+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 15 of 30

Thread: Sailing an Ariel to Hawaii and back

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Orinda, California
    Posts
    2,311

    41 DAYS & 6000 MILES - the circle was complete

    That wind was very light as I slowly sailed past the breakwater. When I headed into the familiar turning basin to drop the main, people on nearby boats started blowing horns. I guess word of my return had spread quickly. As I proceeded under jib alone to the fuel dock, I noticed there were people on the sea wall watching. I didn’t know them, but I guess they knew of me. When I jibbed into the Ocean Services fuel dock and got off the boat, I was simply not the same person I was 90 days earlier. I was brown, bearded and nearly 50 pounds lighter.

    The security guard at the dock advised me to stay onboard until the harbor master came. They were concerned that I might have had fruits and vegetables onboard. Not likely. I was down to just three dozen cans of food and maybe ten gallons of water.

    As I stepped onto the dock, I noticed that my legs had atrophied from the knees down. Lets face it, there’s not much leg room on any small boat. Any way, the voyage was over.

    I left the boat in the care of a trusted broker and a few weeks it was sold. I don’t know where this boat is today, but if you see it, please do me this favor: Take hold of its parallel forestays and pat it on its bowrail for me. Starcrest gave me the most unforgettable 3 months of my life during the summer of 1985. That little boat honestly truly and really did...RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS

    I was brown, bearded,and devoid of fifty pounds. . .
    Attached Images  
    Last edited by Bill; 03-31-2005 at 08:28 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Orinda, California
    Posts
    2,311

    Epilog

    Several weeks after returning to California, I was off again. This time I was the navigator on a 90 foot schooner sailing to Hawaii. I flew back from that trip. Taken together, that means that I sailed to Hawaii twice and back once in1985. Three years later, I was off to Hawaii again on a Triton. That 6000 miles sail was done completely single handed.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Asst. Vice Commodore, NorthEast Fleet, Commander Division (Ret.) Brightwaters, N.Y.
    Posts
    1,823
    Wow, eric. Quite an accomplishment.

    Thanks for taking the time to write it up. A good read.

    Stick around. I'm sure we would all like to hear more.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Pembroke Ontario Canada
    Posts
    592

    Wink

    Thanks for the story Eric .We all appreciate it !! Any additional sailtrim or combo's to sea conditions appreciated. Thanks again #50

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    middle earth
    Posts
    120

    Post my email address

    if anyone wants to ask me about this you can email me directly sc2rom@yahoo.com

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Commander headed to Hawaii !?
    By Rico in forum General/Off-Topic
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 07-03-2006, 11:39 PM
  2. Commander Manuals
    By Stephan in forum Technical
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: 04-22-2006, 07:31 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts