The night before...

Today started at 5:30a.m. Yes, a.m. My eyes opened right away. Was it KCRW starting their newest pledge drive or was my mind racing with so much to get done? After a quick shower, I had enough time to turn on the computer and scan a few documents before Kerry arrived. Off to farmer's market for fresh vegies and a cup of java, then to the airport to pick up Jeff, and to more marketing until all the items on the list were found! Then, it's back to the boat for stowage.

Back on the boat, Aldo was finishing the new mainsail cover, Joe was finishing repairs to the anchor windless and bow roller, the bottom was cleaned and Bill and Jack worked on our water leak (left over from the installation of our water maker) and a final check of the sail to see what it looks like (yes, it was finally delivered and hoisted yesterday).

I sneaked to the back of the boat to finish cleaning the aft cabin (hate to leave port with a dirty bedroom) and filed most of our papers away for safe keeping. Jack took charge of refueling while Bill and Jeff stowed extra anchors, rode and chain. Kerry kept stowing food. We certainly won't starve! Thanks to Kerry and mom for all the hours of cooking and preparations!

Jeff and I headed out for an afternoon run to drop stuff off at storage and to check out some fishing gear at a neighborhood haunt. We got back in time to change into our team shirts and join the rest of the crew at the skipper's meeting and send-off party hosted by DRYC.

Winding down the day, there's still some stuff to stow in the main salon and I'd love to wash down the decks. Bill is working on the computer and Jeff is hanging the fishing rods. One last look around the boat and it's off to bed!

Follow Our Adventure Online!

We're down to just a few days before we throw off the lines and head south on our adventure, and today we found out that you can follow our adventure in real-time, courtesy of the position transponder on the boat!

Check out: http://trackinfo.fistracking.com/PV2009/

Using this site, you'll be able to specify our boat, Rhiannon, and up to 10 other boats on the race and chart our progress.

The screen looks like this:


So, select "Non-Spinnaker Race 4" and then specify Rhiannon. Then you can bookmark that link and check on us day by day. They've also got a news page and forum for the race.

Flying Untied

So I've been planning to bring my super-duper 8-foot tuna-slayer fishing pole on this trip. I got this heavy fiberglass pole about 20 years ago in Santa Cruz, and it hasn't seen use since I came to Oregon. I checked with United about checking it and they said "No problem" - but neglected to tell me that they'd charge me $175 to take it to L.A. - it would actually be cheaper to buy my fishing pole a seat on the plane! Good thing I checked twice and thought to ask!

So, sad to say, I'll be buying a nice used pole when I get to L.A. on Friday morning, and cursing the way United likes to nickel-and-dime you all the way down there.

Super What?

It turns out we're going to be at sea during the Super Bowl. So we're likely to miss out on some buffalo wings and brewskis, but all things considered, I think we're getting the better end of this deal.

And for our viewing pleasure...

It also turns out that my fellow crewmates have never seen the movie Muppet Treasure Island. So I bought a copy on DVD and will have everyone singing along to this great musical while we're on the water.

I mean, with Tim Curry playing Long John Silver, how can you go wrong? His rendition of "When You're a Professional Pirate" is right up with "Sweet Transvestite" in the Curry Ouevre.

Between this and our collection of Great Big Sea and Captain Bogg & Salty CDs, we're sure to have a fine Chanty quintet by the end of the journey.

Ship's Blog at Sea!

Among the many fine features of Google's Blogger is the ability to create a blog post in e-mail and send that post to our blog.

As it turns out, we'll have some kind of satellite wireless e-mail sending capability on the boat, so we're planning to send out regular (if not daily) blog updates throughout the race. They're likely to be text-only, just like this test e-mail posting, but that's still a far cry from being completely out of touch!

Getting Our Fishing Gear Together

One of the challenges on the PV race is a fishing derby for the Non-Spinnaker class boats. The organizers plan to give us a disposable camera with which we'll take pictures of the fish we catch, and the organizers will give an award for the biggest fish caught on the trip.

Now, I doubt we'll match the guys on the left here, but we do plan to take part in the derby. For one thing, some fresh Mahi-Mahi or Yellowtail would be nice to eat. But beyond that, we all spent $37 each on Mexican fishing licenses for the duration of the trip.

So I'm bringing my super-duper 8-foot ocean fishing pole and my brother in law Andrew sent me some killer lures. I went out yesterday and bought some "Mooching Rigs" - a 2-hook setup designed to be used with these little rubber squid things. The guys at the fishing shop assure me that the ocean fish are so aggressive that they'll hit these things with impunity.

To avoid hassles in the security line, I'll pick up a gaff hook and/or a long-handled net when I get to L.A. Sensible, yes?

Jacklines - for safety

One of the decisions we had to make was the kind of jacklines we would have for an off-shore race. There are many different configurations and the more I read about this the more I realized that what's being sold is often not sufficient for our purposes. I can't believe that some people are selling (and buying) jacklines that stretch. Yeah, there's a great idea. Just when I want to stay close to the boat, the line stretches and I've got further to go to get back aboard!

So, after looking around, we decided to make our own configuration. We wanted something that can break down when we're in port, but lends optimal safety off-shore. We wanted something that can be replaced if needed and was easy to store.

First we replaced the traditional lifelines from the mid-ship gates, aft with solid stainless as part of the installation of our arch. Because the new stanchions were installed on the gunwales instead of on the deck, we got an additional 2-4 inches of walking space. This may not sound like much, but it makes a big difference when you're carrying heavy lines! In the aft area, it's amazing that we can now walk behind the backstay, giving us much more mobility on the aft deck!

Next, we installed some eyes on the arch at about neck level for me (under-arm level on Bill). We decided that the lifelines were at just the right spot on Bill (at the hip) that if he lost his balance he'd pitch over the side and into the water (which is bad).

We then found some amsteel line, which for the size we're using as a pulling strength of about 3,350lbs and doesn't stretch. We ran this line from the eye on the arch to the spreaders. With a taught knot on both ends and a stopper line around the spreader for friction (thanks Kerry for the beautiful knot-work!). We can clip our harnesses in when we're walking the decks. We have an additional amsteel line that attaches around the mast and runs forward to the steel base of the bow-roller or windless cleat (whichever is more convenient).

With this configuration we've got significant movement on deck and we'll be attached at all times.

Mosquitto Netting

People have been asking me what I've been doing in preparations for "the big race." To be honest, I've been doing many of the things that I've been wanting to get to for years but never found the time for them to inch up to the top of my famous and ever-growing "to do list."

One of the big projects was to build a mosquito netting. This netting is made from "no-see-ums" fabric to keep the little critters out. I sewed a nylon webbing around the netting and ran lead-shot along the bottom and sewed it into each section. Along the top and sides I attached turn-buckle eyes that match the dodger and bimony. These same turn-buckles are used for our new weather enclosure made by Aldo Upholstery. These same turn-buckles will one day sport shade sections. The concept is one measurement of turn-buckles that can do oh so many things for us!

When we get somewhere with bugs I'll sit in the cockpit at sunset and see if my work was any good (benedryl at the ready just in case).

Learning About Crossover Speed

Learning to sail is going to involve a number of challenges, and one of them involves a new rule in the PV09 Racing Rules of Sailing:

Part 4, 42.3 (h): Sailing instructions may, in stated circumstances, permit propulsion using an engine or any other method, provided the boat does not gain a significant advantage in the race.

Because the new four-race format has three scheduled stopovers before reaching Puerto Vallarta, it's important to avoid having stragglers who fail to reach one destination before the next leg starts---Feb. 4 from Turtle Bay, Feb. 7 from Magdalena Bay and Feb. 10 from Cabo Falso. And I'm totally down with getting to each destination on time, because I want to spend plenty of time enjoying the towns where we stop and getting in some skin diving with the whales in Mag bay and my new underwater camera!

The rule is set up so that competitors who motor their way pay a price steeper than it would cost them to sail. So the organizers developed a new "Cross-Over speed" formula that will be introduced in the race thanks to some clever DRYC members: David Feinstein, who suggested it; Allen Puckett, an aeronautical engineer who developed it (he once worked for Howard Hughes), and Peggy Redler, the race coordinator and former math teacher who implemented it into a computer code scoring system.

As Redler explained, "The Cross-Over speed is based on a boat's PHRF (handicap) rating and the speed of a virtual boat: 8 knots. The formula creates a unique speed for each boat that allows them to use their engine when their sailing speed drops below a certain point. It will not adversely affect their corrected time."

But here's the joker: The Performance Handicap Racing Fleet system is based on time and distance.

"This is not a power boat race," Redler emphasized, "because the faster you go under power and the more distance you make gets you a higher penalty . . . and because we subtract how far you power, you get less sailing distance and therefore less [PHRF] handicap time allowed.

"But it's to your advantage when the wind is very light to turn the engine on, [or] if it's blustery, for the sake of controlling your boat."

Once an engine is run and then turned off, the rules forbid re-starting it for another hour, preventing racers from picking their spots repeatedly in patchy conditions.

"This is more than just making your boat go faster," Redler said. "There are tactics and navigation involved. You need to know how to use GPS, charts, bearings. It's a multi-skill game. It's the only way you can have a multi-race event when you have to get the boats through one leg in time to start another."

Tom Redler, race committee chairman and husband of Peggy, said, "This is the only race I know of that went to the trouble of working out a formula that would make it possible to use the engine and not degrade the race."

One thing for sure: it all makes the navigators' lives more complicated---which is why two new awards will honor the spinnaker and non-spinnaker division navigators whose calculated finish times for the first three legs most closely match the times registered by the boats' on-board satellite transponder, which will operate on real time.

Except for the final finish off the beach at Puerto Vallarta, Peggy Redler noted, "There are no [finish] lines on the water. They have to find them [with instrumentation]."

The four individual races are marked by stopovers along the Baja California peninsula: 376 nautical miles from Marina del Rey to Cedros Island outside of Turtle Bay; starting Feb. 4, 220 n.m. to Magdalena Bay, famous for its friendly migrating whales; starting Feb. 7, 152 n.m. to Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja peninsula, and the last, starting Feb. 10, 286 n.m. across the Gulf of California to Puerto Vallarta on the mainland, finishing off the beach in Banderas Bay in front of the race headquarters Westin Resort & Spa.

Disney's Pywacket V Drops Out

We can't say for sure that the prospect of racing against Rhiannon has intimidated five other skippers, but the race organizers issued this release today:

Disney withdraws, but he'll be back

The fleet has 16 boats, following the recent addition of two boats and the withdrawal of five, including Roy E. Disney's new Pyewacket V in what would have been its maiden race.

Pyewacket V

A disappointed Disney said, "It's a real bummer, but the race falls into the recovery time of some non-life-threatening surgery."

He said he would be back on the water for the Newport to Ensenada race, the Hoag Cup in June and his 16th Transpac to Hawaii in July.

We're sorry Pywacket won't be joining us, and we wish Mr. Disney all the best.

But looking forward, here's a shot of 14 of the 16 skippers, and what will probably be the final entry list:

That's our Cap'n Bill Tarr, leftmost in the back row

PV09 Confirmed entries

Spinnaker-A
Amazing Grace (Farr 55), James Puckett, Del Rey YC
Carmagnole (Beneteau First 45), Dan Howard, DRYC
Dare (Beck 60), Bob Kettenhofen, Balboa YC
Felicita (J/120), Perry Peters, Arizona YC, Phoenix

Spinnaker-B
Barking Spider (Catalina 36 MK2), David Kory, Point Richmond, Calif.
Jungle Jim (Jeanneau 49), Jim Maslon, DRYC
Rose of Sharon (Burgess 59), Byron K. Chamberlain, Newport Harbor YC
Sleeper (Jeanneau 44), Ron Simonson, Cabrillo Beach YC
Tranquility (Beneteau First 40.7, Max Lynn, Santa Barbara YC

Non-Spinnaker-A
Blue Note (Beneteau 473), Kevin & Rhonda Wixom, Mission Bay YC
Defiance (Swan 56), Peter Noonan, St. Francis YC
Lumiere (Beneteau 49), Carl Marusak, MD, DRYC
Transformer (Beneteau 49), Joel Young, So. Bay Yacht Racing

Non-Spinnaker-B
Artsea (Grand Soliel 45), Marty Laffer, DRYC
G-Rated (Catalina 42 MK2), Sid and Mark Lampert, DRYC
Rhiannon (Peterson 44), Bill & Stacy Tarr, DRYC

The Puerto Vallarta Race Makes YouTube!

Check out this video, produced by Del Rey Yacht Club, about the Puerto Vallarta race:



I'm sure you'll agree, whatever it may lack in polished production values, it more than makes up for by describing the fabulous places we're going to visit and the many great parties along the way!

Just a few weeks away

In 22 days, I'll fly to Los Angeles and assist in the final loading and preparation of Rhiannon for our journey. We're now sponsored by Mechanix Wear for deck gloves, in addition to Columbia Sportswear for our general clothing needs at sea. Mechanix makes these nifty lightweight gloves that are thin enough to let you do fiddly work but strong enough to last in tough conditions.

We've all obtained our Mexican fishing licenses, and my Brother-in-Law Andrew Ellis - sport fisherman and SCUBA captain extraordinaire of Kauai - has made me some killer Mahi-Mahi lures for the trip. We'll keep a fishing line off the stern all the way down the Baja coast and see if we can hook into some dinner. Andrew also sent me the ultimate killer reel for my ocean fishing pole, because that's the kind of ultra-groovy guy he is.

I also went out and found myself some fins, mask, and snorkel for some skindiving along the way. Apparently we can expect whales and all kinds of groovy sea life in Magadalena Bay and in Turtle Bay. Sadly, I don't think I'll get my supercool underwater digital photo rig in time for this trip. Once again, my failure to be a multi-millionaire has a negative impact on my plans!

I find myself thinking more and more about the trip every day - with momentary seizures of panic that I'm not doing enough to prepare. This time last year, I was spending hours each day preparing for the Alcan Winter Rally, but this time Bill and Stacy and Jack and Kerry are doing the heavy lifting of boat preparation. I'll make it up to them along the way with fish and coffee.

I continue to study the sailing books, and Stacy assures me that my bunk will be the most comfy on the boat. All in all, this race is coming into focus, and it looks really good.