Middle of the freakin’ Pacific

Early this morning I gave Bill a ride over to the Corinthian for the start of the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s 2010 TransPac www.sfbaysss.org It’s a race from San Francisco Bay to Hanalei Bay, Kauai; a 2,120 mile dream or nightmare, depending on conditions and your state-of-mind.

 Singlehanded means just that – there’s only one sailor per boat. First they have to make it through the shipping lanes, sleep deprivation kicks in as they continue to put distance between their boat and land…and eventually the experience translates into being alone in the middle of the freakin’ Pacific.

Bill and his mistress boat Ergo did the race in ’04 and ’06 so I know what it feels like to drive to Tiburon with him in the early morning. When it comes to saying goodbye to someone who’s going to be alone in the middle of the freakin’ Pacific, I feel a need to say something important. Something to tide us over in the days ahead. But I’ve never figured that one out, other than ‘I love you,’ and ‘be safe.’

Thankfully, this morning I didn’t have to say goodbye because Ergo wasn’t racing. Bill says he’s over the TransPac. I’ve heard that before but he’s  sounding convincing. For now.

This morning he helped tow the fleet to the starting line:

But before the towing began, here’s Blue Moon (Adam Correa) and Cathy:

Sure, she looks trim and beautiful now, but voice of experience to Cathy: in the days ahead, stay away from channel surfing and binge eating. Just saying.

Here’s what it looks like on the dock as friends and families gather to see their sailors off:

In ’04 they towed Ergo out before I had a chance to give Bill a kiss goodbye. As I stood on the dock waving, a man who happened to be standing behind me said, “Sometimes they go crazy out there.” 

Where’s the Cherry Garcia when you need it? 

And here are some of the racers — past and current — milling around for some last minute, jeeped-up conversations:

Semper Fi, Marine!:

Folks start to gather up toward the race deck for the start:

and I make friends with an egret who is watching the last boats being towed on the far end of the dock:

Wishing all the racers a fast, safe passage — here’s your reward — Hanalei Bay at dusk:

Oh, and here are two photographs Bill took in the middle of the freakin’ Pacific: