We're Going to Hawaii

by Race Committee, July 10th, 2018

The race clock has switched to HST, local Hawaiian Time. This is a 3 hour difference in how data on the Race Tracker is displayed and makes sense as boats getting closer to Maui. Read

The Weather Eye, July 10 – This Too Shall Pass, and Which Way Will the Cookie Crumble?

by David Sutcliffe, July 10th, 2018

This morning the fleet is in the grips of … almost no wind. The two Highs have consolidated into one, the center of the combined High has drifted East, the Northerly Low has migrated North and out of the picture, and the Southerly low (the Tropical Storm formerly known as Fabio) has become a remnant disturbance in the Trade Winds. What will save the day? Which way will the cookie crumble? Will the summer weather textbook ever come true? Read

Day 9 - Stuck on Starboard

by Race Committee, July 9th, 2018

The trade wind run under spinnaker to Hawaii beckons, but more changeable winds are still in the way of the Vic-Maui fleet. For now the boats are stuck close reaching on starboard tack and getting sick of it. At Roll Call Firefly is 901 miles to the finish. Joy Ride +22, Salient +84, Turnagain +115, Kraken +137, Anjo +190, Oxomoxo + 224, Serenite +278 Read

The Weather Eye, July 8 – To Half Way and Beyond, or “What the Heck is a Perpendicular Bisector?”

by David Sutcliffe, July 8th, 2018

Sooner or later, each Vic-Maui boat crosses the Vic-Maui perpendicular bisector, an imaginary line or plane on which all positions are equally distant from the start and the finish. Meanwhile, in weather, Low 1 forces the fleet to beat or close reach, the plateau connecting High 1 and High 2 is devoid of both wind and mercy, and Low 2 (the remnants of ex TS Fabio) lurk to the South. It's all very interesting! Featured Sponsor: Survitec Group Vancouver Read

Day 8 - Half Way to Maui

by Race Committee, July 8th, 2018

Most of the fleet reached the half-way point in last 24 hours, or will shortly. As the picture of Firefly’s Bob Strong shows, it is certainly a time for celebrations aboard (and perhaps the first shower in a week). But it is also time to contemplate how far the boats are from anything - nearest land is over 1000 miles away. But from now on, the nearest land will be Hawaii – how good is that? Read

Day 7 - Warmer and Drier, with a faint whiff of Tuna and Gray Whales

by Race Committee, July 7th, 2018

Day 7 Roll Call shows the fleet still fairly tightly clustered, with one notable exception. Geminis Dream has experienced mainsail furling equipment damage, has retired from the race, and has altered course. All onboard are reported safe and well. Race Committee will stay in close communications with Geminis Dream until they reach their next port. Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet has a faint whiff of Tuna and Gray Whales ... Read

Day 6 - Window of Opportunity

by Race Committee, July 6th, 2018

Day 6 Roll Call finds the fleet well offshore and now about 750 miles off Cape Mendocino and still sailing west of the direct route to Maui. As the photo shows, there is a window of opportunity to get the course to Maui right. But this morning’s Weather Eye lays out the myriad of issues facing the fleet as all boats look to pick the right weather route, with choosing the wrong window likely to be costly. Read

The Weather Eye, July 6 – One Third Down, Two Thirds to Go; Baby Bear's Porridge

by David Sutcliffe, July 6th, 2018

Let's review. One third down, two thirds to go! What’s next in weather and routing? The middle third (the next several days). Baby Bear's Porridge. Woe betide the navigator who serves up the wrong porridge! The final third (looking well ahead). Read

Day 5 - The Middle Sea

by Race Committee, July 5th, 2018

Roll Call finds the boats generally about 550 miles west of the Oregon/California border and the leaders are now about 1500 miles from Hawaii. But winds are easing. This is definitely the Middle Sea and the most difficult part of the race to figure out. Read

Day 4 - What A Difference A Day Makes

by Race Committee, July 4th, 2018

Happy 4th of July. The low that boats ran into around Roll Call yesterday has mostly moved to the east and strong northerly winds have filled in its wake. Boats are again moving quickly but the sustained winds of 20 kts or better is starting to take its toll on gear. At Roll Call today, the fleet was generally about 400 miles west of Florence, on the Oregon coast still more or less pointing straight towards Maui and going fast. Read

The Weather Eye, July 4 – One, Two, Three Big Things to Think About

by David Sutcliffe, July 4th, 2018

This is not a textbook year! The weather situation for this Vic-Maui is developing into a true ocean racer’s challenge, where seemingly small decisions and a few miles one way or the other early in the race could make for big gains and losses. Featured sponsor: ProTech Yacht Services. Read

Day 3 - Who Stole the Wind

by Race Committee, July 3rd, 2018

After a day and half of blast reaching in conditions best described as “not martini weather”, the fleet has hit the wall. A low pressure zone (described in today’s The Weather Eye) has moved over the fleet substantially altering the weather and putting the brakes on the wind and boat speed. Read

The Weather Eye, July 3 – High, Low, Which Way to Go?

by David Sutcliffe, July 3rd, 2018

Ocean weather, never a dry topic, is getting more interesting - we have a High, we have a Low, which way to go, don’t you know? Featured sponsor: Eggbeater Creative. Read

The Weather Eye, July 2 - An Ocean Weather Primer for Vic-Maui Fans

by David Sutcliffe, July 2nd, 2018

A quick primer on weather systems in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, between Cape Flattery and Hawaii. Featured sponsor: Pioneer Inn. Read

Day 2 - Past Cape Flattery and Onto the Rhumb Line

by Race Committee, July 2nd, 2018

After rounding Cape Flattery, the fleet has starting the sailing down the rhumb line That means sailing the direct course to Hawaii for all those thinking of Mt. Gay mai-tais. Roll Call happens at 1200 Hawaiian Time or 3:00 pm Pacific Daylight and today the fleet is relatively close together about 160 miles offshore of Ocean Park, Washington on Willapa Bay. Read

Day 1 - Canada Day - Vic-Maui Starts from Victoria

by Vic-Maui, July 1st, 2018

And they’re off! At 10:00 am Pacific Time, the 2018 Vic-Maui fleet sailed through the start line outside Victoria Harbour, tacking into a stiff, building Westerly breeze. Read