MARTHA and crew are safely and comfortably tucked in at the Waikiki Yacht club in the Ala Wai boat harbor in Honolulu.
It was nip and tuck on arrival as we were the last boat in before they closed the harbor due to dangerously high breaking surf at the harbor entrance.
One more night Offshore wild not have been so bad, but there would certainly been some disappointment with the beautiful Waikiki yacht club so close at hand!
The race was an incredible adventure MARTHA and her crew did a fantastic job of getting it done!
The wind for our start was light but began to build towards Catalina. Clearing the west end of Catalina we continued to climb in order to make some Westing and get positioned into the pressure we knew was to the Northwest.
Apparent wind speeds at around 25-28 across the deck made for a lively wet ride, there’s no way around the issue that going fast in big seas is a wet proposition! Martha was happy with a single reefed main, and working sails, fishermen when effective.
Once we were able to crack off a bit life tended to get easier and we were clicking off some sea mile. IMG_4619
4 days in a row over 200 miles a day, one day at 236 miles.
We knew that the leaders in the fleet were climbing West and a bit North, we wanted to climb but the stronger pressure was just outside our reach.
Our fear was if we chase the wind North of West and we don’t get there in time,” the pressure always seemed a day ahead”, we would get stranded well north of what seemed prudent.
If we could stay in reasonable pressure south of west we could tighten the string to Hawaii and save some miles.
Well it didn’t go that way, looking at the weather charts there was a chance of some pressure to the Southwest, so off we went looking for a break, which we did get now and again but we did spend a great deal of time with 6 and 7 knots of wind across the deck.
The day before we finished was the slowest day, 3 and 4 knots boat speed, yuk!
When we would see an increase in apparent wind from 6-8 to 10 to 12 knots MARTHA would light up and really move out.
The Schooner rig is un willing to go deep or DDW, we need to reach fast and we need pressure 15 knots of wind or more to make up for not going deep. The crew worked hard at switching gears and making sail changes and we were successful in always keeping the boat moving.
When we conceived of racing Transpac, we promised ourselves to sail conservatively and safe.
As a prudent mariner we must protect the vessel and crew from injury and as responsible Foundation Board members and Captain we can not afford to break MARTHA and have her stranded in Hawaii.
Durring the day we pushed as hard as prudent and by O dark thirty we were snugged down to Fisherman, Mainstay sail, A spin and Main.
The watch could handle most evolutions and it afforded a level of safety and comfort.
The only exception was the last night out, we flew the Queen all night with a very watchful eye for squalls, “glad we did” and she did the trick!
For some Historic data, we have a copy of Ocean Racing by Alf Loomis aboard, courtesy of Tim Mehrer Captain of Zodiac. I affords us a look to see how MARTHA did in Transpac compared to her sisters long gone.
In the chapter on Transpac Alfred writes:
1906 LURLINE had a time of 12 d, 09h, 59 m.
1908 LURLINE ” 13 d, 21 h, 31 m.
1910 HAWAII ” 14 d, 03h, 23 m.
1912 LURLINE ” 13d, 17h, 03m.
2015 MARTHA ” 13d, 7h, 28m, 32s.
You get the Idea!
Not bad for her first Transpac, especially a Transpac with such difficult weather conditions to sail in. JR Hanify and B,B, Crwninshield would be proud!
From the heart, the Schooner Martha Foundation Board and crew would like to thank all those friends far and wide that have given of themselves to keep MARTHA alive and well into the next 100 years!
Mahalo !
