Looking for a second opinion

I have a 1972 cal 27' pop top, hull and rigging are in good condition... I am thinking about a run to Hawaii from San Diego. If I like this trip I want to continue heading west with the intent of going all the way around. Hers is my question... am I batshit crazy for wanting to attempt this trip in this boat? I am a sailing novice-moderate sailor who has never lost sight of land while on a sailboat. (that will be remedied before I leave) My chief concerns are the structural integrity of the poptop in case of a knockdown or a full turtle, power consuption and self stearing. looking for any and all advice, not to mention if any one around SD wants to give me a hand preparing and provisioning what the heck ;) thanks in advance John

Hi, John. There is a fellow at Whitehall Yacht Yard in Annapolis (also named John) who has rebuilt (well, one is actually never finished) a pop top 27. he wants to race it to Bermuda. I got to know him over the winter last year when we were both working on our rebuilds (his 27, and me a 25). He is an experienced solo sailor and seaman. The emphasis, I believe, should be on the seamanship of the sailor (as opposed to just being able to sail). Factors in the boat (othere than general soundness) that I do not know on the 27 are things like the depth of cut of the companionway, seat locker hatches, size of drains, and the like, all of which could flood your cabin if you get pooped. Sounds adventurous Cheers Charlie Annapolis From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 8:46 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Looking for a second opinion I have a 1972 cal 27' pop top, hull and rigging are in good condition... I am thinking about a run to Hawaii from San Diego. If I like this trip I want to continue heading west with the intent of going all the way around. Hers is my question... am I batshit crazy for wanting to attempt this trip in this boat? I am a sailing novice-moderate sailor who has never lost sight of land while on a sailboat. (that will be remedied before I leave) My chief concerns are the structural integrity of the poptop in case of a knockdown or a full turtle, power consuption and self stearing. looking for any and all advice, not to mention if any one around SD wants to give me a hand preparing and provisioning what the heck ;) thanks in advance John Yahoo! Groups Links

--- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "John" <stretchmarx@...> wrote: > > I have a 1972 cal 27' pop top, hull and rigging are in good > condition... I am thinking about a run to Hawaii from San Diego. > If I like this trip I want to continue heading west with the intent > of going all the way around. > > Hers is my question... am I batshit crazy for wanting to attempt > this trip in this boat? I am a sailing novice-moderate sailor who > has never lost sight of land while on a sailboat. (that will be > remedied before I leave) I had a friend with a Rhodes 40 who had the same idea. I told her about the conditions offshore from San Diego to about 500 miles out. That is the part they call Transpac Anonymous territory. It will blow 25 to 35 knots for days on end and you are on a blast reach the whole way. The old joke is that if anyone ever asks you to go on another Transpac, you can call another member and he will come over and talk you out of it. I told her to sail down to Mexico, spend the winter cruising around pretty anchorages in warm water and come home for the hurricane season. Anyway, she started for Hawaii with a couple of guys as crew. They got about 100 miles out, had numerous gear failures and came back. That fall, she had the boat rerigged and headed south. For the next few years, she would spend the summer anchored outside Dana Point Harbor, just off the State Beach. Come November 1, she was off for Mexico for the winter. She and her husband had been planning to go cruising for years and then he died. She loved going to Mexico and never considered another try at Hawaii. If you are determined to go farther west, go down to Zihuatenajo, and then if you still want to, head west for the Marquesas. Hawaii has no anchorages and is a rough trip. I do know a couple who took their Catalina 27 to Hawaii and sailed it home after a couple of months. They sold it when they got home and very nearly ended up in divorce court. Just my $0.02 Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96

Mike, you mentioned that there are no anchorages in Hawaii. Actually, there are quite a few if you know where to look and depending on the season. On the Big Island, Radio Bay in Hilo is just one. And it is really pretty. The nice thing about Radio Bay is that you are inside the big breakwater at Hilo Harbor and there are good amenities in the various beach parks along Kalanianaole Street. It is an easy walk to grocery shopping and marine supplies as well. Having lived a lot of my life on the Big Island, in Waimea, on Kaua'i, and also living for some time in a place called Lanikai on bustling O'ahu, I can assure you the Big Island is one of the best places to take your boat. People in Hilo are the friendliest of any place I have ever lived. Just, plain good-spirited. At the opposite end of the Big Island is Kawaihai State Boat Harbor. It, too, affords a good anchorage with very safe holding ground. It is inside a breakwater, but can be really dusty and windy - think forty to fifty - at times. When that happens, I always used to move over to the small bay right in front of the Samuel M. Spencer Beach State Park. It is usually calm. The problem with these two anchorages is that they are well-removed from shopping, though you can get a bus into Kailua-Kona or up to Waimea. Just north of Kailua-Kona is the boat harbor at Honokohau. It has some guest slips, but these are almost always full and there is no outside anchorage to speak of. Farther south there is some unprotected anchorage in Kailua Bay, though I don't recommend it due to the cruise ships and the swells. Proceed farther down the coast to Keauhou Bay and there is an excellent, all-season anchorage there as well. Shopping is about a mile away and there are buses that run about every half hour. I don't much like the touristy feel of Kona anymore - there are a lot of uppity mainlanders who look down on the local people and are just too taken with themselves. For me, the two best places are Hilo and Lihue (on Kauai). I could go on for some time about other places I like to anchor up. Frankly, you can find pretty good anchorages all over the state if you just ask people who sail there. Check with the Kaneohe, Waikiki and Hawai'i Yacht Clubs and they will put you in touch with really knowledgeable local sailors - and there are a lot of them. Personally, I am partial to the Big Island, Moloka'i (Kanakai Harbor and Kalaupapa Bay) and Kaua'i (Nawiliwili Harbor, Hanamaulu Bay, Moloaa Bay and Captain Cook), simply because I sailed there a lot. Maui is okay, but touristy (anchorages at Lahaina and Maalaea - often rough and windy - and at Kahului - somewhat congested and commercial). O'ahu is very expensive and generally sucks unless you are a millionaire (anchorages at Kaneohe Bay and Sand Island).There is a really nice, new marina over off Barber's Point called Ko Olina, but it is a bit pricey -- $350 a month for a 30' slip -- and a long way from major shopping. If you are a former or retired Navy or Marine, you might also be able to get into the Pearl Harbor Yacht Club facility as a much cheaper alternative, but you have to make arrangements well in advance. Good luck, John. Listen to Mike's advice about going well south this time of year and about trying a bit of offshore before committing to the crossing. All the best. \Rog.

--- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "Rog Jones" <rog@...> wrote: > > Mike, you mentioned that there are no anchorages in Hawaii. Actually, there > are quite a few if you know where to look and depending on the season. Roger's info is no doubt more up-to-date and complete than mine. I have talked to others who went and found much of their anchoring was in open roadsteads with quite a bit of swell and not much in the way of comfort. No doubt things have changed since my info was current. I still think my description of the first five days (or in the case of a 27 footer, the first 8 to 10 days) is valid. My friends who took their Catalina 27 made Hilo in three weeks, a pretty fast trip although much of it was uncomfortable. A 40 knot squall in a Cal 27, even down wind, is an adventure. Thnk about Mexico. Especially after August. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96

wow Rog, thanks for this info! I've always wondered about this. Never sailed in Hawaii, but would like to some day. ----- Original Message ----- From: Rog Jones To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 9:01 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Anchorages in Hawai'i (was Looking for a second opinion) (Mike and John) Mike, you mentioned that there are no anchorages in Hawaii. Actually, there are quite a few if you know where to look and depending on the season. On the Big Island, Radio Bay in Hilo is just one. And it is really pretty. The nice thing about Radio Bay is that you are inside the big breakwater at Hilo Harbor and there are good amenities in the various beach parks along Kalanianaole Street. It is an easy walk to grocery shopping and marine supplies as well. Having lived a lot of my life on the Big Island, in Waimea, on Kaua'i, and also living for some time in a place called Lanikai on bustling O'ahu, I can assure you the Big Island is one of the best places to take your boat. People in Hilo are the friendliest of any place I have ever lived. Just, plain good-spirited. At the opposite end of the Big Island is Kawaihai State Boat Harbor. It, too, affords a good anchorage with very safe holding ground. It is inside a breakwater, but can be really dusty and windy - think forty to fifty - at times. When that happens, I always used to move over to the small bay right in front of the Samuel M. Spencer Beach State Park. It is usually calm. The problem with these two anchorages is that they are well-removed from shopping, though you can get a bus into Kailua-Kona or up to Waimea. Just north of Kailua-Kona is the boat harbor at Honokohau. It has some guest slips, but these are almost always full and there is no outside anchorage to speak of. Farther south there is some unprotected anchorage in Kailua Bay, though I don't recommend it due to the cruise ships and the swells. Proceed farther down the coast to Keauhou Bay and there is an excellent, all-season anchorage there as well. Shopping is about a mile away and there are buses that run about every half hour. I don't much like the touristy feel of Kona anymore - there are a lot of uppity mainlanders who look down on the local people and are just too taken with themselves. For me, the two best places are Hilo and Lihue (on Kauai). I could go on for some time about other places I like to anchor up. Frankly, you can find pretty good anchorages all over the state if you just ask people who sail there. Check with the Kaneohe, Waikiki and Hawai'i Yacht Clubs and they will put you in touch with really knowledgeable local sailors - and there are a lot of them. Personally, I am partial to the Big Island, Moloka'i (Kanakai Harbor and Kalaupapa Bay) and Kaua'i (Nawiliwili Harbor, Hanamaulu Bay, Moloaa Bay and Captain Cook), simply because I sailed there a lot. Maui is okay, but touristy (anchorages at Lahaina and Maalaea - often rough and windy - and at Kahului - somewhat congested and commercial). O'ahu is very expensive and generally sucks unless you are a millionaire (anchorages at Kaneohe Bay and Sand Island).There is a really nice, new marina over off Barber's Point called Ko Olina, but it is a bit pricey -- $350 a month for a 30' slip -- and a long way from major shopping. If you are a former or retired Navy or Marine, you might also be able to get into the Pearl Harbor Yacht Club facility as a much cheaper alternative, but you have to make arrangements well in advance. Good luck, John. Listen to Mike's advice about going well south this time of year and about trying a bit of offshore before committing to the crossing. All the best. \Rog.

Damn, Rog! i was going to respond, but you make me look like an armature where it comes to the Islands...... i guess the only thing that i can add is this; if you want to hang out in the Islands, "Think-Money". there is no way that your just going to blow into that tourist-trap and hang around on the cheap. honestly, i love it over there. but it not the land that's got my heart; it's that beautiful turquoise blue- green water. it's the smell of the sea blowing past my nose on a mid- watch as i drink my coffee. it's being warm all day, and never having to zip my watch coat at night. i would be happy going back to the Islands in a 60 footer and anchoring out everywhere i went; keeping a deck-watch at night. it would take 5 or 6 member crew, but it would be worth it........ 5er ***************************** --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "Rog Jones" <rog@...> wrote: > > Mike, you mentioned that there are no anchorages in Hawaii. Actually, there > are quite a few if you know where to look and depending on the season. On > the Big Island, Radio Bay in Hilo is just one. And it is really pretty. The > nice thing about Radio Bay is that you are inside the big breakwater at Hilo > Harbor and there are good amenities in the various beach parks along > Kalanianaole Street. It is an easy walk to grocery shopping and marine > supplies as well. Having lived a lot of my life on the Big Island, in > Waimea, on Kaua'i, and also living for some time in a place called Lanikai > on bustling O'ahu, I can assure you the Big Island is one of the best places > to take your boat. People in Hilo are the friendliest of any place I have > ever lived. Just, plain good-spirited. At the opposite end of the Big Island > is Kawaihai State Boat Harbor. It, too, affords a good anchorage with very > safe holding ground. It is inside a breakwater, but can be really dusty and > windy - think forty to fifty - at times. When that happens, I always used to > move over to the small bay right in front of the Samuel M. Spencer Beach > State Park. It is usually calm. The problem with these two anchorages is > that they are well-removed from shopping, though you can get a bus into > Kailua-Kona or up to Waimea. > > > > Just north of Kailua-Kona is the boat harbor at Honokohau. It has some guest > slips, but these are almost always full and there is no outside anchorage to > speak of. Farther south there is some unprotected anchorage in Kailua Bay, > though I don't recommend it due to the cruise ships and the swells. Proceed > farther down the coast to Keauhou Bay and there is an excellent, all-season > anchorage there as well. Shopping is about a mile away and there are buses > that run about every half hour. I don't much like the touristy feel of Kona > anymore - there are a lot of uppity mainlanders who look down on the local > people and are just too taken with themselves. For me, the two best places > are Hilo and Lihue (on Kauai). > > > > I could go on for some time about other places I like to anchor up. Frankly, > you can find pretty good anchorages all over the state if you just ask > people who sail there. Check with the Kaneohe, Waikiki and Hawai'i Yacht > Clubs and they will put you in touch with really knowledgeable local sailors > - and there are a lot of them. > > > > Personally, I am partial to the Big Island, Moloka'i (Kanakai Harbor and > Kalaupapa Bay) and Kaua'i (Nawiliwili Harbor, Hanamaulu Bay, Moloaa Bay and > Captain Cook), simply because I sailed there a lot. Maui is okay, but > touristy (anchorages at Lahaina and Maalaea - often rough and windy - and > at Kahului - somewhat congested and commercial). O'ahu is very expensive and > generally sucks unless you are a millionaire (anchorages at Kaneohe Bay and > Sand Island).There is a really nice, new marina over off Barber's Point > called Ko Olina, but it is a bit pricey -- $350 a month for a 30' slip -- > and a long way from major shopping. If you are a former or retired Navy or > Marine, you might also be able to get into the Pearl Harbor Yacht Club > facility as a much cheaper alternative, but you have to make arrangements > well in advance. > > > > Good luck, John. Listen to Mike's advice about going well south this time of > year and about trying a bit of offshore before committing to the crossing. > > > > All the best. > > > > \Rog. >

Fiver - You said all the right things about how nice it is to be over there. Lori and I get back now and then, but not often enough. It doesn't have to be terribly expensive, though, you just have to make adjustments. You sure don't need as many clothes. You learn not to eat in tourist restaurants and to cook for yourself. You eat fish and local produce and chicken instead of beef brought in from the mainland. And you learn to love mangoes, because everyone else there is sick of them. Hehehe. There are live-aboards in some of the anchorages and they live well, for the most part, and many not on 60-foot yachts. It depends on what you want. Me, I couldn't live aboard to save my soul. About three weeks is all it takes before the dampness and mildew and all the wonderful tropical bugs get to me. But there are those who have lived aboard over there for many, many years. Different strokes as they say. Anyway, keep smiling. Go to Hawaii now and then. And don't dump anything overboard. \Rog Cal 29+ #1 Swiss Navy Cal 2-30 #77 St. Lori's Comet

i think that if one was to insolate their boat below the water- line, and have a large fan to keep the air moving through their boat. never ever tie up to anything. and shake-out every damn thing they brought aboard in the Islands. and keep cock-roach traps in their boat just in-case. and oh-yes! have screens for every hatch! living on-board would be just fine with few clothes. what i will never forget is awaking every morning when i was up at the old sub-base and giving the sheet one good flip to get the damn cock-roaches off it before i got up. you would hear them bounce off the walls and lockers if it was still dark (which it most often was). the only reason i choose 60 foot was so that i could have room for enough mechanical space for two gen-sets, two aux diesels, two water-makers, large water and diesel storage. and batteries and inverters, and sewage treatment plant. and of course, room for six to sail the damn thing and stand 24 hour watches........ i was thinking more in line of a scow than a yacht, Rog. 5er ***************************** --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "Rog Jones" <rog@...> wrote: > > Fiver - > > > > You said all the right things about how nice it is to be over there. Lori > and I get back now and then, but not often enough. It doesn't have to be > terribly expensive, though, you just have to make adjustments. You sure > don't need as many clothes. You learn not to eat in tourist restaurants and > to cook for yourself. You eat fish and local produce and chicken instead of > beef brought in from the mainland. And you learn to love mangoes, because > everyone else there is sick of them. Hehehe. > > > > There are live-aboards in some of the anchorages and they live well, for the > most part, and many not on 60-foot yachts. It depends on what you want. Me, > I couldn't live aboard to save my soul. About three weeks is all it takes > before the dampness and mildew and all the wonderful tropical bugs get to > me. But there are those who have lived aboard over there for many, many > years. Different strokes as they say. > > > > Anyway, keep smiling. Go to Hawaii now and then. And don't dump anything > overboard. > > > > \Rog > > > > Cal 29+ #1 > > Swiss Navy > > > > Cal 2-30 #77 > > St. Lori's Comet >

Hi John In the Ocean Navigator magazine, special issue 153, currently for sale.... Bill Martin explains how he and his wife, Marilu, completed a 5 year circumnavigation in his Cal 30 Solitaire. His budget was very realist and his trip a great success. The trick is not to wait until your old, the trick is how to get a good boat cheap, get some cash and head out into the ocean. Bill Martin talks to that point very well. I encourage you to consider selling your current boat and moving up to a cal 30. After all - it is a proven world sailor and very affordable. I believe in copying others success - it is the fastest way to make it work. John please read the article, make your plans and get out there! Have fun Keith Cal 40 Kismet - my good cheap boat with room for the kids. ----- Original Message ----- From: John To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 5:45 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Looking for a second opinion I have a 1972 cal 27' pop top, hull and rigging are in good condition... I am thinking about a run to Hawaii from San Diego. If I like this trip I want to continue heading west with the intent of going all the way around. Hers is my question... am I batshit crazy for wanting to attempt this trip in this boat? I am a sailing novice-moderate sailor who has never lost sight of land while on a sailboat. (that will be remedied before I leave) My chief concerns are the structural integrity of the poptop in case of a knockdown or a full turtle, power consuption and self stearing. looking for any and all advice, not to mention if any one around SD wants to give me a hand preparing and provisioning what the heck ;) thanks in advance John

Yeah of all the reading I have done, the common theme I have seen, and I hate to paraphrase rumsfeld here but you Have to go with the boat you have not the boat you would like to have...lol or else you will never go...lol I do have a line on a 30' columbia that would not be to much out of pocket, but I need to make a decesion arround feb so I can start preping what ever boat I have at the time... now I am just in saving mode. THanks John