July 9 Roll Call & Wind Gods Deliver
by Charlotte Gann & Race Committee, July 9th, 2022
Wind! We have wind. And it’s behind us so we’re flying spinnakers. Last night there was champagne sailing with moon, wind, and stars. Didn’t last through the night but it’s a start. Lurline’s crew have decided it’s warm enough to put away their long winter underwear and begin to sport shorts. Phoenix spotted a fishnet and lots of garbage. There’d been a bit of garbage spotted but nothing like this. Red Sheilla bore east overnight to get into better wind and were spotted by Planet Express around midnight where the two buddy-boated for a few hours until Red Sheilla’s longer waterline length pushed her on ahead. Amun-Ra is having great success with tuna fishing and had another great lunch – ceviche today. Not to be outdone, Outbreak had their fresh caught tuna with lemon pepper. Millennium Seagull wants bigger blocks so they can get better purchase... Flow is loving the sailing and celebrating their solar panels charging the house batteries. Seems New Haven wants cocktails SOON – lamenting that it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. Annie M is caught in the shark, SHark, SHARK syndrome and have had enough of the creatures – they’d like a swim/bath but not feeling confident about it just yet.
The wind is beginning to straighten up and fly right. For the foreseeable days, it’s looking like the trades are setting up and the spinnakers will get a regular workout. Happy happy.
Fishing is de rigueur now – some are having successful catches, others are towing the fishing gear behind, hoping for a feed soon. Not like they're starving, far from it, but fresh fish in one's belly within a couple of hours is such a treat.
Drones are now coming out on boats who have them and an operator. Amun-Ra reported a small hand injury (they’re okay) when retrieving the drone and will wear gloves for future forays. Planet Express tried to get their drone to photograph Red Sheilla when she was nearby but had to be content with a shot of themselves as Red Sheilla sailed away – see today’s cover photo.
Roll Call July 9 at noon HST from the fleet:
DATE | 22-07-09 | ||||
Latitude | Longitude | TWS | TWD | Atm Press | |
Deg-Min | Deg-Min | kts | Deg | millibar | |
Peligroso | 40-41 | 127-09 | 10 | 1 | 1026 |
Phoenix | 43-15.3 | 126-03.7 | 12.5 | 315 | 1025.5 |
Lurline | 43-51 | 126-00.3 | 10 | 310 | 1020 |
Red Sheilla | 42--43.5 | 127-23 | 8 | 318 | 1027.3 |
Xiomara | 41-36.4 | 127-25.5 | 11.5 | 5 | 1027.9 |
Amun-Ra | 40.21.6 | 130-26.9 | 5 | 336 | 1027 |
Millenium Seagull | 41-47 | 127-36 | 10 | 340 | 1020 |
Planet Express | 42-47.3 | 127-20.5 | 9 | 320 | 1027 |
Flow | 42-07 | 127-24 | 10 | 333 | 1027 |
New Haven | 43-13 | 126-59 | 5 | 295 | 1025 |
Annie M | 44-573 | 126-158 | 12 | 280 | 1024.5 |
Outbreak | 39-552 | 131-25 | 8 | 350 | 1028.4 |
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Featured Yacht Profile
Annie M (2022)
Type: Amel Mango 52Skipper: John McCarthy
Port: Santa Fe, NM
Blog: 1 articles posted
The Annie M crew has a wealth of experience to contribute to the Vic-Maui 2022 race. John McCarthy, the captain of Annie M, is a lifelong sailor with experience racing Snipes and J24s, as well as cruising on a Swan 47 and, of course, an Amel 52, the Annie M. His boat has been beautifully restored and named after his beloved wife of 60 years.
Steve McCarthy brings years of racing and cruising experiences from sailing many seas. He’s also a sailmaker and, since 2004, owner of Hogin Sails located in Alameda, CA. In addition to working with sail lofts from Seattle to Santa Cruz, he has raced on Moore 24s and J24s and cruised on a Swan 47 across Europe. Our sails are in good hands with Steve as a sailor since he was a wee one.
Steve Summers is an instructor at Seattle Sailing Club, an Outward Bound teacher, and a National Outdoor Leadership teacher with experience sailing long voyages requiring an excellent ability to handle a variety of conditions and personalities. He’s also a Wilderness First Responder and a well-respected navigator in the Pacific Northwest. A calm soul called to the wild, Steve seeks adventure, and Vic-Maui is one of the adventures he’s ready to tackle.
Callum Hally is focused on sailing when the opportunity arises. In the past five years, he’s sailed more than 500 hours on a variety of boats such as a Catalina 22, J35c and an Andrew 53 to name a few. Through his previous job with Seattle Sailing Club supporting the customer’s experience, he became passionate about being on the water. He’s an excellent crew member with an insatiable thirst for reading, which makes him a fascinating conversationalist, wise beyond his years.
Bill Busch participated as “old goat’ status for Mackinaw races. He’s had a 1st place PHRf overall, 1st place in j105 class, 1st place j120 class. He’s looking forward to sailing a long ocean passage. He recently completed his International Offshore Safety program at St. Petersburg Florida Yacht Club. Bill is known for his kindness and patience.
Sarah Mackay, a lifelong sailor who learned at a young age the art of not getting seasick and never getting bored. She’s a crew member, communicator and, on occasion, cracker of jokes at which she’s the only one laughing. She has raced on J24s and J30s, crossed the North Sea and cruised throughout Europe on a Swan 47, and explored the Pacific Northwest on an Amel 52 named Annie M.
We are busy preparing the boat (and ourselves) for this epic journey. This year, Annie M will be entered in the Pacific NW Offshore Yacht Race and the Swiftsure Yacht Race leading up to our start date of the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race in early July.
