Monday, September 1, 2014

Lahaina Return Race 2014

71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Hawaii Yacht Club 71st Annual race from Lahaina, Maui to Honolulu, Oahu


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race - Gerontius Farr 42

Regatta results for Gerontius


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Racing on the beautiful Gerontius, a Bruce Farr 42 built in New Zealand


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Set sail on Friday night around 23:00 after a crew meeting and dinner at the ala moana shopping mall - food was horrible.






71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Mostly motored the whole night from Waikiki and arrived at Larry Ellison's island at dawn, the Hawaiian island of Lanai.


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Once we got to Larry's Island (Lanai - located just 9 miles off the coast of Maui), we made breakfast and went for a swim. I lost all video of us swimming with spinner dolphins and our visit to the Manele Bay. Shoots!

I don't remember the exact reason why, but we could not sail into the Manele Small Boat Harbor. Instead we found a mooring outside the marina and anchored up for the night.


Lahaina to Honolulu Race

French press, fair trade, organic coffee. I can do without a head, but coffee I can not skimp on! That's a damn good cup of java!


Lahaina Return on Gerontius Farr 42 out of Waikiki Yacht Club

There was no head on our boat, so several of us swam about 200 meters to shore and hiked to the Four Seasons located in Manele Bay. The hotels is your quintessential beach resort with epic views, over priced beers (10 bucks), and staff, clad in monkey suits, that kept an eye-out for freeloading cretins like us.






Lahaina Return on Gerontius Farr 42 out of Waikiki Yacht Club

Capt. Chris helps prep dinner. Here we have our antipasto or 'before the dinner' -- gorgonzola stuffed portobello mushrooms.



Lahaina to Honolulu Race

This beautiful lady did all of our shopping, food prep, marinating, coffee production, cleaning, and she's a bad ass sailor! Currently, she's in South America opening up a vegan restaurant. Looking forward to running into her again!


Lahaina to Honolulu Race

Crew enjoying a happy hour on the boat after a long night sailing and fun day on Lanai.


Lahaina to Honolulu Race

Happy Hour in Lanai on Saturday night


Lahaina to Honolulu Race

After antipasto, primi course was on the grill - marinated chicken!


Lahaina to Honolulu Race

Hotels on Lanai


Lahaina to Honolulu Race

Did I mention there was no where to sleep... NO berths on the boat. Some of the crew slept on deck. I ended up in the V-berth, extreme forward end of the hull, on a spinnaker sail. Rocky night, little sleep.


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race - Gerontius Farr 42

Up with the sun on Sunday, off we sail to Maui






71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race - Gerontius Farr 42

Sailing on Sunday, Aug. 31,2014


Lahaina Return on Gerontius Farr 42 out of Waikiki Yacht Club

Sailing past Lanai on Sunday


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

We are not in San Francisco anymore. Look at that blue water!






Lahaina Return on Gerontius Farr 42 out of Waikiki Yacht Club

Crew sailing away from Lanai to Maui


Lahaina Return on Gerontius Farr 42 out of Waikiki Yacht Club

Still sailing with just the main up


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club


Sunday around noon we finally made it to Lahaina, Maui. Short one hour stop to pick-up ice, more spirits, potty stop, and a bit of a walk on land.


Lahaina Return on Gerontius Farr 42 out of Waikiki Yacht Club

I think we got one dorado / mahi mahi.


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Surf right outside of Lahaina Yacht Club


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

With only an hour on Maui, we stopped for a beer at Lahaina Pizza Company. Great views from their deck.


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race - Gerontius Farr 42

After we left Lahaina, it was my turn to drive. Was at the ol' nautical steering wheel for about 2 hours.


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race

Raft'ed up and ready for Happy Hour in Honolua Bay, Maui


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Back dive off the boat in my swimming dress






71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Happy in Honolua Bay


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Swimming in Honolua Bay at sunset


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Boys Water ballet!


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Judging the water ballet!


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Do these goggles make me look fat!


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Things got all upside down! Jumping off boats


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Monday, Sept. 1, 2014 at 8:05AM - the start of the Lahaina Return! Lets go!!


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

It's all downwind from here... hours! Go Frenchy!


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

The banana on Gerontius


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

The crew made a decision to sail to the north of Molokai (the fifth largest Hawaiian Island) and enjoy the views of the highest sea cliffs in the world.

Facts:  "The south shore of MolokaŹ»i boasts the longest fringing reef in the U.S. and its holdings—nearly 25 miles (40 km) long" wrote geoscienceworld.org.


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Sailing side by side, until...


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Molokai (the fifth largest Hawaiian Island).  Views of the highest sea cliffs in the world.


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club

Sailing pass the north side of Molokai on Gerontius (Farr 42)


If you'd like to see the photos from our long weekend of sailing, check out my Flickr account here!


71st Annual Lahaina to Honolulu Race : Hawaii Yacht Club
Still sailing by Molokai








No comments: