Blue Book of Boats

There’s a long checklist of things to look out for when transporting a sailboat by truck.

1. Make certain that all Mast Poles are un-stepped and de-rigged.
2. All cables and spreaders should be bound or taped to the pole.
3. ALL rigging, winches, wind indicators, and running lights must be removed from the mast.
4. The strongest side of the mast should be left “clean” to rest on the trailer.
5. Poles should be wrapped with carpets to avoid chafing.

DB crew lovingly dismantled the cables, riggings, spreaders, instruments from the mast before handling over the demasting  job  to the professionals, who made the work seem effortless.  Once the mast is unstepped and de-rigged, then it is put in a sling ready to be laid on a boat cradle.

This baby will get special care all the way home.  The captain and the first mate will drive in a pilot car and personally escort  Delicate Balance all the way home.

We – the Delicate Balance Fans Club sends our best wishes to  all the sailors, crew, race committee and their friends at the Vic Maui Race 2010 party in Lahaina.  We will not be at the Celebration Party, but one of our crew Terry Reid will be there on our behalf.   We all shared in the DRAMA and the EXCITEMENT, and this is something we will never forget. We are looking forward to hearing more stories from the Delicate Balance crew members after they’re fully rested.

Sunny moment on Delicate Balance on route to San Francisco. The waves remain big.

Congratulations to Terremoto! Scott Burbank’s Riptide 35 Terremoto! crossed the finish line at 22:30:49 HST on July 14 to earn Vic-Maui 2010 line honors with an elapsed time of 11d:15h:20m:49s. The fastest elapsed time since 2002.

Terremoto’s crew – first to finish. (photo from vicmaui.org)

Kinetic – four father & son teams and a  nephew – second to cross the finish line, but won first place on corrected time. (photo from vicmaui.org)

For an official press release issued  by Delicate Balance July 13, 2010 to the Vic Maui Race Committee.   click here. The Story of Delicate Balance.

At the Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito,  Delicate Balance proudly displays the Vic Maui 2010 Race burgee for all of Sausalito to see.

Surprisingly, not many Californians have heard of the Vic-Maui Race, so Delicate Balance is doing its share of publicizing the race.

Delicate Balance crew wasted no time and began preparation for the journey home.

Sleeping blankets, foul weather gear, bunk cushions and sailing mitts were hung out to dry.

Bunk cushions neatly arranged on the dock, basking in the heat of the sun.

All the sailing mitts neatly lined up, like laundry on a clothes line.

The Sainted Sailor Wives chipped in to put some womanly touch to the boat.  The spirit of teamwork is amazing considering the ordeal that the crew has been through.  Everybody remained cheerful and upbeat.  The friendship amongst the crew was cemented during the last few days, and they shall never forget their adventure stories.

Rumour has it that the captain is already making preparation plans for the Vic Maui 2012 race.

July 10, 2010.  Saturday.  Delicate Balance crew members arrived at a Sausalito Marina at around 5:30 m PST and took another three hours  to clean up and travel by taxi to nearby Oakland to clear US Customs.  It was not till 9:00 pm before they reach the Larkspur Hotel in Mill Valley for their hot showers.

Three Sainted Sailor Wives arranged hotel rooms for the weary sailors and a celebratory dinner at the Frantoio Restaurant – famous for its stone olive press.  Frantoio claims to be the only restaurant in the United States with a state-of-the-art certified organic olive oil production facility on site.   The restaurant normally closed at 10 pm,  but the Sainted Sailor Wives made a special arrangement with the restaurant which extended its hours till 11:00 pm for the crew of Delicate Balance.

Three of the spouses joined the crew members, while two sent their love messages through the telephone.  A feast of ribeye steak with porcini mushrooms and sauteed asparagus, along with red and white wine and plenty of laughter as the Delicate Balance crew talked about their adventures.

The crew members reassured everyone that:

1.  NEVER FOR ONE MOMENT WERE THEY IN FEAR OF THEIR LIVES.
2.  THERE WAS NO MUTINY ON THE BOAT, NOR ANY DISAGREEMENT.
3.  NO FINGERS WERE MISSING, NO RIBS WERE CRACKED, NO SPINNAKERS TORN, NO FEELINGS HURT, NO EGOS BRUISED.
4.  EVERYONE RETURNED IN ONE PIECE, EVERYONE SMARTER, AND MORE APPRECIATIVE OF LIFE.
5. IT WAS ENTIRELY THE CAPTAIN’S DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE, FOR THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF THE CREW.

Kudos to the Captain.

The luxury of a warm bed, hot showers and hot meals was a complete surprise to the weary crew.  Only a team of SAINTED SAILOR WIVES could have made this possible.  Tonight, the sailors will have a full night sleep.