July 7 Position Report at 1730 hrs PDT
July 7 Position Report at 1730 hrs PDT
31-48 N, 123-20.5 W
Only 276 miles down course from the starting line
With 1937 nm to go to Diamond Head
It has been a slow go so far, with a daily average of less than 90 (ouch) miles made good on the course. By comparison, under ideal conditions, like when we crossed the Atlantic on a broad reach in 20 knots of breeze we averaged 180+ miles a day. The faster boats start tomorrow (Friday, July 8 at 1300 hrs) and some of them might pass us before Monday night.
The bad news is we are in last place. Eighth out of eight boats in our class. The good news is we are gaining on many of them, and logged more miles toward the finish yesterday than five other boats in our class. What hurt us, as I reported last email, was parking on the Mother-Of-All-Kelp Paddies (so big it had its own zip code) for an hour the first night, then dragging a ball of kelp the size of a laundry basket for the next seven hours until dawn and we could see and clear the problem. The fleet pulled away from us during that time and got to the breeze faster than we did. We are now sailing in overcast skies, beating into a cool breeze from the NW, doing 5 to 6 knots.
A couple of hours ago we saw a blue whale cross in front of us, and then a sleeping sea lion. Yesterday we had an albatross soaring around us for a quite awhile. We’re trolling cedar plugs, but so far no bites.
We’re eating well. Pork tenderloin, asparagus and brown rice, paired with a 2009 Callaway Cabernet Sauvignon, and fresh fruit salad for dessert.
Cheers from the Traveler Transpac Crew:
Michael Lawler, skipper
Barbara Burdick, watch captain
Ric Sanders, watch captain
David Lee, navigator, communications and foredeck
Jim Borgman, chaplain and chief engineer
Eric Flanders, fleet surgeon
Larry Wilson, sail trimmer
Bula guy’s, well…. the food sound’s fantastic as it alway’s is on Traveler, sorry about the wind , i’ll be crossing finger’s hoping it pick’s up.
Here in Fiji there are some of the biggest wave’s to ever hit on there way, 45ft swell’s in the Tasmen. Rumor is, Laird Hamilton and Kelly Slater on there way and other’s… I’ll be filming.
Have a good rest of your race, keep a steady hand and sure foot about you all, good luck, Sea ya Kurt.
Comment by Kurt Roll — July 8, 2011 @ 6:20 pm
Just got a chance to see all the blogs of Transpac 11. Wow, you guys did fabulous. CONGRATULATIONS Michael and Barbara on your engagement, and I love the engagement ring. No matter what you got in Honolulu, that little ring will always be so very very very special. I love hearinga bout Kauai, it is so lovely there. Have a very safe sail home, I am sure arriving home will be bitter/sweet again as it was last year. Glad to hear from you guys!!!!!
Comment by Bruce & Denise — August 8, 2011 @ 6:55 am