Black Feathers
7:00 p.m.
Lat/Long: 31.08 N 134.41 W
Distance to finish: 1430 miles
Course: 255 degrees
Speed: 5.4 knots
Date: 7/20/08
Robert did 59 miles in the last 12 hours, 113 in the past 24. He's right on target.
He put his spinnaker up for 3 hours today, first time. He is spending a good deal of time outside in his Crazy Creek chair. He said when he did the 94 TransPac, he spent most of his time inside...this time is more enjoyable.
I was asked if he had seen any flying fish...none so far.
The sun is trying to break through. He says the skies ahead look like Hawaii skies...the layered clouds.
He is right on schedule with his food also. He has four weeks/four canvas tote bags of food, one for each week. He said the only thing he ran out of was pudding...(he would run out of pudding no matter how much he had onboard), but he didn't make a run on this week's pudding until today. Bet he runs out this week too.
He should be at the half-way mark in about 3 days. Half way he gets a present, it's tradition, that I gave him prior to his leaving. AND he left a half-way present for me also. Half way is 1060 miles Distance to Finish.
He is in great spirits and having fun!
PICTURE OF THE "COCKPIT", YES, SMALL!!
Black Feathers
7:00 a.m.
Lat/Long: 31 32 N 133 36 W
DTF: 1489 miles
Couse: 215 degrees
Speed: 4.8 knots
Date: 7/20/08
7 p.m. to 7 a.m. mileage: 54 miles
As you know the entered boats all have some type of handicap. Hecla, the trimarand has a -handicap and was/is expected to arrive in Hanalei WAY first, however, at this point Dogbark is in the lead and could arrive first unless Hecla steps on the gas. Robert could arrive 9 days AFTER Hecla and beat him on corrected time.
Our friend, Ruben Gabriel, in Sparky (22 feet) has the highest handicap. I believe Robert would have to beat him by 9 hours to correct out ahead of him. So as you can see Sparky is doing very well. It would be a kick if Ruben/Sparky won the race because he was a late entrant and really wasn't sure he was ready. He has very little technical "stuff" onboard.
All along Robert has said the boat to watch, and the boat he figured would win the 2008 TransPac is Wildflower. Wildflower has a good handicap and is skippered by Skip Allan, a professional and very proficient skipper. Skip is doing VERY WELL. At 7:00 p.m. last night he had 1268 miles distance to finish posted.
Another small boat that is giving Sparky a run for her money is Carroll E. It is a treat to see Carroll E doing well because in 2006 TransPac (TransPac runs every 2 years), Carroll E dropped out 300 miles from Kauai to come to the aid of a disabled skipper who had last his rudder and then his emergency rudder and was using a pail to steer...don't ask me how!
Have a grand day. I'm adding about 2 people a day to our email list. Thank you, thank you for your interest.
