Sail Hawaii Blog

West Oahu Paradise ~ Sailing to Makua

10/17/2019

Imagine a beautiful Hawaiian day with prefect breezy winds, calm coastal waters, and warm sunshine lighting the way. This is paradise and you’ve embarked on your newest adventure, bareboat cruising! The chart is plotted, the boat is in ship shape and the journey begins out of the Ala Wai Harbor.

So where exactly are you headed? The eight-hour cruise along Oahu’s Leeward coast leads to Makua.

An ever-changing valley alive with mysticism and majesty dating back to one of the original settlements of Oahu civilization. Makua means parents deriving its namesake from the God and Goddess that united in the valley giving life to the first Hawaiians. The soft Kaiaulu winds are gently guided down the faces of the three valley’s Ko'iahi to the right, Makua in the center, and Kahanahaiki to the left. The space is tangibly serene sprinkled with the drone of a passing car along Farrington Highway. The anchor is dropped and pristine aquamarine water beckons a swim, one by one the crew splash into the warm clear waters of Makua. The sun begins it’s westerly descent with a gradient of soft pastels into a crescendo of passionate magentas, oranges, and pinks. The ocean reflects the changing sky glistening a swirl of turquoise and pinks along the calm glassy waters. The first stars make their introduction to the night sky and a gentle shadow makes its way over the valley revealing the details of their ridged figure against the painted sky. One last glimpse and the sun descends into the line separating sea and sky.

The first day is a success! A full belly and comfortable corner of the boat the crew reflects on the journey sure to be accompanied by laughter and stories. Hours pass and the night reveals in all its splendor the portrait of a thousand stars. The boat comfortably sways rocking the crew to sleep in one of the most splendid places in all Hawaii. The following morning there’s a possibility for a playful swim with indigenous Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins!

Once underway, sailing instruction continues rotating crew members at the helm and reviewing exam questions with both verbal and hands-on experiences to ensure crew members ace their exams!

By Elizabeth Kaiolohia Sneed

Lahaina Return Race 2019

9/12/2019

Sailors trimmed their sails for Honolulu on a near-perfect Labor Day (September 2nd) to compete in the 2019 Lahaina Return Race. The race starts on Maui’s northwest tip in Honolua Bay and follows the mystical coastlines of Maui and Molokai intersecting Oahu at Makapu’u and finishing at the Hawaii Yacht Club. Towering lush volcanic cliffs, waterfalls, and the occasional pod of dolphins escort the sailors along Molokai’s northern coastline. Sailors taking Molokai’s more direct southern route to Oahu experience a breezy arid coastline with views of Lanai off their port side.

The race has been held for 76 years with 2019 as one of the most popular registration years on record hosting thirty-seven boats! Sailors hop over to Maui on Friday to begin Labor Day weekend festivities like the Oahu vs Maui Softball game. Our friend Sean with Ala Wai yachts competed in the race with a Quicksilver Faar 38 finishing the race in about eight and a half hours. Others enjoy laidback cruising with the fleet which is a great opportunity to take out a new sailboat!

Congratulations to all who competed in the Lahaina Return Race and here’s to doing it again next year!

Maiden Visits Hawaii

7/18/2019

A unique sailboat docked at the Hawaii Yacht Club last week, The Maiden, complete with her all female crew, and a single-minded vision of raising awareness for girls’ education initiatives worldwide is changing the world one sail at a time.

The Maiden Factor Organization is led by renowned yachtswoman Tracy Edwards; who shattered the world’s expectations of what was possible thirty years ago by winning two legs of the Whitbread Round the World yacht race with her all female crew.

The win was no small task, as one of the longest races in the world Tracy Edwards and her crew faced the most extreme conditions of the ocean, financial challenges, and enormous criticism as the first ever women to compete ultimately winning second overall.

Today, the legacy of the Maiden sails on through Skipper Wendy Tuck and her all female crew complete with Hawaii’s own Shealin Johnson who’s passion paved the way for the Maiden’s first visit to Hawaii. She’s thrilled to accomplish her life goal of crossing the Pacific Ocean on the Honolulu Vancouver leg aboard the Maiden underway now!

Sail Hawaii says Aloha to the incredible women of The Maiden Factor, their mission to educate girls, and all women who wish to learn how to sail! To learn more about the project and follow their inspiring journey visit themaidenfactor.org or watch Tracy Edwards’ documentary, Maiden in a participating theatre!

Written by Elizabeth Sneed, photos by Elizabeth Sneed and Greg Martin

Cruising the Hawaiian Islands ~ Gemini style!

11/17/2018

TransPac 2017 Sets New Records

7/25/2017

Photo courtesy of Sharon Green, Ultimate Sailing

The every odd-numbered year race from California to Hawaii kicked off from Los Angeles and ended with parties in Honolulu with boats finishing from July 10th to the 19th. First to finish on July 10th was the ORMA 60 trimaran Mighty Merloe, setting a new TransPac race record of 4 days, 6 hours, 33 minutes and 30 seconds.

TransPac 2017 was the 49th race in this classic series that began in 1906, making it the oldest running ocean yacht race in the world. The 2,225 nautical mile race from Los Angeles to Diamond Head buoy starts in Long Beach's Rainbow Harbor and ends with parties at Hawaii Yacht Club, Waikiki Yacht Club and Kane'ohe Yacht Club.

This year there were 49 monohulls and 6 multi hull competitors from 8 countries. Although the first boats set records, most racers struggled with light air. Even so, racers eventually all made it to Ala Wai boat harbor, docks packed with boats and crew and the legendary welcoming parties, with friends and fans greeting with leis, mai tais and Aloha.

For more information about the race and to find out how to join TransPac 2019, check out the TransPac website, with many more amazing photos from Sharon Green at Ultimate Sailing. Also, check out this great video summary of TransPac 2017 by TransPac Race.

Welcome Home Hokule'a

6/18/2017

It was an amazing site to see. After a 3 year year circumnavigation covering 40,000 miles around the world, the voyaging canoe Hokule'a finally arrived home to Oahu on June 17, 2017 to the crowd of tens of thousands of people at Ala Wai Harbor and Magic Island in Honolulu. Arriving behind her entourage of seven keiki voyaging canoes from neighbor islands, Tahiti and New Zealand: Na Mohoe, Mookiha o Piilani, Makalii, Hawaii Loa, Okeanos, Fafaite, Hikianalia, the modern day wayfinders were met with leis, hugs, cheers and tears.

Image: staradvertiser.com

Photo courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society - 'Oiwi TV - photographer Na 'Alehu Anthony

The worldwide voyage of Hokule'a has been in the making for over 30 years and was carried out by members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, with a mission of educating the world about the history of Polynesian voyaging, traditional navigation and spreading a message of sustainability and caring for Mother Earth. More than 250 crew members took part in the voyage, with 31 legs to 150 ports around the world.

Hokule'a's arrival home marks the culmination of rigorous preparations and the undying dream to revive Polynesian voyaging after 600 years. During the arrival ceremony of Hokule'a officially designated a "state treasure," Honolulu City Mayor Kirk Caldwell presented Hokule'a Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson a key to the city and urged everyone to take the spirit of Hokule'a to heart. "Hokule'a talks to the future, to the keiki." said Thompson

Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Wow, that's fast!

5/19/2017

Phaedo 3 moored at Waikiki Yacht Club

In case anyone was wondering, the sailing speed record from Los Angeles, CA to Honolulu, HI was just set on May 16th by the MOD70 trimaran Phaedo 3. It took only 3 days, 16 hours and 52 minutes for Lloyd Thornburg and 6 crew to sail the 2,225 nautical miles across the Pacific. When they passed Diamond Head buoy at 4:32 am local time in Hawaii, they beat the previous record of 3 days, 18 hours set by the 105 ft Maxi trimaran Lending Club 2 during the 2015 TransPac race.

As Lloyd stepped onto the dock he said… “ An unbelievable trip! Can't believe we actually broke the record! This was the most difficult sail of my life. Everything went our way and the team put out a super human effort in order to keep the boat moving at nearly 30 knots through the entire trip. We are all excited for a well deserved rest and some sight seeing in Hawaii…" Quote from: 2017TransPacYC.com/news

Photo from Sailing Anarchy- thanks to Lolo SeaBiscuit

Sailing Off Waikiki Aboard Gemini

5/1/2017

Hawaiian Island Vibes on All Points of Sail

4/23/2017

Pacific Offshore Challenge 17-3: Sailing to Lanai, Maui and Molokai aboard Gemini with Lisa, Anton, James and Leandroe, April 8-15, 2017.

Sunglasses... check. Sunscreen... check. Provisions... check! The crew of Gemini made sure to stock up at Marukai and get plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and other delights. Lisa and Anton made it clear that we would not be eating canned food or pasta from a jar on this trip. So with everything else in order, Gemini and crew departed Kewalo for the neighbor islands, all smiles after looking at the weather forecast for the week.

Before setting off for the neighbor islands, the crew of Gemini decided to first make an anchoring stop off Waikiki. With the brilliant blue waters today, the idea of a quick swim call is just irresistible. It's also an opportunity to test out the new Bruce anchor and get the new anchor rode wet for the first time. New gear on this trip: new Bruce (claw) anchor and rode (200 ft of rope + 50 ft of chain) and new roll up inflatable dinghy. We're bringing the outboard from Iorana so we don't have to row in Lahaina (yeah right!).