Congratulations to Kynntana (Freedom 38) in safely arriving with crew intact to Kaneohe, Hawaii I believe 1900 7-21-22
Looking forward to hearing all about this voyage….
Thanks, Camino! I think it was a tough passage for many of the initial starters because of the low winds those first few days. For us, on Kynntana, I had an all green crew with very little offshore experience at all. I haven’t checked the tracks but I think we did not navigate that well either. Studying the GRIBs is not a favorite hobby of mine. We seem to have kept chasing the wind rather than anticipating it. After everyone took a watch with sails slatting in no wind conditions, I talked them off the cliff at day 11 when the crew was ready to start motoring to Hawaii and we were just halfway there at that time. All went well until the mast wedge ring started rotating and squeezing its way out on Day 14 resulting in a horrible squeak that sent everyone over the edge, including myself at that point. It was decided we would motor through the lulls, which would facilitate getting one of the crew to her flight by Friday morning (day 18)I didn’t realize this and other deadlines that had been set before we took off. In the end, we motored about 6 hours in total and arrived Thursday as the sun was setting. There was an escort boat from Kaneohe Yacht Club to greet us and help make our way through the shallow channel. We arrived at KYC in full Goslings Rum Party time and had a roaring reception from the quay. No pressure trying to thread our way with light blindness between pilings, anchor buoy lines, and a pile of Pac Cup boats. It is very different in Kaneohe Bay compared to Hanalai Bay after the Singlehanded TransPacific race, but it’s so fantastic in its own way. Kynntana and I depart this Thursday with two new crew to make our way back to Oakland. We might actually make faster time on the return.
Kynntana at KYC.
TOTAL respect! Stephanie and I followed the tracks on YB Races - actually looks very good. Know that we’re with you in spirit for the northern route home! Holding everything together - phenomenal — Looking forward to a Freedom get-to-gether in the future.
I love that quote!
Lol notice I removed it - I got it from Bill Teplow ( double handed Hilo 2010) but in googling I see it’s been used before! Love it!
Screenshot from Windy shows Kynntana yesterday a.m. in 18 kts tws
Gammy,
I am in Australia and out of touch. Saw this thread in my email feed. Congrats on safe arrival, sounds like a wild adventure…as usual (which is what keeps us coming back, right?).
Anyway, good on ya, mate!
Having not heard more and loosing kynntana’s “track” I contacted the pac cup commodore (especially after reading about poor weather, several boats returning to Honolulu, and an Express 37 captain who cut his ankle, got infected, and had to be picked up by a re-routed Taiwanese freighter and had a Coast Guard medivac where he is recovering at Stanford) - but Kynntana was reported to in sort of mild weather and all well…
…so Hopefully Kynntana will be under the Golden Gate 8/16/22 or so… she is reported to be doing nicely:). Yay.
Hey guys! Thanks for the postings. Kynntana returned to her slip in Oakland on the morning of August 19. We had some great sailing, some unbelievably difficult sailing, and some no sailing with a glassy sea. Anything the Pacific could throw at us, it did.
Yes, I am not sure how I talked myself into doing it again (SHTP in 2018) and I swear (seriously) I am not crossing another half an ocean unless I plan to take my time cruising before returning. It is too brutal to turn around after a few days. Below are pics of my crews. Fun times and adventures seemed to be had by all 
Congrats Gamayun!
Naty and I were with you (in spirit).
I had similar weather in 2004 on the return, although I distincly remember a 3 day stretch on a broad reach on latitude 38 heading home. Winds were about 18 out of the south west. That was a great ride.
I spent about 6 weeks on the quay at KYC. I think I had more things to repair for the trip home. It all worked out though. Naty had pizza and beer waiting for us, but like you, I don’t think I’ll do it again. Too much fun the first time…
Tom
Yay Kynntana! Big congrats to chime in with Tom and Naty! Wanna hear about how the self steering worked and solar panels! On our double handed return in 2010 our Cape Horn wind vang was useless due to us not balancing the rig! We installed an st 2000 ( I think) to the tiller of the j35 right before departing Radio Bay and relied on that and hand steering- yuk. Our last 2 days saw complete glass and zero breeze. So happy you’re home!