2008 West Coast Offshore Mini Race

[Adrian]

Hi Guy,

To build the consensus can we first post the list of all those who have been contacted - just the name & not their preference for the race route - when the list is posted some may wish to opt out and we may have missed one or two persons (we can first make the list off-line if you wish).  We can then offer the options for all to see & respond to with their preferences and any caveats they may have.  This looks like a good time to do it - I think people are now ready to make the decision & commitment.

Adrian

[Alan H]

Just a heads-up.  IF...and this is a big if, now that I've seen the Proto here in Alameda, but IF you can ramp-launch your mini, or if the keel lifts inside the boat, you CAN launch and retrieve a boat in Kauai.  I personally know a Moore 24 sailor who did it, in fact I showed up just as he was dropping his mast.

The SHTP finish is  at Hanalei bay. There is a dock/pier in Hanalei, but its useless for any purposes  regarding boat handling. So after the race is over...several days later, you'd have to sail around the island to Nawiliwili. A significant part of that course is to windward.

In Nawiliwili harbor there is a launch ramp and a small hoist. The hoist is very old and in rotten shape, you won't...NO WAY....be able to use it to haul the boat. But you can likely use it to make dropping the mast easier. You'll then have to reduce the draft of the boat somehow to Moore 24 levels if you can.  There are then several large trucks that work the harbor that can haul the boat/trailer up the ramp.

There's barge service from Kauai back to Honolulu, but perhaps even more convenient is that now there's a *big*..seriously big interisland ferry.

http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/

So getting the boat back to Honolulu is very do-able if you truly do not want to sail, and you have a way to reduce the draft of your mini.  I don't think you'll be able to haul out a mini with the kind of draft I'm seeing here in Alameda, at the ramp in Nawiliwili.

Note that the rule changes to the 2008 SHTP NOR now mean you can do this race without a single sideband radio.  You'll have to have a way to check in, however, which will certainly mean satellite phone.  I don't want to come off as the expert on the NOR, I actually haven't seen it yet.

You'll need an anchor in Hanalei, and it will have to be on the boat when you get there....the bottom is sand, and the squalls can blow pretty hard, though there's little fetch.  Three boats and you've got a one-design start,  but then you have to play by the SSS's rules, eh?  That's the deal, you do the SSS's race, you gotta play by the home teams rules.

SHTP starts on July 6th or something, I forget exactly what day it is, but that's close. I don't think it'd be possible to do both your Coastal Race and the SHTP.

Ryan, it'd be great to see you again, I enjoyed the pic in Sailing World!

BTW, we're getting close to having an SSS forum again. The last one went belly-up at the server end about 2 months ago.

[Adrian]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the info but the Zero, which has a retractable keel, is not designed to raise the keel in the water & I doubt any of the boats can be launched from a ramp.

If the Hanalei pier is accessible by a modest size construction crane truck, and if we can rent a crane for the day we might be able to lift the boats, keel down, using a single point hoist harness & load them directly onto a trailer or cradle.

Do you have any pics of the pier?  Who owns/manages the pier?

Adrian

[BobJ]

Adrian, the pier in Hanalei Bay was built as a movie prop - people fish off of it but that's it.  You can't do anything with the boats in Hanalei - you must get them at least to Nawiiwili.

But once you beat up around the NE corner of Kauai you might as well run on down to Honolulu.  Not that bad really.  Somebody in SSS has a brief how-to on the sail from Hanalei to Honolulu - maybe we can dredge that up.  For that matter, Ryan has done it and could describe it.

Hanalei Bay is unbelieveably spectacular - absolutely beautiful.  I know you guys are all focused on qualifying for miles, etc. in your class, but the race and destination are WELL WORTH IT.

Bob J.
'06 Vet (J/92)

[Mr Hollywood]

Alan H. and several other SSS members were the source of the data I originally sent out to Mini owners interested in the SHTP option, but many thanks for re-iterating them and more, Alan and Bob.

When all is said and done, there are only two obstacles standing in the way of Mini owners committing to the SHTP in 2008.  The very good news is that the SSS and SSB aren't those obstacles.  Indeed, my recent conversations with the SSS have been excellent and the RC has been totally supportive.

The two obstacles are:

1.  The cost of shipping the boats back to the West Coast.
2.  The logistics of getting the boats from Hanalei Bay to Honolulu for shipment.

There is a third consideration that several people have voiced:  the cost and logistics of friends, loved ones, etc. getting to/from and staying in Kauai.

So, ultimately, as in so many things in life, it's about money and time.  While we will be looking into trying to help solve the money issue with respect to shipping boats, Mini owners need to decide if they have the time to do the race and to subsequently deliver their boats to Honolulu and to subsequently pick up their boats on the West Coast when they arrive back.  This is not a trivial commitment, though, again, those of us based on the West Coast can certainly try to mitigate the process to some extent.

More conversations are taking place outside this forum but I really appreciate the input from everyone, inside the Mini world and out. 

[FredB]

Hi all,

I have posted my comments on that thread on the Mini Class US Website where it belongs (no offence Leo).

Cheers
Fred

[Alan H]

Figure that the cost of shipping a mini back to Long Beach or San Francisco Bay (actually Oakland) is going to be something around $5,000. It could be +/- 15% of that figure, easily.  There's no way around that, and much depends on the mood of the guy at the Matson terminal on the day you get there, I understand.

Many Moore 24's and other ultralights have done the bash to Honolulu, including Ryan.  It's only a 24-hour go, and the last 15 miles is in the lee of Oahu, so in fact I understand that many people have to motor the last few miles. At least, that's what I've heard.

Te pier in Hanalei is roofed over at the end, though it's quite substantial. That would prevent a crane from hauling you out there.

If you want to see Hanalei Bay, go rent the old movie "South Pacific". It was filmed in Hanalei.

some other picss...

aerial picture from WAY up...

http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/research/hanalei/hanalei_aerial2.gif


and another

http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/research/hanalei/hanalei_aerial2.gif


Bay, PIer, Mountains and where you anchor...

http://www.world-tour-orion7.com/images/HanaleiBay.jpg

shot of the bay taken from the pier (I think)..

http://mykauaiparadise.com/images/Hanalei-Bay.jpg

Hanalei sunset...

http://www.gokauairealestate.com/images/HanaleiSunsetLg.jpg

Local map...you will anchor right about where the word "beach" is in the location on the map labelled "Hanalei Beach".  Hanalei Town commercial area is about 6 blocks long by two blocks wide.  The place is packed with vacation rentals.

http://www.djhome.net/kauai/beaches/maps/HanaleiBeaches.gif

I cannot over-emphasize what a magical place this is...

[Adrian]

Hi All,

The Notice of Race for the first West Coast Mini Race has been posted on the US Mini Association web site forum:  Victoria, BC to San Francisco leg 1 & San Francisco to San Diego leg 2.  Start date July 5, 2008.

Adrian

[Mr Hollywood]

Time to bump this back up to the top again.  The 2008 West Coast Mini Race start date is just around the corner and the competitors are preparing themselves.  D & A have been wet-sanding the hell out of the new paint job on A's boat, giving it that go-fast, mirror finish.  I've been busy helping out with San Francisco and San Diego logistics and will be handling daily web updates during the race.

Latitude 38 has shown interest and as the date grows closer we'll start stirring up the punters on Sailing Anarchy.  Hopefully this will continue to fuel interest in the Mini on the West Coast and we'll be able to organize more races of shorter distances and participate in some of the more popular existing ones.

In fact, I saw Sean's new Mini heading out under the Golden Gate Bridge a couple weeks ago, at the start of the Spinnaker Cup Race down to Monterey.  Unfortunately for everyone involved, that race was an upwind slog until well into the night, at which point the wind shut down and some (like us) decided to call it a day and motor back home.  I think Peter Lyons Photoimaging got some shots of Sean at the start.

[Leov]

Linky to website with info ?

[CAN415]

Time to bump this back up to the top again.  The 2008 West Coast Mini Race start date is just around the corner and the competitors are preparing themselves.  D & A have been wet-sanding the hell out of the new paint job on A's boat, giving it that go-fast, mirror finish.  I've been busy helping out with San Francisco and San Diego logistics and will be handling daily web updates during the race.

Latitude 38 has shown interest and as the date grows closer we'll start stirring up the punters on Sailing Anarchy.  Hopefully this will continue to fuel interest in the Mini on the West Coast and we'll be able to organize more races of shorter distances and participate in some of the more popular existing ones.

In fact, I saw Sean's new Mini heading out under the Golden Gate Bridge a couple weeks ago, at the start of the Spinnaker Cup Race down to Monterey.  Unfortunately for everyone involved, that race was an upwind slog until well into the night, at which point the wind shut down and some (like us) decided to call it a day and motor back home.  I think Peter Lyons Photoimaging got some shots of Sean at the start.

Hollywood,

No pictures of you? Unbelievable! What is really ubelievable is the way everyone has pulled together to make this race happen, both competitors and sponsors alike, truly in the Mini Spirit. 

The website is up and running and it will have a Race tracker link, nothing too fancy this the first year but we certainly will add as many updates as possible during the race. https://usa.regatta-manager.com/miniclass/WCR08

DJG

[Mr Hollywood]

Leo -

Here's the NOR: 

http://www.miniclassus.org/download/WESTCOASTMINI-NOR.pdf

And here's the Registration site:

https://usa.regatta-manager.com/miniclass/WCR08

As for pictures of Mr. Hollywood at Spin Cup, I've got a bunch on my blog:  http://www.sfbowman.blogspot.com.  I'll see if I can dig up some shots of the Mini as well and post the links.  Turns out it wasn't Sean's boat but Bryan's.

Here are some shots of Bryan's boat:

http://picasaweb.google.com/clarejory/SpinnakerCup/photo?authkey=SKeeFYqDLsc#5204752323527443346
http://bp3.blogger.com/_K-WtLHPc33M/SDrhkTRaOEI/AAAAAAAAAJE/oVebg5GBwdg/s1600-h/P1070228.jpg
http://bp1.blogger.com/_K-WtLHPc33M/SDrhszRaOFI/AAAAAAAAAJM/2ddwuFHyhJs/s1600-h/P1070229.jpg
http://bp3.blogger.com/_K-WtLHPc33M/SDrh2TRaOGI/AAAAAAAAAJU/UCqpMnN0eyk/s1600-h/P1070231.jpg
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&shopperid=8ESTA60FNP1N9H9EMS2CUD2EAV177G76&userid=the%5FREAL%5Fphotoboy&gallery_id=1094783&image_id=197
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&shopperid=8ESTA60FNP1N9H9EMS2CUD2EAV177G76&userid=the%5FREAL%5Fphotoboy&gallery_id=1094783&tcount=220&scount=202
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&shopperid=8ESTA60FNP1N9H9EMS2CUD2EAV177G76&userid=the%5FREAL%5Fphotoboy&gallery_id=1094783&tcount=220&scount=204

Enjoy.

Mr. H'wood.

[kokopelli]

530 is not Bryan's boat but Sean's.  At least Sean is the one who I sold it to...

Nice to see it out sailing.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the start in Victoria.

Jan

[Mr Hollywood]

Jan -

Thanks for correcting me on that.  I now seem to recall that Bryan's boat is purple with yellow numbers.  My entire world seems to be inverted for some reason.  Regardless, good looking boat and some great photos.  We just need to get everyone out on the water.

BTW - How are you enjoying the PNW?  I couldn't get out of there fast enough, but then, I'm from SoCal originally.

[kokopelli]

We love it here and don't miss the Florida heat at all.  The winter has great skiing, springtime decent wind so that you can sail on Saturday, ski on sunday, summers when it is light wind are awesome for climbing and hiking. Come to think of it, end of fall early winter was kind of dreary when it is miserable out but not yet enough snow to ski.  And Seattle is pretty cool if a city can be cool...

Na, we love it here.  Plan is now to have another boat by next summer (begin build in October).