 | Sailing for Marine Mammals! Follow skipper Michael Reppy as he sails to raise awareness of the plight of whales in captivity and dolphins under siege. [Click here for mission report.] |
| Summer 2000 Transpacific Voyage History: | |
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Day 1: Tuesday, May 9, 2000 Set to sail! Thursday's Child will definitely depart on Tuesday, May 9th under San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge between 4 and 6 p.m. There will be a press conference on the boat at 2 p.m. Anyone who wishes to come may call me on my cell phone for specifics at (415) 378-4869. - Michael Reppy
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Day 2: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 5/10, 1800 hrs. — Pos.: 34-53N, 124-39W; Day run: 210 miles. Speed: 7-12 knots, Course: 200. Seas confused. Last night 4 am rudder started jumping around. I thought it was ripping off and the sail was all over!! It lifted up and down for 20 secs. As I watched in horror, then I heard 2 whales blow by the rudder and all was OK. Very lucky. Don't those whales know we're sailing for them and to cool it? Concerns are 1 autopilot not working, a sore right elbow reinjure -- felt it when had to crawl out to end of boom to free a reefline as boom jerked around. Got 3rd reef in main and staysail. Sailing conservative. Also a little seasick and fatigued -- trying to rest. - Michael Reppy
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Day 3: Thursday, May 11, 2000 5/11, 0600 hrs. — Pos.: 33-28N, 125-56W. Speed: 10 knots. Course: 200 mag. Wind: NW 20-25 k. Cont. choppy, 3rd.reef/staysail. Resting and eating better, but weary. Heading more South to avoid light airs per weather router. - Michael Reppy 5/11, 1800 hrs. — Speed: 7 knots. Course: 185mag, winds light NNW 11-13 knots, sailing wing/wing with main/genoa poled out. Sorting out after 2 rough nights, 2 buckets of diesel and water cleaned out of engine compart -- smell didn't help the seasickness! High pressure moving in -- will be slow go for awhile. 2nd day = 200 miles. Now for some serious eating! - Michael Reppy
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Day 4: Friday, May 12, 2000 5/12, 1800 hrs. — Pos: 30-46N, 128-23W. Speed: 4 knots. Course: 200. Baro.: 1 034. Sailing with full main and gennaker -- lots of sail area -- occ breeze and she takes off at 7-9 knots for a few min. Mostly poking along at 3-4 knots. That's life in the High -- my present for birthday tomorrow. Time to sort and fix -- got 2nd autopilot working -- calibrated all wrong. Last night was running wing and wing to try get south away from H. Bur A/pilot not keeping a tight course = JIBED main-tried to ease it over with vang, but rope ripped through my hands getting nasty burns. Lesson = more wraps on winch and just let her go and release lines. No ships seen yet, 2 birds: a pretty white tern circled, and shearwater did its dipping and soaring over the waves. Warming up and beautiful clear skies. Day's run: 115 miles. - Michael Reppy
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Day 5: Saturday, May 13, 2000 5/13, 1225 hrs. — Pos: 30-54N, 129-58W. Speed: 6-7 knots, beating into 25-30 knots SWesterly. Course: 260 mag. Trough of L will pass over and winds to clock. Have 3rf reef main and staysail up-pounding hard, but all OK -- not what I had in mind for my B-day. - Michael Reppy
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Day 6: Sunday, May 14, 2000 5/14, 0800 hrs. — Pos: 29-38N, 131-35W. Speed 8-10 knots. Course: 195 mag. Wind slow to clock-from W @20k. Still choppy and pounding -- I call it "slam sailing" as I come off the wave and the flat forward section of boat slams down with an incredible smack -- have to hold on tight! Have kept 2nd reef in main to min pounding. But getting South where things should get better. May 13 run: 120 miles. Birthday dinner kept simple: Dinty moore stew with fresh onions & cabbage & wine -- very good after day of "slam sailing". - Michael Reppy
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Day 7: Monday, May 15, 2000 5/15, 2030 hrs. — Pos: 26-53N, 135-31W. Speed: 9-10 knots. Course: 245 mag. Smooth sailing -- but was wild out here today. Conditions were right to pick it up -- very slow so far, so was putting up the gennaker and top came unrolled and filled and started wrapping around genoa and Iforestay. I pulled down. Won't try until get wrapped back very tight. So went with full main & genoa & working on autopilot to hold better course, but she rounded down & jibed -- boom came flying accross as preventer let go as should & TC spun around a 360 & got back on course in much meyhem -- but all OK -- I put in a reef & was on my way. Other than a wrenched right shoulder/elbow-again! I'm OK. Trying to go faster, but not working. Days run: 5/14 = 165 miles and 5/15 = 180 miles. Warming up and squid washing on deck -- but not in tradewinds yet! - Michael Reppy
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Day 8: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 5/16, 1800 hrs. — Pos: 26-14N, 137-21W. Speed: 8-10 knots. Course: 280 mag. Wind: NE 15 knots. NE trades arrived last night with sudden shift to NE & built to steady 15 knots today -- great for spinnaker run. Had it halfway up in its sock, but pulling too hard on my sore shoulder so lowered & went back to genoa with the mainsail -- slower but prudent -- but found nice groove that autopilot can handle at 8-10 knots. Plan to reroll top of gennaker & try it again -- it goes on end of bowsprit and rolls in & out -- easier to handle. Day's run only 120 miles due to several jibes and light air. - Michael Reppy
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Day 10: Thursday, May 18, 2000 5/18, 0020 hrs. — Pos: 26-04N, 140-34W. Speed: 7-8 knots. Course: 290 mag. Full moon night -- beautiful, but more mayhem on TC. Yet another accidental jibe -- this time after going south & found good 18k winds & set up wing/wing with main & genoa getting 12k+ on course -- a taste of TC speed potential, but swerving off course too much. Went back to put down trim board & found a loose steering cable & was starting to tighten -- looked up & saw the boom flying accross again in a jibe -- as boat swerves too much & wind comes behind the mainsail & blows it accross. So cleaned up the mess & went back to the cable -- tightened all the way & still sl loose, but better -- maybe this is the problem, not autopilot or is both. Anyway, haven't been able to sail right & going slow & frustrating me. All this after had easy day to rest my sore shoulder & even took first bath -- after a week I needed it! Buckets of seawater over the head. Only 160 miles for 5/17 -- should be much more now that in 15+ knot tradewinds. I'll see what I can do about that. - Michael Reppy 5/18, 1600 hrs. — Pos: 26-03N, 142-20W. Speed: 6-7 knots. Course: 235 mag. I have discovered that the bottom of the rudder is gone or is delaminating. I can see yellow color streaming behind the rudder -- yellow is color of kevlar -- glass used in rudder I believe. I feel stupid for taking so long to find-which is obviously the cause of the steering problems I have been having -- and obviously happened the first night out hitting the whales. I handsteered the boat & felt a lack of bite & control & the light went on -- finally! And I went back 7 saw it! I have slowed the boat down & she is fine -- I have an emergency back-up rudder, but am sure the main rudder will be ok at lower speeds. I am heading for Honolulu -- about 900 miles away & will continue to make updates here. As you have read here, I've been struggling with poor weather patterns & lack of steering control thinking it was with the autopilots or loose steering cables etc with many accidental gybes with boom flying accross the boat, & frustrated by going so slow in the tradewinds. At least I know what it was, but that is outweighed by the feeling of being knocked out of the Transpacific sail again. And as I said the blindspot I had for not checking out the rudder carefully -- assuming it was OK after hitting the whales. And of course there is the irony of sailing to save whales and running into them -- which I had said in interview at dock before I sailed might happen! Please continue your support to stop the killing of whales & dolphins & for Corky -- the orca whale at SeaWorld San Diego. I was sailing for her freedom too!!! - Michael Reppy
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Day 11: Friday, May 19, 2000 5/19, 2115 hrs. — Approx. 700 miles to Honolulu. All's well. I'm in "cruising mode" @ 6-8 knots using only genoa. I roll in & out as needed -- mainsail is tied down. Able to run a boat hook down rudder & measure to broken end -- I guess about 2' knocked off. The yellow trailing behind is piece of foam still attached by glass. Should be in Honolulu in 4-5 days. - Michael Reppy
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Day 13: Sunday, May 21, 2000 5/21, 1937 hrs. — All's well -- easy sailing @ 6-7 knots, 423 miles from Honolulu (ETA: 3 days). Arrangements made to be at Yacht Club at Alai Wai Harbor & for rudder repair. Resting, eating, sleeping, tidying-up boat, reading & music, solitude. - Michael Reppy
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Day 14: Monday, May 22, 2000 5/22, 2100 hrs. — Pos: 22-32N, 152-52W. Speed: 5-6 knots. Course: 245 mag. Winds light E @ 10-12 knots. I'm running wing/wing straight for Oahu. Been talking to guy at Alai Wai Harbor by SSB radio who is helping with berth & rudder repair. ETA 5/24 in afternoon or next AM -- will not try to go in at night. 290 miles to go. I can be reached on my cell phone at (415) 378-4869. - Michael Reppy
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Day 16: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 5/24, 1615 pdt — Pos: 21-33N, 156W. Have just sighted island of Molokai. ETA Honolulu: tomorrow AM -- 70 miles to go. - Michael Reppy
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Day 17: Thursday, May 25, 2000 5/25, 1100 hrs. (pdt) — Pos: 21-17N, 157-50W. Arrived Alai Wai Harbor, Honolulu -- just deep enough water to get into slip. Met by Ron & Janice, who will try arrange rudder repair. Now for a cold beer & shower etc. I can be reached on my cell phone at (415) 378-4869. - Michael Reppy
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Post-Script 1: Sunday, May 28, 2000 5/29, 1300 hrs. (pdt) — Pos: 21-17N, 157-50W. Enjoying some rest & relaxation in Honolulu as my rudder gets repaired. Looks like 10 days or so before Thursday's Child will be ready to go. Plan to head to Kauai's Hanalei Bay where I'll stay with a friend for a bit before setting sail again for a return trip to San Franscisco. Expect return trip to last approx. two weeks. Will send additional communication updates from on board on the way back. - Michael Reppy
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Post-Script 2: Saturday, June 10, 2000 6/10, 1200 hrs. (pdt) — Pos: 21-17N, 157-50W. Still in Honolulu. The repaired rudder is back on the boat -- will do a test sail soon. Love it down here -- I've been boogie-boarding every day! Also, I've been getting good publicity on the campaign for the whales. Spoke to a fifth grade class here on Oahu. They've been studying whales. We talked about Keiko, Corky, and my sail to Japan -- they were great. I also just conducted a live interview by phone with an Internet talk/comedy show in L.A. hosted by Allan Havey and Susan Olsen (a.k.a., Cindy Brady). The show will be archived soon on www.comedyworld.com. They really enjoyed the irony of me hitting some whales while sailing to help save them. Got to make some good points and crack a few jokes. Gonna hang out in Hawaii for a week or two before heading back to San Francisco. Life is good here! - Michael Reppy
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Return Sail, Day 1: Tuesday, September 5, 2000 9/5/00, 1430 hrs. — Pos. 23-45 N., 157-15 W. (165 miles N. of Oahu.) Course: 355m. Speed: 8-9 knots. Departed Honolulu on 9/4 for San Francisco. Sailing solo. Conditions good 12-16k ENE wind. All's well on Thursday's Child. Getting the rhythm of sailing back. - Michael Reppy
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Return Sail, Day 6: Monday, September 11, 2000 9/11/00, 0800 hrs. — Pos: 39-11 N, 151-41 W. Speed: 9 knots. Course: 76 deg. mag. Wind: N. 9-10 knots. Beautiful sailing with main & genoa. Motor/sailed through light air. High pressure & rain squalls past day & tacked to port & course for SF. 1400 miles to go. - Michael Reppy
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Return Sail, Day 8: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 9/13/2000, 2100 hrs. — Pos: 40-01 N, 142-48 W. Speed: 6. Course: 76 m. Light S. wind. Expect slow go. Highlights past 3 days: Spectacular green flash sunset! Rendezvous with another boat PATRIOT-tossed me a just baked apple crisp! Visit by 2 dolphins. Full moon tonight in clouds-hope it clears. 957 miles to go. - Michael Reppy
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Arrival in San Francisco, Day 14: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 9/19/2000, 1830 hrs. — Sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and tied up at KKMI boatyard, Richmond CA. Earlier @ 0800 hrs, 40 miles from the gate 2 humpback whales put on an incredible welcome display of breaching near the boat-such power and beauty! It was the climax to the sail back and confirmation that whales should be free and protected in their waterworld. FREE CORKY & ALL HER COUSINS!!! - Michael Reppy
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E-mail: mreppy@tchild.org
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