What we learned from our first Transpac

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Definitely, fishing! We needed more lures and more line since the fish kept taking ours! 

There's nothing like catching a fish at sea and having the freshest sashimi and ceviche ever! 

We consciously decided to use smaller lures since the larger the lure, the larger the fish and we weren't going to slow down because we had one on the hook!

You can't eat too well on board a racing vessel! We provisioned for 4 meal times a day with snacks and drinks available 24/7 and "fellowship hour" at 4pm when we were all awake.  

We pre-cooked 70% of our meals and snacks, had "fast" cookie dough in the freezer for night watch treats.  

We planned a menu so we would have 20% more food than we thought we needed because sometimes you just get a hankering or the transit takes longer than expected!  

Even so, if doing Transpac again, we'd make a few changes - more tea and instant coffee, more vegetables and better vegetable storage. We had a good selection of pots and pans, but should have had a few more serving bowls.

One of my favorite times of day -- when all 7 of us were awake. Each day had a theme. Tracy was the mastermind and wove days that celebrated each crew member (did you know this about him/her) with favorite music, food, drink, spirit animal, etc. Other days were themed by National holidays and we were all surprised to open gifts from loved ones that were wrapped and surprises to all of us! Some were games to play, challenges to solve, tasks to do... and the ones from the kids were the hardest!

The medical dynamic duo of Tracy and Courtney blew me away! It started with a medical questionaire and a list of medications to ask our doctors to perscribe for our med kit. 

Not only did they create a literal hospital aboard in case we needed anything, but they also understood that the most invaluable medical skill is our ability to observe each other and to know ourselves. 

Every week for the 6 weeks leading up to the race they emailed the crew with a "Med Minute" on a topic for self care: heat stroke, bowl movements, a hygiene checklist, signs of hypothermia and dehydration, basic CPR and use of our donated AED. The one on direct vs indirect communication (the same discourse through different styles) is one I will always treasure on and off the water - brilliant! 

when I got on the first boat I helped cruise (S/V Quest), I was handed a stack of index cards held together by a ring and was told, 'read this before you ask.' I realized that if someone was injured, it'd likely be the person who knows the most about how the boat works.  Now that I'm the sole owner of Rhiannon, that'd be me. 

Originally, I made the handbook for cruising, then to keep this crew from distracting me. What it has become is truly a second brain for the boat! 

From the location of tools and spares to how to operate specific equipment, safety and emergency procedures and personal health tracking, each person who spends a night on the boat gets their own copy of the handbook and I keep tinkering with it, making it better as I understand the boat better and better!

Everyone had chores and chores were part of the watch schedule. Details for each of the chores were described in the Rhiannon Handbook and included cleaning the galley, heads, berths and floors, doing dishes, preparing food, checking lines for chafe, moving halyards and other working lines a few inches every 6 hours to minimize chafe,  checking blocks and standing rigging for potential failure, looking at the rudder post, thru-hulls, engine room, watermaker, battery meter and solar energy generation. Water and fuel were measured daily. Sails, shackles and blocks were checked for wear. 

Careful observation uncovered failing backing plates from turning blocks before equipment had full failure. Having enough spares allowed us to rerun sheets under load. 

For all that happened, it could have been far worse! I'm grateful to a keen-eyed crew and creative problem solving.

From Marina del Rey, dawn breaks clear,

As Rhiannon casts loose her mooring lines,

Her hull cuts through the swells without fear,

While Captain Stacy charts the course through ocean's signs.

The crew works deck to deck with practiced hands,

Each sail trimmed right for maximum speed,

As California fades to golden strands,

They chase the trade winds' call, fulfill the need.

Through days of spray and starlit navigation,

The Crew’s dream unfolds on endless blue,

The yacht responds to wind's sweet conversation,

Her bow pointed toward Hawaii's view.

At last Diamond Head Light pierces the night—

Rhiannon's crew has sailed their dream to aflight.