http://members.cox.net/hardknotscentre I just found sailboatowners.com yesterday and registered. Above is a link to Hard Knots' website. I thought some of you folks would like to know that I am sailing her to Hawaii on Saturday 19 March (this Saturday!).. Info's available online at my site.. I've been planning, saving, and modifying Hard Knots for 2 years in preparation. This may be the first boat from Arizona to ever make this trip. I've been very active on Cruiser Log, a South African website, with worldwide appeal. Robin Scott Johnson
HARD KNOTS, Newport 20 sailboat, sailing to HI.
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maybe a little tweaking is in order?
Too many things to comment on, but here are some obvious first impressions. Boat: not close to ideal. very low weight, small fin keel(very 'spinny' in moderate seas, let alone heavy ones). Portholes absolutely inadequate for off-shore sailing. At least make some strom boards with very strong battens. Float plan: 25 days to Hilo from Catalina. In a 20 footer with a lot of luck. ...goodgawd where does one start with this? Okay, the water. 24 gallons? One gallen per day? Better re-read up on water useage. Beleive it or not it really doesn't rain sometimes at sea. With the extremely limited stowage available on that small boat I doubt any prudent person would bring along a guitar, let alone all the other entertainment parafanalia you have listed. My gawd man are you planning on going to war? A pistol and an antique Swiss army rifle. plus hundreds of rounds of ammo? If youo fear pirates in Hawaii, maybe an old shortened 12 ga and a half box of shells...or a good slingshot and some marbles...but a 380 semi-auto pistol and a shoulder mounted cannon? Tools: What's with the cordless 18v drill? How you gonna charge that battery? Get a good hand brace and a small manual drill. sheesh! And a level meter? Sure hope you have those two 12v marine batteries VERY securely mounted. No mention of jacklines OR safety harness! Sails: Not detailed, but it appears you have three sails: main, jib, and storm jib. Might add a tiny spitfire. Your boat will not be a plaesant place even in a moderate gale and lying ahull would be suicidal given your hatches and portholes. Have you even tested that self sterring off-shore? You are apt to run into a lot of following winds on the trip out and wind-vanes are tricky on light little boats on beam reaches and downwind. Might read up on John Letchers method when he made that trip in a small boat. My conclusion is that on the face of it, even though the boat is at best marginally capable under expert hands and lots of luck, for off-shore, I believe you need to spend some close in work yourself and do a whale of a lot more thinking on your preparations. But my opinion only...so I wish you good luck anyways, on the grounds that you are about the age I took up riding bulls <grin> and I might add just about as well thought out to do so as you seem to be. <grin> All the above given with the best of intentions and well meaning, Didereaux
Too many things to comment on, but here are some obvious first impressions. Boat: not close to ideal. very low weight, small fin keel(very 'spinny' in moderate seas, let alone heavy ones). Portholes absolutely inadequate for off-shore sailing. At least make some strom boards with very strong battens. Float plan: 25 days to Hilo from Catalina. In a 20 footer with a lot of luck. ...goodgawd where does one start with this? Okay, the water. 24 gallons? One gallen per day? Better re-read up on water useage. Beleive it or not it really doesn't rain sometimes at sea. With the extremely limited stowage available on that small boat I doubt any prudent person would bring along a guitar, let alone all the other entertainment parafanalia you have listed. My gawd man are you planning on going to war? A pistol and an antique Swiss army rifle. plus hundreds of rounds of ammo? If youo fear pirates in Hawaii, maybe an old shortened 12 ga and a half box of shells...or a good slingshot and some marbles...but a 380 semi-auto pistol and a shoulder mounted cannon? Tools: What's with the cordless 18v drill? How you gonna charge that battery? Get a good hand brace and a small manual drill. sheesh! And a level meter? Sure hope you have those two 12v marine batteries VERY securely mounted. No mention of jacklines OR safety harness! Sails: Not detailed, but it appears you have three sails: main, jib, and storm jib. Might add a tiny spitfire. Your boat will not be a plaesant place even in a moderate gale and lying ahull would be suicidal given your hatches and portholes. Have you even tested that self sterring off-shore? You are apt to run into a lot of following winds on the trip out and wind-vanes are tricky on light little boats on beam reaches and downwind. Might read up on John Letchers method when he made that trip in a small boat. My conclusion is that on the face of it, even though the boat is at best marginally capable under expert hands and lots of luck, for off-shore, I believe you need to spend some close in work yourself and do a whale of a lot more thinking on your preparations. But my opinion only...so I wish you good luck anyways, on the grounds that you are about the age I took up riding bulls <grin> and I might add just about as well thought out to do so as you seem to be. <grin> All the above given with the best of intentions and well meaning, Didereaux
Ha. thanks
I'm aware of Hard Knots' shortcommings, believe me. I've sailed for 14 years and this will be the smallest vessel I've ever used for such a thing. The timetable isn't as farfetched as you might think, however, as a West Wight Potter 19 made it to hilo in 24 days.
I have a tether and harness also, but forgot to add them to the list, thanks for mentioning that! In answer to your other question, No, I haven't tested the ST1000 autopilot offshore, or in the water at all, it repaces my Navik Windvane or which the base was stolen off my boat a month ago. I've used an electric autopilot before, (an old Tiller Master) and I am familiar with how they work. This Ray Marine one is much more elaborate. This isn't really a stunt or anything else, but your post made it seem like it was. I've actually planned this voyage for about 2 years in this 72 N20. The rigging is twice the guage of the original, and the decks new and over 1/2 thick, and every part of her electrical system has been replaced and upgraded. I have no dilusions as to thinking this is going to be a comfortable trip in Hard Knots, such as sailing to Catalina Island, however, I've had enough people with a lot of experience, including Dan Winters,(who ran the Morgan Racing team, and designed the Morgan 27, and is the owner of Winters Sailmakers) tell me they have faith in me and my equipment to make the trip. One person who agreed with you on my timetable was my friend Bruce, who thought it looked a little optimistic, but that timeline is just a guideline of medium probability. The guns are the cheapies, and I don't mind if I lose them. Uh, whatelse? Oh, I didn't know why the cabin windows weren't good, tell me more about that.. My Cal 2-24's were larger I believe. The 1 volt cordless drill will be charged before I go, and can store power for a long time. I won't have to use it much if it all, but if I need something drilled quick, I'll have it. The level meter (ha), that's just something in my toolbox. I should mention a couple of things, in all seriousness. Firstly, I bought her from a friend who needed money so that he and his wife could go on vacation. They were having major financial issues and offered me the boat cheap. I'd already sailed her for years with my friends (since 99), and I just began putting money and time into her. I've put so much money into Hard Knots, say 20,000, that I would feel it betrayed her not to take her somewhere far at least once I know this may not make sense to some of you, but I've always been someone who uses what I have at the time, and yes, with all that money I spent on upgrading, fixing, painting, redoing her rigging, and buying expensive electronics, I could have had what I really wanted, a Cal 30. When I make it home, after suffering so long, I will in fact buy a Cal 30, but not until I've finished with Hard Knots. I've got a couple of goals also in regards to this trip. First is the obvious: Personal acheivement, as I've not made much of my life. I've traveled around the globe on jets, and backpacked in Europe, etc, but all the big plans I've made usually fall through for a variety of reasons. I'm determined to make Hard Knots' voyage a reality, and on Saturday, I will do that. Second, I want to advance the sport of sailing in Arizona, of whose residence seem to have a powerboat fettish, which I think is obscene, bad for the enviorment, and noisy. Thirdly, I want to surprise people by showing them what a Newport 20 can do, and incidently, I think it will be the first vessel registered in Arizona to ever cross over to Hawaii, so in a small way, history will be made. Thanks for the good reply! -Robin
I'm aware of Hard Knots' shortcommings, believe me. I've sailed for 14 years and this will be the smallest vessel I've ever used for such a thing. The timetable isn't as farfetched as you might think, however, as a West Wight Potter 19 made it to hilo in 24 days.
I have a tether and harness also, but forgot to add them to the list, thanks for mentioning that! In answer to your other question, No, I haven't tested the ST1000 autopilot offshore, or in the water at all, it repaces my Navik Windvane or which the base was stolen off my boat a month ago. I've used an electric autopilot before, (an old Tiller Master) and I am familiar with how they work. This Ray Marine one is much more elaborate. This isn't really a stunt or anything else, but your post made it seem like it was. I've actually planned this voyage for about 2 years in this 72 N20. The rigging is twice the guage of the original, and the decks new and over 1/2 thick, and every part of her electrical system has been replaced and upgraded. I have no dilusions as to thinking this is going to be a comfortable trip in Hard Knots, such as sailing to Catalina Island, however, I've had enough people with a lot of experience, including Dan Winters,(who ran the Morgan Racing team, and designed the Morgan 27, and is the owner of Winters Sailmakers) tell me they have faith in me and my equipment to make the trip. One person who agreed with you on my timetable was my friend Bruce, who thought it looked a little optimistic, but that timeline is just a guideline of medium probability. The guns are the cheapies, and I don't mind if I lose them. Uh, whatelse? Oh, I didn't know why the cabin windows weren't good, tell me more about that.. My Cal 2-24's were larger I believe. The 1 volt cordless drill will be charged before I go, and can store power for a long time. I won't have to use it much if it all, but if I need something drilled quick, I'll have it. The level meter (ha), that's just something in my toolbox. I should mention a couple of things, in all seriousness. Firstly, I bought her from a friend who needed money so that he and his wife could go on vacation. They were having major financial issues and offered me the boat cheap. I'd already sailed her for years with my friends (since 99), and I just began putting money and time into her. I've put so much money into Hard Knots, say 20,000, that I would feel it betrayed her not to take her somewhere far at least once I know this may not make sense to some of you, but I've always been someone who uses what I have at the time, and yes, with all that money I spent on upgrading, fixing, painting, redoing her rigging, and buying expensive electronics, I could have had what I really wanted, a Cal 30. When I make it home, after suffering so long, I will in fact buy a Cal 30, but not until I've finished with Hard Knots. I've got a couple of goals also in regards to this trip. First is the obvious: Personal acheivement, as I've not made much of my life. I've traveled around the globe on jets, and backpacked in Europe, etc, but all the big plans I've made usually fall through for a variety of reasons. I'm determined to make Hard Knots' voyage a reality, and on Saturday, I will do that. Second, I want to advance the sport of sailing in Arizona, of whose residence seem to have a powerboat fettish, which I think is obscene, bad for the enviorment, and noisy. Thirdly, I want to surprise people by showing them what a Newport 20 can do, and incidently, I think it will be the first vessel registered in Arizona to ever cross over to Hawaii, so in a small way, history will be made. Thanks for the good reply! -Robin
What is with the guns?
Are you planning on shooting fish? Or fighting of the hordes of pirates circling the globe? Seriously, why are you taking two guns?
Are you planning on shooting fish? Or fighting of the hordes of pirates circling the globe? Seriously, why are you taking two guns?
2 guns answer
Two guns, one is a rifle, the other is a handgun. Both have their own uses. The handgun is because crime has gotten very high in Hawaii since I left, and I feel better having it with me.. The rifle is just in case the handgun is confiscated, it probably won't be. -Robin
Two guns, one is a rifle, the other is a handgun. Both have their own uses. The handgun is because crime has gotten very high in Hawaii since I left, and I feel better having it with me.. The rifle is just in case the handgun is confiscated, it probably won't be. -Robin
Epirb
Yes, I have a 406 Epirb. I also noticed I forgot to put the list of sails that I have.. but the website only took me an hour to do, so I perhaps was careless. Thanks.
Yes, I have a 406 Epirb. I also noticed I forgot to put the list of sails that I have.. but the website only took me an hour to do, so I perhaps was careless. Thanks.
20' sailboat to Hawaii
Well Robin, Guess you've got the guts to do what a lot of sailors fantasize about. Go to sailnet.com follow the links to "Chalupa" the real life story of the fellow who sailed solo San Fransisco to Kauai in a reinforced Cal 20 (no motor at all aboard) He sailed it in 19 days. Along with his story he also has a page telling all the changes he made to the boat (stringers etc.) what provisions he took including water. How much and how to carry it. He got thru 6 days and nights of gale force winds. Good luck
Well Robin, Guess you've got the guts to do what a lot of sailors fantasize about. Go to sailnet.com follow the links to "Chalupa" the real life story of the fellow who sailed solo San Fransisco to Kauai in a reinforced Cal 20 (no motor at all aboard) He sailed it in 19 days. Along with his story he also has a page telling all the changes he made to the boat (stringers etc.) what provisions he took including water. How much and how to carry it. He got thru 6 days and nights of gale force winds. Good luck
Difficult
It would be tough for my boat to reach Hawaii in 19 days with it's max hull speed, I think I can make it in 24-30 days max. I just had an e-mail from my longtime (also a lifelong sailor) friend on Oahu asking me if there was a date that he should call the Coast Guard if I've not arrived. I'm a little anxious about that prospect, people jumping the gun, and getting overly worried. I told him that if I was becalmed for any length of time, I'd send a ship to shore message if I could to my father back in Arizona, and he'd relay a message.. Incidently, I will check out Chalupa.. -Robin
It would be tough for my boat to reach Hawaii in 19 days with it's max hull speed, I think I can make it in 24-30 days max. I just had an e-mail from my longtime (also a lifelong sailor) friend on Oahu asking me if there was a date that he should call the Coast Guard if I've not arrived. I'm a little anxious about that prospect, people jumping the gun, and getting overly worried. I told him that if I was becalmed for any length of time, I'd send a ship to shore message if I could to my father back in Arizona, and he'd relay a message.. Incidently, I will check out Chalupa.. -Robin
Difficult to match 19 days
Hi Robin, You definitly should read Chalupa. He had no idea how many days it would take him. But he tells what he would do better, and talks about the things that worked well. Also how he planned things like his water supply, how much he had left over etc. Be sure to read the later story of how he prepared for the trip, and how he prepared the boat. The story of the trip is another link, but also should be helpful. A Cal 20 is a small cabin. No standing up. Lots of room to lie down in, but not after it was packed full of food, water, and gear. Smooth sailing, and again best of luck.
Hi Robin, You definitly should read Chalupa. He had no idea how many days it would take him. But he tells what he would do better, and talks about the things that worked well. Also how he planned things like his water supply, how much he had left over etc. Be sure to read the later story of how he prepared for the trip, and how he prepared the boat. The story of the trip is another link, but also should be helpful. A Cal 20 is a small cabin. No standing up. Lots of room to lie down in, but not after it was packed full of food, water, and gear. Smooth sailing, and again best of luck.
Potential long-range weatherforecast troubles?!
Since nobody appears to have discussed the weather issues and a Hunter 46 (?) was lost on this route in April (?) only a few years ago, I took a quick look at the Navy Marine Operations Center page (see link) and did unfortunately not like what I saw..... Currently there appears to be no stable Pacific High established, perhaps as a result of the persistence of a (weak) El Nino phase. Just as a few years ago, when the large Hunter was lost, the absence of a stable Pacific High permits high latitude depressions to penetrate relatively far South (check the East Pacific pressure, wind and wave forecasts). Also, the absence of a stable Pacific High forebodes weak or absent Tradewinds (or even contrary winds) on a California/Hawaii passage right now. Considering the size of the vessel, trying to make this particular passage without the guaranteed help of the tradewinds is a very iffy proposition. The "good news" is that a return to neutral ENSO conditions is expected over the next month or two. With a little luck a stable Pacific High and favorable tradewinds may well establish themselves in May, if not already in April. Even with stable tradewinds the proposed passage is a very tough assignment. Not impossible, just quite tough. When we made the same passage in May/June 94 we met a 23ft Catalina (?) in Hilo that had just finished the passage. The (fairly experienced) skipper was so distraught over the constant yawing of his small vessel while sailing downwind (which forced him to try and sleep on the cabin floor close to the mast support) that he was trying to sell his vessel in Hilo, thereby abandoning his intended circumnavigation plans. Remember: this was under favorable weather conditions..... Now the conditions look more like what we faced during our 97 passage to Hawaii (from the Sea of Cortez). Instead of a Pacific High we faced a stationary Pacific Low which killed the tradewinds and forced us to either drift or motor for many days. Since I am traveling right now and don't have good internet access it is possible that I ran an insufficient set of models on the FNMOC page to allow a reliable prediction. So, please DO carry out your own model runs. Believe me, it gives me no pleasure to rain on anyone's parade who is just about to launch a challenging ocean voyage. However, I would feel even worse if I kept my mouth shut. Let's just hope I am wrong. In which case I do wish you fair winds and following seas!! Flying Dutchman Rivendel II (Legend 43)
Since nobody appears to have discussed the weather issues and a Hunter 46 (?) was lost on this route in April (?) only a few years ago, I took a quick look at the Navy Marine Operations Center page (see link) and did unfortunately not like what I saw..... Currently there appears to be no stable Pacific High established, perhaps as a result of the persistence of a (weak) El Nino phase. Just as a few years ago, when the large Hunter was lost, the absence of a stable Pacific High permits high latitude depressions to penetrate relatively far South (check the East Pacific pressure, wind and wave forecasts). Also, the absence of a stable Pacific High forebodes weak or absent Tradewinds (or even contrary winds) on a California/Hawaii passage right now. Considering the size of the vessel, trying to make this particular passage without the guaranteed help of the tradewinds is a very iffy proposition. The "good news" is that a return to neutral ENSO conditions is expected over the next month or two. With a little luck a stable Pacific High and favorable tradewinds may well establish themselves in May, if not already in April. Even with stable tradewinds the proposed passage is a very tough assignment. Not impossible, just quite tough. When we made the same passage in May/June 94 we met a 23ft Catalina (?) in Hilo that had just finished the passage. The (fairly experienced) skipper was so distraught over the constant yawing of his small vessel while sailing downwind (which forced him to try and sleep on the cabin floor close to the mast support) that he was trying to sell his vessel in Hilo, thereby abandoning his intended circumnavigation plans. Remember: this was under favorable weather conditions..... Now the conditions look more like what we faced during our 97 passage to Hawaii (from the Sea of Cortez). Instead of a Pacific High we faced a stationary Pacific Low which killed the tradewinds and forced us to either drift or motor for many days. Since I am traveling right now and don't have good internet access it is possible that I ran an insufficient set of models on the FNMOC page to allow a reliable prediction. So, please DO carry out your own model runs. Believe me, it gives me no pleasure to rain on anyone's parade who is just about to launch a challenging ocean voyage. However, I would feel even worse if I kept my mouth shut. Let's just hope I am wrong. In which case I do wish you fair winds and following seas!! Flying Dutchman Rivendel II (Legend 43)
Sorry, wrong link
I don't seem to be able to edit my post from the current location, so the proper link is given below. Push the "Public" button to get access to the interactive model page. Good luck! Flying Dutchman
I don't seem to be able to edit my post from the current location, so the proper link is given below. Push the "Public" button to get access to the interactive model page. Good luck! Flying Dutchman
Wrong Link Again.... *o
Phil's program appears to automatically add an http:// signature to FNMOC's current https:// type address. So, here is the old FNMOC http:// address page (see link); this should automatically redirect you to the correct address. FD
Phil's program appears to automatically add an http:// signature to FNMOC's current https:// type address. So, here is the old FNMOC http:// address page (see link); this should automatically redirect you to the correct address. FD
Type it in like this!
open a NEW window and type into the URL window the following(without the quotes) "https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/PUBLIC/" then <ENTER> that should do it..it works with Mozilla/FireFox Since this is a mil site they do NOT allow straight redirection from outside servers. good useful site, so keep working at it, and then bookmark it. g'Luk didereaux
open a NEW window and type into the URL window the following(without the quotes) "https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/PUBLIC/" then <ENTER> that should do it..it works with Mozilla/FireFox Since this is a mil site they do NOT allow straight redirection from outside servers. good useful site, so keep working at it, and then bookmark it. g'Luk didereaux
Robin's Hawaii passage WFC improving!
Just looked at the FNMOC site again (see link) and saw that the NE tradewinds are forecasted to slowly establish themselves over the lower NE Pacific. If Robin has already left (does anyone know?) he may be having a bit of a rough time right now with swells generated by one of the last depressions currently set to bring more rain and snow to the Western US. After that, however, a weak Pacific high may even establish itself pulling the much desired NE trades a bit closer to the California coast. Since the FNMOC link probably does not work, as mentioned before, just copy the "https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/" part, choose "Public" access, click on the E Pacific thumbprint map and select the wave surface wind and wave maps for the coming 6 days. Looking at the weather maps yourself is always a good exercise for future offshore adventures.... Have fun! Flying Dutchman
Just looked at the FNMOC site again (see link) and saw that the NE tradewinds are forecasted to slowly establish themselves over the lower NE Pacific. If Robin has already left (does anyone know?) he may be having a bit of a rough time right now with swells generated by one of the last depressions currently set to bring more rain and snow to the Western US. After that, however, a weak Pacific high may even establish itself pulling the much desired NE trades a bit closer to the California coast. Since the FNMOC link probably does not work, as mentioned before, just copy the "https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/" part, choose "Public" access, click on the E Pacific thumbprint map and select the wave surface wind and wave maps for the coming 6 days. Looking at the weather maps yourself is always a good exercise for future offshore adventures.... Have fun! Flying Dutchman
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