Well.. Cetacea has withdrawn from the race once again. Not for a lack of trying.

Last time we tried this in 2016, the hydraulic steering system failed. And while that part got fixed.. once again the hydraulic steering system failed. Ugh! A different part this time, but still. How frustrating.

While steering back to the Bay under the emergency tiller, we discussed trying to replace parts and get her going again, but in the end with no time for a proper shakedown it wouldn't be safe. And safety is the key. So, time to suck it up, feel embarrassed, and start planning for 2020.

We did have a great day at sea. Steve was at the helm and we were breaking 9 kts. It was some of our best sailing ever. So I'll focus on that, and dream of next time.

But we're back at the dock and everyone is safe.

Next time.

But fortunately, we're ready!

Cetacea is fueled up, watered up, food stocked, crewed, and ready to cross the start line off the St. Francis Yacht Club at 11:45 AM tomorrow.

I'll try to post to this blog at least once a day to provide our progress, but as the weather off the coast is never too pleasant it might be a couple of days before you see my first post. Even then, it's always affected by the ability of the SSB radio to broadcast, which is always affected by the sun's activity. But fingers crossed that I can post every day!

But if you don't see a post.. don't panic! There are other ways to track the progress of Cetacea. One is the Pacific Cup website. They have a race tracker at: https://pacificcup.org/tracking.html. At the top of that page, you'll also see a link to the YB Races app you can download on your phone. So feel free to keep an eye on Cetacea at either this blog or one of those options as well.

OK then.. here we go...

Today was the skippers' meeting at the Richmond Yacht Club to get everyone up to speed on the race: communications protocols, start times, approach to Kaneohe... and of course, the weather. The really good news is that the weather is supposed to be great this year for the cruising division leaving on Monday. A gale will start to build on Tuesday for those leaving later in the week, but we'll have that behind us on our way out from the California coast. Hopefully it'll help carry us through a lobe of the Pacific High that'll spin off south. But overall we're looking at 15 kt winds and only 3-foot seas this year.. and I'm looking forward to that!

And as if that weren't good enough news, we had dark and stormies afterward... a good way to end the evening and get ready for the trip! Here's to sailing the Pac Cup!

The best laid plans... sometimes require some last minute attention. Despite all the work I've done on Cetacea so far, it seems like there's something that always needs attention at the last minute. Last time I tried the Pac Cup, it was a leaky hydraulic hose the night before we left the dock. This year when I went to fill the fuel tanks, one of my sending units not only stopped sending signal, it also started leaking. Fortunately, it was the one sending unit I could remove without having to pull the tank, so yesterday I got it replaced. And while I had hoped to have a new freezer unit installed before leaving, the new unit has a bad compressor.. oh well. At least we have the fridge and lots of dry ice.

But as of today Cetacea is washed and fueled, and when we pack the food on Saturday she'll be ready to go. The time is nigh... and fingers crossed there are no more last minute fixes!

As my friend Kelvin always says, it's all about the weather. And it certainly was the last time we tried this in 2016. Although we finally made it through the weather and were about to start our downwind run, we had to turn back and get a double dose of weather. Not fun.

With the race two weeks off, I've started watching the weather again. If we were to leave now, it's looking pretty good. Some high wind off shore, but then a nice sleigh ride all the way to Hawaii after two days out. I hope we can get that kind of weather on July 9. If so, we'll have a lovely ride.

The way back however, right now it's not looking as great. The Pacific High is pretty far north. Might be a lot of beam reaching... but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Cetacea is finally a sailboat again! Thanks to Kelvin, we got the sails back on Thursday. And then Steve and Kel helped me get her shipshape in Bristol fashion Friday afternoon and into the evening. We left for a shakedown sail on the Bay first thing Saturday morning, and we got what we asked for. After tacking up Raccoon Strait against both the wind and the incoming tide - good tacking exercise - we were greeted by 27 kts on the beam while rounding Angel Island. But the new rigging held and we enjoyed an 11-kt sleigh ride down to the Berkeley Yacht Club. There we enjoyed good food and good drinks with good friends, and as pictured above the crew of Cetacea was recognized for our second Pac Cup attempt along with Imagine, another Club boat joining the Pac Cup this year. All in all, a good shake down and a good send off by the Berkeley Yacht Club. Thanks!