General, and generally good, advice collections
Hard to organize, but good to read.
Outfitting Tips from Surprise
Steve and Sue Chamberlin were gracious enought to have their yacht Surprise available at the 2006 "Explore the Possibilities" Seminar held April 16, 2005 at the Strictly Sail Pacific Expo. Below is a collection of photos and tips provided by Steve and Sue on various aspects of outfitting your yacht for a long passage. Steve can be reached by email at Pacific Cup Inspections Chair. The images are larger than they are deing dislpayed. You can right click and save the image to your computer to view a bigger photo. |  |  |
Foul Weather Gear Storage:
A simple piece of wood temporarily installed at the forward end of the main salon provides a means of hanging gear which will otherwise be strewn about the boat. Hooks or eyes keep everything from sliding to the leeward side; wire ties are used to secure the rail to the overhead handrails. Use plastic hangers.
Spinnaker net:
How could something so hard to see be so important? Voted the best piece of gear on the boat in 2004; prevents spinnaker wraps and makes douses very simple. Used with the double-pole rig you can gybe without lowering the net.
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Jacklines and baboon butt:
In addition to the jacklines that run fore and aft it is nice to have one for the cockpit crew on the centerline from the companionway to the helm.
Cushions may seem like a luxury, but it is astounding how hard a fiberglass deck can become after 4-5 days. Inexpensive kneeling cushions from your local hardware store, or stadium cushions work well and can serve as markers to throw overboard in a crew overboard situation.
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Double Spinnaker Pole Rig:
Using separate poles for port/starboard is an old trick that makes gybing short-handed easy for boats with dip-pole systems. The new pole is hoisted into position with the topping lift and afterguy, the boat is gybed, and the old pole is lowered to the deck/bow with its topping lift and afterguy. Add a second pole car to the mast, separated by at least 12" to minimize interference when both poles are at the bow (check this!). Split foreguys port and starboard; use a spare halyard as the second topping lift. Weren't you going to take a spare pole anyway?
There are many stories of crew overboard when the life line gate opens. Tape, wire-tie or otherwise secure these so there is no chance of release. Plastic wire ties are also good for securing main halyard shackles and knots on sheets or throw ropes.
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Life raft Storage:
Finding a convenient place for the life raft is often a challenge. The photos above show a lazerette lazarette locker that has been adapted by installing a "hammock" for the life raft to permit its storage at the top of the locker as required by the regulations. Make sure the locker is watertight if using a valice-style life raft.
Flashlights:
When the call comes for "all hands on deck" in the middle of the night, you’ll want to be able to find a flashlight without a search. These are stored in pockets behind the companionway and easy to grab on the way out.
Galley Belt:
Not required, easy to overlook or forget, hard to live without. Want to eat when the going is rough? Make sure your chef is comfortable and safe. Should be positioned to permit reaching the entire galley, but not directly in front of the stove. Golf towel is a great way to keep this from getting lost.
Food and other storage:
These hardware store baskets slide in place in teak strips that have been routed out to accept the edge of the basket. They work well for keeping your stores from rotting or getting crushed. Fit easily into the overhead in a quarterberth.
Duffel bag storage/lee cloths/personal storage areas:
Lee cloths need to start at the far edge of the mattress so that they lift and incline the mattress, not just form a wall. Control lines need to be adjustable by crew in the berth; a small block, ¼" line, snap hook, and a "tent line" adjuster work well. Made these adjusters from ½" PVC pipe.
Everyone keeps their clothing in their duffel bag, but where do the duffel bags live? We store them on the leeward berth, held in place by the lee cloth.
Personal gear storage: The cubby-holes behind the berths are labeled with blue-tape with crew names to designate personal storage. Sea boots, hats, harnesses, tethers and the like live here. Anything left on the cabin sole is carefully inserted into the next spinnaker pack to be seen for the last time when the spinnaker is hoisted.
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Lists:
Make sure everyone in the crew is on the same page. Menu lists, daily check list, and food storage list is a great way to keep everyone focused and ???
This neat little piece lives where a seat-back cushion would normally be. Tape labels designate crew names for storage of sunglasses, sun-screen, water bottles, coffee cups, and the like.
Pipe berth:
Thoughtful Hints by Richard Leevey
At this point in your race planning you have studied all the technical aspects and requirements for sailing in the Pacific Cup Race. Here are a few things to consider that might help to make the trip more pleasurable for all, and might even make you faster in the long run.
For many, this is just another race to Hawaii, but for others it is the challenge of a lifetime. It does not take much energy on your part to contribute to a mood of caring, fun and respect for others. With a little advance thought and planning, you can help to make it the best time people have ever had. Challenge yourself to be there 100% for everyone’s benefit.
As you firm up your planning for the race, make sure to get input from the crew on any dietary restrictions or food allergies. Find out what treats they like to eat and get plenty of them. Things like fruit cups and pudding packs will be in big demand once everyone gets their sea legs. Avoid complex meals, your meals planned should be ones that everyone can easily cook and do not leave the galley a total mess.
As you create a plan for storing provisions, make a list of where everything is stored and post in it plain view. Attaching a 3x5 card on the outside of a storage area with the contents listed will save a lot of time digging for a specific item. Plan at least 4 or 5 back up meals, like heat-and-eat stew, in the event of extreme conditions when no one wants to be a galley slave.
Make sure everyone has a plan for how they will deal with seasickness. Even with the best medication, plan on half the crew being at only 50% for the first 3 days out. For the first 36 hours have plenty on pre-made sandwiches, saltines and cup of noodles type products to get them through it. Dehydration plays a big role at this point in the trip. I have found that Gator Aid or other balanced sports drinks really help to keep hydrated and keep strength up. Avoid anything with high acid content like citrus juices and coffee. If you are a coffee addict, break the habit well before you depart: you never know when you might get in time for a catnap and if you’re amped out on caffeine you won’t slip off to sleep easily.
If you have never slept with the aid of earplugs, go out and buy several types and test them out well in advance so you will have a good working pair for the trip. Believe me, you won’t find it easy to sleep without them. Make sure when purchasing personal items for the trip to avoid any heavily-scented products like baby wipes, deodorant and the like. The crew will thank you for this.
Some of the crew will take to sea life like a duck to water, while others will have a real struggle with it. If someone is having a tough time and starts to get run down with the routine, have flexibility with the watch system and let them skip a watch and get 8 to 10 hours straight sleep. This will make a new person out of them and you will all benefit.
When it comes to the chores no one really likes to do, like cooking or cleaning the head, don’t let the “nice person” always get stuck doing it. “You” be the person that that jumps in and gives them a break. When you’re going off watch in the middle of the night, go down 10 min before the change and heat some water for hot cider or tea for the new watch coming on. They will love the thought and it might happen for you too. Before it gets dark make sure to restock the galley with easy to grab and eat snacks.
When standing the night watches, try to keep the chatter on deck down, as the sounds carry below much louder at night. Try to be as tidy as possible with your personal gear and bunk area. Having to climb over mounds of boots and foulies to get to your bunk is no fun. Keep your personal hygiene up. The boat is too a small space to let odors go unchecked.
Bring along several disposable cameras and have them ready to grab for those Kodak moments, these pictures will help you to keep your memories alive for a lifetime. Every evening before it gets dark police the boat to make sure everything is in its proper safe place. Getting hit in the head by a flying ghetto blaster at 3 A.M. is no fun and very dangerous.
Consider a staggered watch system so that the new watch is not caught off guard by the current conditions (pattern of squalls and the like). This is also nice in that you get to share time with other crewmembers.
Plan for a grand half way party. This is where you pull out the stops with your meal plan. Bring on the big guns! Bring something special to share with everyone. You could have everyone bring a funny wrapped gift, and do a gift exchange after dinner. Onboard Ta Mana we even bring special party outfits like MardiGras, the more outlandish the better. This is truly the time to celebrate, for now you are further from any point of land then in any other ocean in the world, and half way to paradise!
If you like fresh fish and don’t have the proper gear for the trip, get it now. Find a real serious fishing outfitter and get a rig using a heavy handline attached to a snubber, which is attached directly to the rail. You will be trolling plugs, poppers and feathers from this line back about the second wave behind the boat (30 to 60 yards). Remember this line must be attended if you want to boat what you hook. You can start fishing about the time you are able to run with a spinnaker. If you are the first to catch a nice Mahi Mahi you will be a hero with the crew at that night’s dinner.
If you are better at something then someone else, like driving, surfing or trimming, now is your time to shine, take them under your wing and share your skill, the both of you will be better for it.
If at any point on the trip something comes up that bothers you, take the skipper aside and express your thoughts, or concerns before it becomes an issue. The two of you can come with a plan to deal with what ever. Sometimes it just helps to air out what you’re feeling. Just don’t bite your lip and keep it bottled up. It can make for a very long trip.
Above all else remember, this is “The Fun Race to Hawaii”. Be safe, have a blast and I will see you in Kaneohe.
Richard Leevey will be watch captain for this race onboard _Omega 1.