Tom Vilhauer Arrives Hawaii [T minus Aloha, Departure Planning]

[Christian Williams]

They typically start off Mexico as summer begins, then march west above the equator. Often that means they never get above 10 or 15N.

But they're unpredictable, and apparently their course depends on water temperature--they like it warm. Tropical storms have always paralleled me en route Hawaii in July, and ten years ago two of them chased me into Kauai and passed overhead. The issue is that they can make a sudden turn north any time, and they can proceed hundred of miles north of the Hawaiian Islands.

This seems like a great year for Tom's sail. On the other hand, the North Pacific High is very far north, making for a long sail home. But that can change.

Here is a personal view of hurricane issues:

 

[Christian Williams]

Daily Updates here.

 

[Christian Williams]

Looks like light air today, most barbs showing 10 knots. Often this means very light at dawn, building to easy in the afternoon.
Pleasant stuff, calm seas. He has a nice slant at the current 24J mark, not dead downwind.



But the Gribs show calms in days ahead. Trade winds on holiday. Here's June 26:

 

[Christian Williams]

Good progress.



Gribs show increasing wind next few days, possible wild ride (the wind velocity shown by barbs is often understated). 28 June forecast:

 

[Christian Williams]

Hundred miles or so to go:

 

[Christian Williams]

9 a.m. today, abeam Diamond Head!

...

 

[G Kiba]

Congrats Tom!
Hope to hear about your adventure in person some time. Maybe RYC when you return?
So now you have two good cocktail conversations!
1) Swimming the English Channel
and
2) Singlehanding a sailboat from SF to Hawaii.
Pretty incredible.

 

[Bepi]

9 a.m. today, abeam Diamond Head!

View attachment 43430...View attachment 43431

I can only imagine what he is feeling right now,. I'd be bawling my eyes out.

 

[goldenstate]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the positivity. It’s a long way (!) Resting now, more later.

 

[windblown]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the positivity. It’s a long way (!) Resting now, more later.

Congratulations, Skipper! Sleep well.

 

[southofvictor]

Congrats on the passage! Look forward to hearing more after you’ve had a chance to decompress. Way to go!

 

[jav317]

Congratulations! Well done!

 

[Joliba]

Congratulations, Tom. It must feel great to arrive in Hawaii!

 

[dhill]

Congratulations Tom! Well done!

 

[David Grimm]

Congrats Tom, Thats one epic adventure! Great job! You sailing it back as well?

 

[goldenstate]

Congrats Tom, Thats one epic adventure! Great job! You sailing it back as well?

I am handing the boat off to a delivery team for the way back.

 

[ignacio]

Congrats Tom! Excited to read your report!

 

[goldenstate]

For anyone with vicarious passage-making interest, my boat Sure Shot is on her way back to California. My delivery team, a couple, are headed North.

Garmin Explore™

Manage your Garmin Explore or inReach account. With Explore and inReach, you can communicate, map, track, and share your trek from anywhere on Earth.

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[Loren Beach]

For anyone with vicarious passage-making interest, my boat Sure Shot is on her way back to California. My delivery team, a couple, are headed North.

Garmin Explore™

Manage your Garmin Explore or inReach account. With Explore and inReach, you can communicate, map, track, and share your trek from anywhere on Earth.

share.garmin.com

Thanks Tom. Are they headed north to try to turn and pass over the usual "high" ?

 

[goldenstate]

Thanks Tom. Are they headed north to try to turn and pass over the usual "high" ?

Yes. They are facing winds from the East. Windy.com or PredictWind.com show the challenge of making it back to North America.