O.K. so much for getting here and THEN our vacations starts...
As you know, Robert finished the race on 8/1, placing 8th in the fleet on corrected time. Islander came in at 12:30 p.m. on the 1st barely missing the noon deadline to be in the official count, and after not hearing from her for a number of days. Sunday, August 2nd was the Awards Banquet at the Princeville. The food and atmosphere got rave reviews...so I guess it was worth my hassling them as much as I did!!
Islander has been repaired and Jeanne Socrates/Neirda will be sailing her back to San Francisco beginning this afternoon.
Ruben Gabriel/Sparky is due in tomorrow morning at dawn. He has a jury mast up to 15 feet and is making about 100 miles per day. A number of the skippers and their wives will be here to greet him and have "tree" with him tomorrow. Robbie, his girlfriend, who is beyond compare when it comes to being supportive, is planning a pepperoni pizza fest for him...that's what he's been missing.
Now to Robert's present adventure. As you know Robert decided NOT to sail Black Feathers home. Ruben is going to donate Sparky when he arrives in Kauai so his space on the transport ship became available so Robert took it, BUT that meant we had to go into overdrive...we had to get everything off the boat, clean the boat, do laundry, weatherproof his foul weather gear, and repack the boat and get him on his way to Honolulu at O'dark hundred yesterday morning. The trip to Honolulu equals two trips to the Farrlones...it is not a walk in the park. It can take between 23 - 33 hours. He called last night at 9:00 p.m. and he was having a very rough time of it...Black Feathers was slamming repeatedly as he tried to speak with me. He said he was very glad he didn't have one of his loved ones onboard. I reminded him he did have one of my loved ones onboard!!! He called this morning at 8:20 and he had no wind and was motoring. Tom Kirschbaum/Feral and his
daughter were making the same trek with his boat...Feral and Black Feathers are to share a transport container. I just received a call from the boat loader and he had heard from Tom. Tom said he could not make it in and the boat loader was going out to retrieve him (I believe that may because Tom does not have a working motor). Larry, the boat loader, called Robert. Robert had already passed the place Larry is picking up Tom, so Robert is back tracking to meet them. Robert will have to drop his mast and lock things up to get her ready for her journey home, then he will turn Ms. Black Feathers over to Larry. Larry will take Robert to the airport...AND THEN we can start our vacation!!!! AND the really good part is...Robert will be here to welcome Ruben.
A little side note...John Hayward/Dream Chaser had his brother, John and John's wife, Susan, as his guests here in Kauai. Susan and John live on their boat in Panama and have done so for several years. A wonderful couple. The night of the banquet, they came to me with a lovely mola, a colorful hand sewn work of art...reverse applique' created by the Kuna Indians in Panama. They said they had brought it from home knowing they would meet someone special along the way to give it to. They chose me. I was very touched and can't wait to get it home, frame it and hang it. I'm hoping John and Susan will come to Mi Wuk to visit...then you will all get to meet these very special people.
Many of you have sent emails in the past couple of days, but I'm going to let Robert open them and respond to you in the next few days. Just know all your support has been incredibly precious to us.
Take care,
Jeanne
