everydaysailor
07-19-2023, 06:30 PM
SHTP
Welp, the wife and I delivered our Express 27 to Honolulu Sunday and Monday put it on the trailer bringing a close to a pretty amazing and challenging sailing chapter. I couldn’t be happier the way it all unfolded; a fast passage (7 knot ave for actual miles sailed) for The Pork Chop Express, zero breakage or drama and an incredible experience in Hanalei. After 8 races to Hawaii double handed and crewed this solo effort was the best. Much of it for me was there was only one soul to worry about- previous passages were with my spouse, friends or clients. Lots of freedom to do what you want, when you want and a chill, no frill regular gathering of like minded folks and some incredible sailors.
I gybed once - 750 miles out? just after falling into a very deep sleep while the AP steered 290m for 4 hours- not fast! Set for a true wind angle I slept through its alarm(s). I let the EV 100 paired with a Pelagic ram drive the whole damn course. I figured if it ain’t broke… No round ups or accidental gybes—Ok one on night one, believe it or not, but the EV AI was just getting acclimated. Left some hours on the course with no hand steering but there were really no epic surfing days.
I carried a poled out Quantum A5 in a sock for quite awhile then shifted to bigger symmetrics during the day and twin headsails at night. The last 48 hrs was all twins with one pole to weather. Top speed 17.5 knots.
Norton Smith on Solitaire, McDonald’s Nina and the J88 Ventus are the only under 30’s I could find that broke the 14 day barrier. Forgot about Jerome on the mini!
PCX came at 13:08 so I’m happy with the time. Not super breezy - pretty consistent with no real dead zones but I did have a couple 7-12 knot days.
The prep and logistics were hard on my amazing wife and myself and the money flies out the door but it is done and damn well worth it. Thank you SSS for making it all come true. Also thanks to my friends, family and fellow sailors (shout out to Solo!) who encouraged and helped along the way.
And of course to DH and his amazing volunteers- thank you again.
Delivering Tortuga back beginning Friday so will have plenty more time to contemplate the journey (and edit a shit ton of video).
CJordan
PCXpress
Side note: We buddied up with Gwendolyn for the crossing to Hono following Skip’s amazing and detailed sailing directions. Synthia and Todd smoked away from us and handled it nicely. We were underpowered with the 4 until sunset then cranked along with 2 reefs til the lee of Oahu. I was thinking it would be dead in close to shore but should have stuck with Sleds instructions. We were 10 miles out at Barbers point and it took some work to claw back in. So it wasn’t terrible but I’d rather just get a bigger boat and sail back if I repeat the race. Not sure if I could ever beat 13:8 in the Express anyways!
Welp, the wife and I delivered our Express 27 to Honolulu Sunday and Monday put it on the trailer bringing a close to a pretty amazing and challenging sailing chapter. I couldn’t be happier the way it all unfolded; a fast passage (7 knot ave for actual miles sailed) for The Pork Chop Express, zero breakage or drama and an incredible experience in Hanalei. After 8 races to Hawaii double handed and crewed this solo effort was the best. Much of it for me was there was only one soul to worry about- previous passages were with my spouse, friends or clients. Lots of freedom to do what you want, when you want and a chill, no frill regular gathering of like minded folks and some incredible sailors.
I gybed once - 750 miles out? just after falling into a very deep sleep while the AP steered 290m for 4 hours- not fast! Set for a true wind angle I slept through its alarm(s). I let the EV 100 paired with a Pelagic ram drive the whole damn course. I figured if it ain’t broke… No round ups or accidental gybes—Ok one on night one, believe it or not, but the EV AI was just getting acclimated. Left some hours on the course with no hand steering but there were really no epic surfing days.
I carried a poled out Quantum A5 in a sock for quite awhile then shifted to bigger symmetrics during the day and twin headsails at night. The last 48 hrs was all twins with one pole to weather. Top speed 17.5 knots.
Norton Smith on Solitaire, McDonald’s Nina and the J88 Ventus are the only under 30’s I could find that broke the 14 day barrier. Forgot about Jerome on the mini!
PCX came at 13:08 so I’m happy with the time. Not super breezy - pretty consistent with no real dead zones but I did have a couple 7-12 knot days.
The prep and logistics were hard on my amazing wife and myself and the money flies out the door but it is done and damn well worth it. Thank you SSS for making it all come true. Also thanks to my friends, family and fellow sailors (shout out to Solo!) who encouraged and helped along the way.
And of course to DH and his amazing volunteers- thank you again.
Delivering Tortuga back beginning Friday so will have plenty more time to contemplate the journey (and edit a shit ton of video).
CJordan
PCXpress
Side note: We buddied up with Gwendolyn for the crossing to Hono following Skip’s amazing and detailed sailing directions. Synthia and Todd smoked away from us and handled it nicely. We were underpowered with the 4 until sunset then cranked along with 2 reefs til the lee of Oahu. I was thinking it would be dead in close to shore but should have stuck with Sleds instructions. We were 10 miles out at Barbers point and it took some work to claw back in. So it wasn’t terrible but I’d rather just get a bigger boat and sail back if I repeat the race. Not sure if I could ever beat 13:8 in the Express anyways!