e/m gremlin's.
The boat should be 100% ready when the crew arrives and the only punch list item should be the provisions. What does Gib see that you don't? It is completely unreasonable that the crew shows up and works on the boat to get it seaworthy. I have been involved in both situations with regard to ready and not ready.
I understand that if we all arrive on a planned date and the wx changes drastically then we sit and wait. I have not done the research yet about a 4/20 departure and can't make a decision for planning yet.
I in no way want to volunteer to do all the cooking. That turns into too much pressure if the conditions are rough. I am willing to cook some meals and have a lot to offer in that area provided there is an equipped galley. For the '07 Transpac I did not work the galley. With this much lead time it would be easy for the delivery crew to create an exact provision/meal spreadsheet. I recommend this detail be handled in advance. For the record, MRE's and freeze-dried Mt House are fantastic. These should be relied on for the beginning and end of the passage. These (2) geographic areas will most likely be the roughest. Out of HI it will take 2-3 days to acclimate and not much happens in the galley. But, most of all expect big seas and cold temps the closer we get to CA. If we are forced north by the high then it will be a cold run down the coast. Hot MRE's are great, easy and no clean-up.
My health is up to par and my eyesight, night & day, is excellent. I have no problem being the eyes at night when needed. Night vision and image-stabilized binoculars would be appreciated. Also, everyone needs to be up to speed on interpreting light patterns at night. The daytime is not so much an issue.
Please read up on whale migration patterns and characteristics. HI is littered with these swimming rudder-removers. There is a heavy migration along the CA coast and when they are spotted it is more avoidance than sight-seeing.
I want to run it by you first before I contact Gib but I want to ask for flights. I have done enough of this and everyone on the crew should at least get flights as that is in the buy-in budget. I could not make the '07 delivery and the captain and I knew each other thru common boats we had been on as well as other sailors. He offered provisions and flights. Please get back to me on this.
A general cleaning upon arrival is expected.
I am aware that there is no auto-pilot and that becomes difficult at night in rough conditions when you need to read the instruments and balance those to the compass. A skeleton crew makes this tiring and I have no problem if Gib springs for an auto-pilot. I have seen all of them fail, except a Monitor wind-vane, and I expect it to not work all time.
I have no problem with kites but do not want to fly one on this boat with only 4 crew. It basically takes about 6 to do it safely in easy conditions. If it goes bad it takes 8.
The closer we get I will want a spreadsheet inventory of what's on board including a sail inventory and what is available for us to use. Keep this in mind: the boat will be race-ready-stripped to reduce weight for the Transpac. And, there hopefully will be (3) kites forward in storage. It will be easy enough to move them aft if needed.
Dave
I was able to open your resume but not Mark's; damaged file or whatever and just chalk it up to e/m gremlin's.
The boat should be 100% ready when the crew arrives and the only punch list item should be the provisions. What does Gib see that you don't? It is completely unreasonable that the crew shows up and works on the boat to get it seaworthy. I have been involved in both situations with regard to ready and not ready.
I understand that if we all arrive on a planned date and the wx changes drastically then we sit and wait. I have not done the research yet about a 4/20 departure and can't make a decision for planning yet.
I in no way want to volunteer to do all the cooking. That turns into too much pressure if the conditions are rough. I am willing to cook some meals and have a lot to offer in that area provided there is an equipped galley. For the '07 Transpac I did not work the galley. With this much lead time it would be easy for the delivery crew to create an exact provision/meal spreadsheet. I recommend this detail be handled in advance. For the record, MRE's and freeze-dried Mt House are fantastic. These should be relied on for the beginning and end of the passage. These (2) geographic areas will most likely be the roughest. Out of HI it will take 2-3 days to acclimate and not much happens in the galley. But, most of all expect big seas and cold temps the closer we get to CA. If we are forced north by the high then it will be a cold run down the coast. Hot MRE's are great, easy and no clean-up.
My health is up to par and my eyesight, night & day, is excellent. I have no problem being the eyes at night when needed. Night vision and image-stabilized binoculars would be appreciated. Also, everyone needs to be up to speed on interpreting light patterns at night. The daytime is not so much an issue.
Please read up on whale migration patterns and characteristics. HI is littered with these swimming rudder-removers. There is a heavy migration along the CA coast and when they are spotted it is more avoidance than sight-seeing.
I want to run it by you first before I contact Gib but I want to ask for flights. I have done enough of this and everyone on the crew should at least get flights as that is in the buy-in budget. I could not make the '07 delivery and the captain and I knew each other thru common boats we had been on as well as other sailors. He offered provisions and flights. Please get back to me on this.
A general cleaning upon arrival is expected.
I am aware that there is no auto-pilot and that becomes difficult at night in rough conditions when you need to read the instruments and balance those to the compass. A skeleton crew makes this tiring and I have no problem if Gib springs for an auto-pilot. I have seen all of them fail, except a Monitor wind-vane, and I expect it to not work all time.
I have no problem with kites but do not want to fly one on this boat with only 4 crew. It basically takes about 6 to do it safely in easy conditions. If it goes bad it takes 8.
The closer we get I will want a spreadsheet inventory of what's on board including a sail inventory and what is available for us to use. Keep this in mind: the boat will be race-ready-stripped to reduce weight for the Transpac. And, there hopefully will be (3) kites forward in storage. It will be easy enough to move them aft if needed.
Dave
See below...
Bill,
I was able to open your resume but not Mark's; damaged file or whatever and just chalk it up to e/m gremlin's.
I will try again. Gib had trouble viewing it also.
The boat should be 100% ready when the crew arrives and the only punch list item should be the provisions. What does Gib see that you don't? It is completely unreasonable that the crew shows up and works on the boat to get it seaworthy. I have been involved in both situations with regard to ready and not ready.
I agree. Gib sent me a nine-page punch list they are working on. Many of the items are complete. I hope to sent a provisions list to one of the local grocery stores and have them pull everything for us. That has worked well for me in the past. They've never charged me extra for the service.
I understand that if we all arrive on a planned date and the wx changes drastically then we sit and wait. I have not done the research yet about a 4/20 departure and can't make a decision for planning yet.
I've started looking at pilot charts and World Cruising routes, and talking with Gib and Mark Maglin. We'll all agree on a date before we buy airline tickets.
I in no way want to volunteer to do all the cooking. That turns into too much pressure if the conditions are rough. I am willing to cook some meals and have a lot to offer in that area provided there is an equipped galley. For the '07 Transpac I did not work the galley. With this much lead time it would be easy for the delivery crew to create an exact provision/meal spreadsheet. I recommend this detail be handled in advance. For the record, MRE's and freeze-dried Mt House are fantastic. These should be relied on for the beginning and end of the passage. These (2) geographic areas will most likely be the roughest. Out of HI it will take 2-3 days to acclimate and not much happens in the galley. But, most of all expect big seas and cold temps the closer we get to CA. If we are forced north by the high then it will be a cold run down the coast. Hot MRE's are great, easy and no clean-up.
I didn't think you had volunteered for that, but I wasn't sure from your email. I think MREs are a great idea. We could probably get them much more cheaply on the mainland and take as many as possible.
My health is up to par and my eyesight, night & day, is excellent. I have no problem being the eyes at night when needed. Night vision and image-stabilized binoculars would be appreciated. Also, everyone needs to be up to speed on interpreting light patterns at night. The daytime is not so much an issue.
Please read up on whale migration patterns and characteristics. HI is littered with these swimming rudder-removers. There is a heavy migration along the CA coast and when they are spotted it is more avoidance than sight-seeing.
Will do! I believe the boat has an emergency rudder (not just tiller). He mentions an "emergency rudder track" in the punch list.
I want to run it by you first before I contact Gib but I want to ask for flights. I have done enough of this and everyone on the crew should at least get flights as that is in the buy-in budget. I could not make the '07 delivery and the captain and I knew each other thru common boats we had been on as well as other sailors. He offered provisions and flights. Please get back to me on this.
I understand the delivery provisions are included in the budget. It never hurts to ask. All he can say is no.
A general cleaning upon arrival is expected.
I am aware that there is no auto-pilot and that becomes difficult at night in rough conditions when you need to read the instruments and balance those to the compass. A skeleton crew makes this tiring and I have no problem if Gib springs for an auto-pilot. I have seen all of them fail, except a Monitor wind-vane, and I expect it to not work all time.
Gib has an autopilot, but it hasn't been on the boat in 4 1/2 years. I asked that it be reinstalled if it's not too much work. It would be good if we have someone down with seasickness, etc. I also have absolutely no doubt it would crap out. :-) The last delivery I did had dual over-sized, redundant autopilots and they both quit working.
I have no problem with kites but do not want to fly one on this boat with only 4 crew. It basically takes about 6 to do it safely in easy conditions. If it goes bad it takes 8.
I definitely agree.
The closer we get I will want a spreadsheet inventory of what's on board including a sail inventory and what is available for us to use. Keep this in mind: the boat will be race-ready-stripped to reduce weight for the Transpac. And, there hopefully will be (3) kites forward in storage. It will be easy enough to move them aft if needed.
Agree.
Dave
12/3/10
Cliff,
I am in the planning stage to crew an sc50 from Waikiki to Long Beach about 4/20 with 4 guys.
I have read many books about everything related to sailing, wind and water and need some suggestions from you about this particular passage. You are one of the only sailor's that I have spoken to that related how rough that run can be.
Do you have any books you could recommend to me regarding this particular run and its specific geographic area?
Dave
I am in the planning stage to crew an sc50 from Waikiki to Long Beach about 4/20 with 4 guys.
I have read many books about everything related to sailing, wind and water and need some suggestions from you about this particular passage. You are one of the only sailor's that I have spoken to that related how rough that run can be.
Do you have any books you could recommend to me regarding this particular run and its specific geographic area?
Dave
12/5/10
Hi Dave: The only book I know of would be Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Routes. I have questions, and know of others who question, Cornell’s suggestions for other parts of the world, but what he says about the Hawaii to California route squares with PACCUP lore and my PACCUP experience. That is later in the year of course, but the principles appear to be the same. See his route “PN33 Hawaii to California”, which is applicable to anywhere from San Diego and San Francisco, and he addresses April/May conditions.
I put your bean bag in a black plastic leaf bag and tucked it into my dingy on the “back porch”, so you can pick it up at your leisure. Just lift the green cover at the stern of the dingy and you can reach it. If anyone questions you, I left a tag with your name on the bag.
I hope you have a good trip!
Cliff
