Independence Day Line Honors

by Greg Harms, July 4th, 2008

Today while the U.S. is celebrating July 4th, crews in the 2008 VicMaui are once again facing wind conditions that challenge both their patience and well of experience. This time, though, they are looking for any puff of wind that will get them moving down to Maui.

While Strum is currently bolting to the finish line at an average speed of 13 knots and hoping this wind holds, the rest of the fleet to the north and east have hit a big hole of no winds. Since evening July 2nd, both Zulu and Red Heather have been slowing down considerably and as of 0930 HST today, were scarcely moving at a frustratingly slow 1.6 knots and 1 knot respectively. The two parted company in their search for better winds with Zulu heading almost due south while Red Heather is attempting to make a B-line for Maui.

The group to the north aren't faring much better although these light winds are giving them time to recover from their battering during the Canada Day gale. Of the four boats, Turicum, at the westernmost edge of this giant lull, is posting the best speeds and is moving in on the chance of leading the pack into Lahaina.

By the time that happens, the crew of Strum will be chilling out on the Lahaina beach, sipping Mai Tais and cheering on their fellow racers as they come into view. For all the details on Strum's last hours of racing through Pailolo Channel and her finish off Kaanapali, return tomorrow to www.vicmaui.org

0800 HST: Strum flying to finish in good air

Strum has sailed through the night in excellent winds and is now projected to cross the finish line before 1600HST, July 4: an all Canadian on-board celebration of American Independence Day. Let's hope the winds hold up! We received the report below from Strum yesterday afternoon.

Strum: July 3, 2008 2:01:07 PM PDT (CA)
Strum had a great night last night, surfing along in a steady 12-14 knot boat speed, hitting a top speed of 16 knots, and a crazy lifting lull of 7 knots. It is always a little funny to be so focused for a 5 or 6 hour shift only to review the GPS track that sometimes looks like a lost duck. It is 10am as I type, 11 days into the race, with only @350 nm to the finish. It is sunny with a few surface clouds, a steady 15 knots of true wind speed with dad turning in very solid 12 knots of boat speed. The crew have been fantastic, and the mighty Strum has held up very well with only 2 gear failures on this race; a mast track section at the 1st reef point failed shortly after the start & Andrew McQuorkodale was able to remove the 5' section in the calm wind shadow of Neah Bay. We have been sailing with a full mainsail ever since, and this will be an easy fix at port. We also broke the base of our new sprit, but we suspect that this maybe more from production then sailing, and we are fortunate to have along the original white sprit from New Zealand as a spare. Other then that, the boat has held up very well!

We had a crazy down wind sleigh ride in the middle of the night off the northern California coast. This is where we hit our top speed of 23.5 knots under our biggest spinnaker (the North A4), spinnaker staysail & full main. We also had 2 days of beating into square waves that would test any boats structural integrity. We have to gybe now for Maui, so I will sign off for now. Looking forward to the Molikai Channel!

Randy Vogel
Strum CAN 54500

Black Watch: July 3
An uneventful night, light winds that finally died for about 45 minutes at 0400 hrs. Not a North Korean in sight, but don't count those conspiring thugs out. Perhaps the lull means they are seeking an alliance w/Iran. Nothing from the French Foreign Legion as their representative, Salty Dog Jerry is presently asleep in the port quarter berth sawing down an entire stand of old growth timber, spotted owls be damned.

Coming below last night it appeared that Salty Dog and Pyrot Jim were in concert, their snores resonating above the engine as we charged batteries and made water. However, listening more attentively one could discern that what at first sounded like two part harmony was actually dissonance that would have made Strindberg proud. What they need is some sheet music in the proper key.

Having helmed 6 hrs in the last 9, Shakespeare Stuart was allowed to sleep in this morning, but alas, he awoke hungry as a bear and breakfast had long since been served, the galley spic and span. His hunger, however, was not going to be appeased by a hand full of dry cherrios, the last of the fresh milk having been consumed several days past, and so the most dangerous aspect of this adventure in progress commenced – Shakespeare in the galley!! Aided by the brand new stove (I think Capt Dan gave it to his 1st Mate Shawn for a birthday or anniversary or maybe a Christmas present), the light winds and relatively flat seas, he proceeded to make some humongous pancakes and Canadian bacon without scalding himself w/hot oil or catching the boat on fire. As he emerged on deck w/his culinary accomplishment in hand there was a rousing cheer from the crew who had viewed this undertaking with some trepidation.

Hey, you try and come up with something interesting to write about when the wind is light, the seas flat, the laundry is drying on the baby forestay, the boat is relatively flat and everyone else is on the foredeck sunbathing and sipping mai tais. I don't get no respect. This evening's dinner fare is ham and potatoes w/cabbage and bacon -- not sure where the bacon fits in, it may need to be consumed post haste due to the green mold growing around the edges.

The ship's stores are rapidly diminishing, the chocolate supply exhausted thanks mostly to Shakespeare's voracious late night helming needs -- he insists chocolate improves his night vision. The rum supply is also low, rationing having been implemented after the 'end of the storm' celebration.

Those spending the most time at the helm, namely Capt Dan, Shakespeare and Pyrot Jim, are experiencing extreme left hip pain due to the constant heel of this never ending starboard tack. Some of the crew are wondering what ever happened to that beautiful downwind spinnaker run so colorfully described in Capt Dan's enticing brochure about a tropical sailing experience to paradise -- sailing to weather was never mentioned nor was sailing through the heart of a low, but at least the latter was exciting.

As I can't seem to come up w/any more trivial clap trap to include in this missive, I shall sign off and hope something more exciting appears on the horizon prior to press time manana (that means 'tomorrow' to those of you unfamiliar w/espanol).

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