News
July 18, 2019, 0800
After a frustrating day of sail issues, lines wrapped on rudders, etc. We finally fixed everything including the leach line on the kite and have made great progress at night. We have lowered the main to third reef which has shifted the center of effort forward and reduced the blanking effect on the kite. The crew seems to be having a much easier time on the helm with the COF shifted. This is probably not the best VMG for this boat, but given the steadier helm, we will probably do better overall.
Surf and turf Wednesdays made up for all the issues.
P.S. We just saw Medicine Man pass by. Looking sharp.
July 17, 2019, 0800
Blew the leach line on the emergency spinnaker. Nothing like 3am sail changes. We are sailing under jib and main alone. The crew is having a hard time on the helm which causes the spinnaker to collapse and wipe the boat very hard. We will attempt to fix the leach line latter on today. With the Jib and Main steering is easy and allows the crew to rest.
Despite all this, everyone is having an amazing time. At least the food has been getting better. Today on the menu, surf and turf.
July 16, 2019, 1700
First boat we have seen in the past seven days in the middle of the pacific. We invited Paradox for home cooked meal, but they gave us a rain check. Can't wait to see them at the finish line.
July 15, 2019
At 3 am we tore our ASYM and put up a spare used symmetrical spinnaker. That spinnaker is a bit smaller for the boat, so our VMG will be a bit lower.
I would also like to share a MOB situation that we had (everyone is safe on board). However, please do not post it online as we do not want to worry our families, but we feel that the rest of the fleet could benefit from hearing that.
At 0700 07/15/2019 a crew member went overboard after the symmetrical spinnaker sheet snapped and launched him overboard. This was in calm seas, 12kts of wind and the most ideal conditions. The crew member was wearing a harness and was dragging through the water. Luckily with Celestra high freeboard, the crew member was dragging in the water with his upper torso above water. We immediately began the MOB drill, and blew a horn that we have sitting at the cockpit to alert all the crew members and the boat was stopped by turning into weather. The Crew over board was handed the life sling and brought back on board.
I would like to emphasise that this was in the calmest of conditions and nothing special was going on deck (he was taking pictures). If the crew member did not have a harness, this might have been a completely different story.
One note, along with an extra co2 cartridge, we also have an extra harness which is needed since the harnesses do go bad after a load is applied.
Everyone is safe and eating a great breakfast (eggs, potatoes, olives).
July 14, 2019
Winds have been light 10-15kts all night, changing between 025M and 050M. Our MOB flag snapped off after the asym sheet whipped right at it. The base is still there, but the flag and pole are lost. We are going to make a pole and a flag using a blue tarp for the flag. So Our MOB pole will have a blue flag.
With the swells and shifting winds, the crew is a bit all over place with the helm. But the lashings will continue until morale improves.
July 12, 2019
Things have been a bit difficult on Celestra. First my steak was over done after I specifically asked for medium rare, and then our projector bulb went out. So much for movie night (and people said it would be easy on a cruising catamaran).
Over all the sailing is good, with a consistent 15-18kts true wind with 3-4ft waves. However, we all wish we knew what to do with these large white clothes flapping in the wind.
The thing that makes this somewhat bearable is ice cream sandwiches and the fact that we are crossing an ocean as part of the Transpac 😊
Thank you for putting on such a great event.