Donald Lang and ‘Ishi’ Return to Port Safely After 348 Days at Sea
After the Coast Guard issued a BOLO in March for Ishi and Donald Lang, the 55-ft sailboat and her captain have checked in — apparently in the Hawaiian Islands — and are safe and sound. In fact, Don Lang’s cup seems to be overflowing.
“Just arrived 348 days non stop; about 16,000 miles,” Lang wrote on TikTok. After we shared the Coast Guard’s concerns about Ishi and published a ‘Lectronic Latitude in March where some readers weren’t shy to comment from their armchairs about the apparent condition of Ishi — including wondering if she had a list — Lang himself commented on that story three days ago:
“Thanks for the heartfelt concern. I was fine, and everyone knew I packed for a year offshore. And they knew not to worry unless a year’s gone by. I love it at sea and it’s where I like to be.”
On TikTok, Lang was a bit more pointed: “Who’s the asshole that reported me missing? Can’t an old salt get some peace and quiet?”
Continuing Lang’s comments on this website, “In regards to the listing comments: Experienced sailors should have known by the shape of the sail she was in the middle of a heavy-swell-induced roll in light air while leaving the channel,” Lang said, referring to the photo above. “The first picture taken at the same departure should have also clued you into that … no list,” Lang added, referring to the photo below.
“Ishi is a working girl and not a dock queen, so yes she may not look like a shiny new penny, but she is solid and struts through the gales. She just completed a non-stop voyage, and it was magnificent,” Lang said.
Here’s a sampling of some of the unsolicited concerns and skepticism about Ishi:
“That boat is not something I would put up against the Pacific or any other ocean.” “Looks like it needed a bottom job. The whole boat looks to be in bad shape. A lot of clutter and some shady looking repairs. I sincerely hope they are OK. I wouldn’t take into the open Gulf of Mexico much less the Pacific Ocean.”
“Could it be possible due to the shape the boat is in (not good) that they stopped somewhere for repairs? Could be limited on funds to complete repairs and stuck somewhere without any knowledge that people are looking for them.” “That boat is ill-prepared. Look at the barnacles on the hull. Poor maintenance along with the acquired junk on the boat make a real big safety issue. Sailing among the local islands is about all this boat should be doing. Major ocean crossings will consume that vessel for sure.”
Meanwhile, Lang appeared to be having the sail of his life, staying out of port for financial reasons as much as his pure love of being at sea.
@neetpirate don just arrived 348 days non stop, about 16,000 miles. My best yet. Was trying for a year but needed repairs after several gales beat me up. My mind is so calm and clear out here it’s where I belong. Caught over 300 fish and swung in my hammock under a sunshade. No bills, no bad news, just nature. Slowed the boat to three knots and the schools of fish stay with me for weeks at that speed. With ports wanting an average of $1500 each time you pull in I’ve been enjoying stretching my cruising dollars at sea. Wanted to visit midway as I passed but it was $500 to enter and a whopping $220 a day to moor my boat so I sailed by. Would like too refit and try nonstop south around the world via the three capes next. Ishi is amazing sea boat. Rock solid and struts through the gales. So much room below the floors to stow canned goods and get the weight down low. Need to redesign the water tanks so I don’t start the voyage with slight list or start on a starboard tack for a month lol Who’s the asshole that reported me missing? Can’t an old salt get some piece and quiet? Everyone new I had a year’s supply of food and water and carry every tool imaginable and loads of spare parts to jury rig stuff. Im a boat builder and can fix anything on a boat ffs. The main reason I like extended sails is there is so damn much media noise in the world these days its hard to get some real quiet time anymore. I highly recommend it, the calm seas, a billion stars in the night sky, and the cleanest air you’ve ever breathed. Wish I took more books though, only had one….the water in between by Kevin Patterson. I highly recommend it 😉 #ishi #sailing #sailboat
“[I] was trying for a year, but needed repairs after several gales beat me up,” Lang wrote on TikTok. “My mind is so calm and clear; out here [is] where I belong. Caught over 300 fish and swung in my hammock under a sunshade. No bills, no bad news, just nature. Slowed the boat to three knots and the schools of fish stay with me for weeks at that speed.
“With ports wanting an average of $1,500 each time you pull in, I’ve been enjoying stretching my cruising dollars at sea. Wanted to visit Midway as I passed, but it was $500 to enter and a whopping $220 a day to moor my boat, so I sailed by.
“Would like to refit and try nonstop south around the world via the three capes next. Ishi is [an] amazing sea boat. Rock solid and struts through the gales. So much room below the floors to stow canned goods and get the weight down low. Need to redesign the water tanks so I don’t start the voyage with slight list or start on a starboard tack for a month. LOL,” Lang said, apparently poking fun at the list comments.
“Everyone [knew] I had a year’s supply of food and water and carry every tool imaginable and loads of spare parts to jury rig stuff. I’m a boatbuilder and can fix anything on a boat ffs. [For F*@k’s Sake.] The main reason I like extended sails is there’s so damn much media noise in the world these days, it’s hard to get some real quiet time anymore. I highly recommend it, the calm seas, a billion stars in the night sky, and the cleanest air you’ve ever breathed.
“Wish I took more books though, only had one: The Water in Between by Kevin Patterson. [Lang is featured in the book.] I highly recommend it. ;)”
Going Old School With Channel Islands to Marina del Rey Race
After the first boats had finished the 45-mile Channel Islands to Marina del Rey race on September 23, more chutes were seen on the horizon, including J/111s, 1D35s and a Hunter 37.
Wait, what? How did a 30-year-old cruiser stay within sight of the faster, lighter boats in this long downwind course and correct out overall against seasoned pros on full-on racing machines?
Local knowledge, an experienced skipper, and a seasoned crew proved a winning combination for the Hunter 37 Rascal as she corrected out first overall in the 35-boat fleet by playing the shifts and executing a dozen flawless jibes with their asymmetrical spinnaker. “The only preconceived course I had in mind was to stay away from the shore, head to the middle of Santa Monica Bay, and go for the shortest course where we could find a breeze,” said Rascal’s skipper, Kathy St. Amant. “I thought I saw that more wind would be out in the mid-bay.”
Kathy was right. Following the staggered starting sequence of slower boats starting first, racers left the starting line off Channel Islands Harbor and sailed close-hauled on starboard tacks to the first mark, Oil Island Gina, which is three miles from the shore. Then it’s a left turn and downwind 42 miles to Marina del Rey.
In the 1980s, this race left Anacapa Island to port, finishing at MDR as a feeder to the popular MDR-San Diego race. Later it was shortened, without Anacapa, before being discontinued in the 1990s as turnout declined and race volunteers moved on. During COVID year two, Del Rey Yacht Club and Channel Islands YC brought it back. Participants like the new course and the events, starting with a pre-race steak dinner at CIYC and a post-race awards brunch at DRYC.
The starting line was exciting, with the committee boat end being favored and 12-14 knots of breeze resulting in a couple of barging incidents that had the race volunteers jumping for cover with millimeters to spare between hulls.
Driving down PCH to Marina del Rey, we watched racers jibe along the beach to Zuma before heading for deeper water in the middle of Santa Monica Bay. On this sunny afternoon, dozens of colorful chutes jibing along the coast delighted beachgoers and race volunteers alike.
In the end, Kathy St. Amant’s Rascal corrected out ahead by just one minute over Lonnie Jarvis’ Chronic, a slick Farr 400m, out of Channel Islands. Chronic won her class and took line honors, finishing just before 6 p.m. against the backdrop of a beautiful autumn sunset.
Other class winners, besides Rascal and Chronic, included Revo, Brack Duker’s well-sailed J/111, Black Marlin, Herwig Baumgartner’s 1D35, OMG, Mike Geer’s recently purchased Hobie 33, and Gary Schaffel’s Odyssey, a Tartan 400. Complete results are posted at dryc.org/racing.
See Naos at the Fall Boat Shows
Sailagram: A Snapshot of September Sailing
Sailors in September channeled their social and competitive sides on Sailagram! See what September sailors were up to: From soirees to sunset cruises, big boat races and dinghy regattas, looks like a good month of sailing on the Bay.
Don’t forget to keep sending us your photos for next month’s Sailagram by emailing us at [email protected]
Rob Fenner Picking Up the New Latitude 38
We stopped by West Marine in Sausalito, needing some parts for boat projects, and bumped into Rob Fenner of the Bird Boat Kittiwake way in the back, where they hide the free magazines — such as Latitude 38. (You can also find a few in the sailing hardware section.) Rob’s a dedicated Bird Boat caretaker and fan of this locally designed and built class.
We included Rob in a story in our spring 2013 boatyard tour, at which time he said he’d owned Kittiwake for 23 years, so he now has been her caretaker for another decade. He mentioned Pippin Brehler’s September story “I’m Not Bob” about the Port Huron to Mackinac Race, since he grew up there before moving west. He clearly remembered Ted Turner’s comeuppance when he was dismasted in the race in the ’70s. Ted had a little more respect for the lakes afterward.
We delivered the October issue on Friday, including our reader survey (it would be a huge help to us if you could take 10 minutes to fill it out — thanks!) plus lots of new stories. You can find a copy near you on our map here.
