Information from the Kaneohe Yacht Club Escort to All Racers

You all know that the finish line for the West-Marine Pacific Cup Yacht Race is outside of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, at a spot on the ocean described to you in your race instructions. You should have, and should review, a Kaneohe Bay Chart No. 19359, 11th Ed. 10/03. This current chart reflects all daymark and buoy number changes made in Kaneohe Bay during 2003.

If you have done this race before, you know that an escort boat will be on scene as you finish (IF your check-in data with KYC Base is accurate as you approach; otherwise, they’re on their way!). The KYC Escort Committee is ready, willing, and able to assist you with getting through the channel of your choice (either Sampan or Main Ship) and the surrounding reefs and turning you over to the Mooring Committee at Kaneohe Yacht Club. It is important to note that you are not required to accept the assistance of an escort vessel; it is your choice to follow them into Kaneohe Bay or not. The Escort Committee will be aware of the tides when you finish the race and will also know the most shallow depth of the Sampan Channel at mean low tide, so will be able to discuss your choice of channel, if you are in doubt. Keep in mind that, at mean low tide, the Sampan Channel has a depth of 7’ and is a sandy bottom. It would be helpful to let the KYC Pacific Cup Base know whether or not you want an escort boat and your preferred channel for entering the Bay when you make your 25-mile check-in.

Should you request an escort, the escort vessel will stand by after you finish the race until you are ready to proceed. Please remember that all escort committee members are trained volunteers who take their duty seriously, but that you have the ultimate responsibility for your vessel and crew. You’ve come a long way, but your job isn’t over until you are safely moored and we want to help you do just that!

The escort vessel will have some very specific instructions for you to follow, such as:

1) After crossing the finish line, you may wish to continue sailing until entering the calmer waters inside Kaneohe Bay. During the daylight hours, sailing in is preferred. However, arriving at night and never having made the trip before, it might be better to turn into the wind before entering the channel, drop sails, start your engine and follow the escort boat under power.

2) Have someone on your vessel maintain radio contact with the escort vessel at all times. The escort vessel and committee will keep a constant watch on your yacht as you follow them, but they must be able to communicate with you at all times to adjust speeds, make turns, hand off to Mooring, etc. We need cooperation from you to get you and your yacht safely into Kaneohe Bay and to the ice-cold Mai Tai’s, beer, and Hawaiian hospitality.

If your yacht draws 7’ or less, you will come into the bay via the Sampan Channel. The range marks coming down the channel are very easy to see at night…not so easy to see during the daylight hours. After passing R “2”, you will come down the channel on a magnetic heading of 208º M to the junction of Sampan and Main Ship Channels (just past GR C “S”, then bear left to 132º M until reaching R N “26” (just left of Coconut Island). You will then take a heading of 138º M and will have about 15 minutes in calm, open water to make your final preparations for mooring.

Drawing more than 7’ (and depending on the tide), you will probably come into Kaneohe Bay via the Main Ship Channel and it will take you approximately one to two additional hours to get to the Club. After crossing the Finish Line you will turn right and continue to sail on a magnetic heading of approximately 320º to get to RW “K-Buoy” off the entrance to the channel. Using the Main Ship Channel, your escort vessel will probably meet you at “K-Buoy”, rather than at the Finish Line off the Sampan Channel. The escort vessel will, however, be in radio contact with you immediately after you finish the race. You will proceed down the range marks at 218º M, then turn left at the lower range mark (sitting on a piling in the middle of the channel) and proceed to R “14” at 160º M. As you pass G “15”, veer slowly left and pass between R “18” and G “17”. Bear left again and head 110º M to the junction of Main Ship and Sampan Channels at R “22” and G “23”. Continue as described above for Sampan Channel entry to the Bay.

From past experience, we have found it critical to know how much water your yacht draws, in order to plan the channel you’ll transit and the place you will moor. Confirming that information at your 25-mile check is extremely helpful to both you and everyone involved in receiving you at Kaneohe Yacht Club. Be prepared to have a safe and fun trip across the Pacific…we look forward to assisting and greeting you!

Aloha,

Iwalani C. Stone