Skip to content

Solo Sailors All Safely in at Kauai

By Christine Weaver | July 11, 2018 | Hanalei, HI |
Lee Johnson arrived yesterday at the finish of the Singlehanded TransPac on Morning Star. He was the only finisher wearing blue jeans! Although he needed to do laundry and the full battens in his main had broken, the Valiant 32 arrived looking like she was ready to depart on a voyage, not like she had just completed one.

latitude/Chris
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

With the arrival of Lee Johnson on the Valiant 32 Morning Star, all 16 boats in the 2018 Singlehanded TransPacific Yacht Race are safely in. The race started in Tiburon on June 23. Some of the boats will remain in Hawaii under the care of new owners, including the first-to-finish and overall winning boat, Philippe Jamotte’s Olson 30 Double Espresso, which the Kauai Sailing Association has arranged to purchase. At least some of the boats that will be shipped back to California have departed the stunningly beautiful north shore of Kauai for Nawiliwili, the port on the other side of the island. Others will sail home on their own bottoms.

Even on a squally day with heavy overcast, Hanalei Bay is one of the most beautiful landfalls a sailor can make. This is John Colby’s Hylas 42 Iris, the biggest boat that finished the race.

latitude/Chris
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Although no one suffered major injuries, almost every boat reported some damage. For instance, Don Martin’s Wyliecat 30 Crinan II tore its only sail, but Don sailed with it for the final five days. Shad Lemke’s Olson 30 Dark Horse suffered a knockdown that resulted in the sea claiming one of his two solar panels. Aboard Carliane Johnson’s Freedom 38 Kyntanna, the broken stuff included the boom vang and jib headstay.

Who wants some bubbly? Carliane Johnson (she who is well lei’d) passes up the cups of Prosecco to her guests.

latitude/Chris
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

The sailors had various reactions upon finishing. Some were mightily relieved to get off their boats. Carliane invited her son, friend and race committee volunteers aboard for champagne and chocolate. Lee said he’d have gladly kept going, except that he’d used up one of his two tanks of water the first five days out. Lee, the last-place finisher, and Philippe, the first-place finisher, seemed to have had the most fun out of the whole fleet. Both were first-timers in this race, and both were making their first ocean crossing.

The sailors and friends gathered each evening at the race committee HQ across the street from the Hanalei Pavilion Beach. After the devastating floods of April 14-15, the outrigger club moved their boats to the traditional ‘Tree Time’ location, so the SSS moved Tree to the Yellow House. Here (left to right) Charlie Casey of the Cal 40 Riff Rider, Tom Boussie of the Capo 30 JouJou, and John Simpson of the Santa Cruz 27 Crazy Rhythm check the forecast for the 32-mile sail to Nawiliwili.

latitude/Chris
©2018 Latitude 38 Media, LLC

Nawiliwili Yacht Club will host the awards party this Saturday. We’ll have complete coverage in the August issue of Latitude 38.

Leave a Comment





'Lectronic Latitude: Wednesday, Jul 11
Putting Area G Back on the Map
Something big happened last Saturday. There was a regional qualifier for the Sears Cup junior national championship, and Area G showed up.
They’re Off. Again.
The four divisions of Pacific Cup Monday starters scored a beautiful day for a sail on the Bay, but made sure it was short-lived by dashing for the Gate and pointing southwest as they latched onto the reaching conditions to propel them west.
Fender Mind Bender
We just got this letter from reader Glenn Shinn in Santa Cruz (who recently restored Grendel, a prototype for the Moore 24): "One of the first things I do when I go sailing is stow the docklines and fenders.
More 'Lectronics »