PacCup Delivery - July 31st

Well, tough to make this sound overly exciting and fun. It admittedly is a bit closer to work right now.

We are making our way NNE through a trough of low pressure that is pushing North with us and giving us some nice Easterly winds.

Last night saw us working through several large squalls that I assume are a product of the clash between high and low pressure around us?? In any case, they were big ones. Avg. wind was 12-15, but when they came through there was 25-30 knots and unbelievable amounts of rain.

We saw about 4 of those. Then this morning broke nice and clear with 15 knots and lots of sunshine. We are only 250 miles north of HI and its still plenty hot.

Hoping the coming night is a bit easier on the crew. Will let you know tomorrow.

- Jim Gregory

PacCup Delivery - July 31st late

Beam reaching in 15-20, heading NNE. Squalls, lightning, etc. all night last night as a mini front moved over us. Better now, but still super hot and when you are heading upwind there is no way to open things up. Maybe I can sweat off the 40 lbs for Andrew on this trip!!

Racing to make the regatta in two weekends.... Its gonna be close...

- Jim Gregory

PacCup Delivery - July 30

Left Kauai this afternoon at about 3pm. Have been sailing on a close reach in 20 knots of wind since then. Heading roughly North.

Nice day, but sailing under single reefed main only to keep it as comfortable as possible.

Despite my efforts, our two guests have had a difficult afternoon/evening. Both are now intimately familiar with our bucket and it is sort of cute to see them wrestling for it when they both feel the need at the same time!!

Kathleen asleep on the floor. Tom in the cockpit. Both are toughing it out as best as can be.

Forecast for tomorrow is mid-teens so they will be better soon.

-Jim

- Jim Gregory

PacCup Delvery - July 30

HI All,

We are finally at sea, chugging our way north. The weather is as good as you could ask for. Wish the wind was a little more out of the south, but it's relatively light (18 knots) and the boat is riding well. Anyway, we are on our way. 2 flying fish so far. No whales.

We talked with others doing the delivery on the SSB last night. 9 others checked in. For those with SSB access (Bob) 8A at 2100 HST, or 8B if lots of noise. Then 12A at 2115HST. 4A at 0900PDT.

Kathleen and Tom sleeping well. The bucket is taking a rest. Actually, Tom stood part of a watch last night. Definitely feeling better!!

Love to all,

Deb

July 15 - 1500 PDT

Very close race. Would take a lot to see a scenario where we can catch Lightning but second is still a possibility (as usual). Several smaller boats are close and if things don't work out perfectly we may fall a few spots. Close with Recidivist, Synge, ET, and Saphire.

GREAT sailing in about 20 knots all day. Waves not quite lined up for good surfing, but we catch a few.

Transpac next year???

-JDG

July 12, 1800 PDT

Wow. With the exception of Lightning which has done a pretty outstanding job, we've got ourselves a race this time!! Recidivist, Saphire, ET, Kyrnos, Elixer, all really close to us and probably a few others.

We are all happy to see that the million or so gybes that we did yesterday with an emphasis on getting south has helped. We have more wind and made time on everyone in our class other than Lightning. They have saved their time on us already at this point, and while we've not given up we are a bit realistic.

Pushing the boat like crazy. Looks like some areas of light air floating across the course between now and our finish time so who knows what may happen. We are even thinking of a pretty wild "non standard approach to the finish from the south" as a last ditch effort to win this thing. Doubt we'll do that as the odds favor staying north initially!!

Chris doing well. Have had some moments of late night heroics. Great group, no issues on board. We all just want to keep pushing and see what happens.

We shall see.

- JDG

July 11 - #2

Sometimes it seems like nothing is really happening out here. One day often feels like the others, but there have been some events of note recently....

1) Port hand rail forward ripped off deck.

2) One galley cabinet door "fell off".

3) Rob and JC end up with the same exact ugly hawaiian shirt that they both ordered off the internet!

4) Chris has high speed record.

5) JC looking good for rookie of the race.

6) Chris dropped the glass/plastic coffee pot overboard when it slid from its plastic holder!!

7) Bob has solved the coffee problem.

8) Related to 6, we are almost out of instant coffee.

9) Tim likes to steer in a speedo??

10) Half way party soon!!

BTW - we did not like rollcall this AM. We have been living in fear of being to far north and yet the boats there seem to survive. Light winds today, and we are now gybing on all shifts and slowly working our way south more.... We will see!!

- JDG

July 11th - 0800 PDT

Sorry for the long delay between emails. Tough sailing out here. Winds up and down but seem to have been avg. about 13 knots. We are sailing as deep as possible on stbd to stay away from the light air to the north. On the otherhand, we keep wondering why the boats to our north are not suffering as much as we expect??? One thing for sure, the one boat to our south, Lightning, is not suffering at all!!

Yesterday, we shifted from broad reaching to running. Perhaps that will change the balance of power?? We shall see at the 9am rollcall.

Yesterday was also the Ugly Hawaiian shirt contest!! All entries were strong this year and the group photo with your special hats will be a classic. Chris won going away. Johnny was second, and Pete with a shirt that most of us think was not Hawaiian at all was third.

Just passed half way about an hour ago. 1072 miles to the finish line. Half way party today at noon!! As the winner, Chris will be wearing the grand prize when it kicks off!!

Best to all. Let's hope for a decent roll call. Many things could have changed yesterday. We almost gybed south for more pressure. Did anyone else?? Soon we will know.

- JDG

July 9th - 1030 PDT

Well, today's rollcall probably looks worse than it is.

All you needed to do to "look good" yesterday was turn a bit north and point your bow towards Hawaii. We still think there will be less wind up there and are invested in staying south. Of course, Lightning is more south and they are flying. Not sure where to find the silver lining there, but will work on it...

Great sailing!!

- JDG

July 8th - 2000 PDT

Now that's more like it!!

We were nervous going into that rollcall this AM. None too happy with the first day's standings we worked our tails off all day and night to keep the boat flying along. Great winds in the 20-25 knot range and didn't hoist the spin. until sunrise this morning!

Debbie - those hats are great!! You have outdone yourself again, wish you could see the pictures. Perhaps at the finish line.

Anyway, we watched our weather info all night, monitored the barometer and picked our spot to get around the SE corner of the high. If we went to close, we'd run out of wind, if we went too wide, we'd sail extra miles. Ugh...

Looks good at this point. We probably could have made the turn a bit more to the North, but by staying south we think we've set ourselves up well for the next few days.

Have spent today with the spinnaker up, pole forward, in 18-24knots of wind.

We have a new speed record for the trip set by Christopher!!! 19.9 knots!!

Guess what...he's having fun!!

- JDG

July 7th - 1800 PDT

Still sailing with main and blast reacher. Winds now about 20-24knots. Heading south!! Probably cross 130W at 31N. May change we'll see.

Going to suggest a new contest. "The Fastest Family Contest". This contest would be the sum of all family members "top speeds". Morpheus would currently submit a number of 54.2 knots!!

We would not provide the detail, that's for people to wonder about. But for you it would be..

Bob - 19.3knots

Jim - 18.3

Chris - 16.6

Hope to have a spinnaker up sometime tomorrow AM.

Not too happy about our current position in division, but these are SC52 conditions. Hopefully, we'll hold our own better under spinnaker and grind them down on corrected time over the rest of the race.

That' all for now!

- Jim Gregory

July 7th - 0845 PDT

Wow, what a night!!

Top windspeed 33 knots! Top boatspeed 18.8 knots - Pete McCormick.

Sail combo all night - reefed main and blast reacher.

Wet?? You bet!!

All is well,

Pacific Cup - Day #1

All's well onboard Morpheus tonight. Conditions are windy but not overly difficult. 22-26knots of wind on the beam with a single reef and the blast reacher up we are averaging 10+ knots and heading "south".

The SC52's were slightly ahead and to leeward this evening at sunset. They were slowly working their way ahead. Will be interesting to see how things look in the AM as we think the additional winds we have now may help us.

Chris is fine!!

- Jim Gregory