Over the Side!

I made an overnight passage the from Lahaina, Maui to Honolulu on Oahu the other day and am now tied up in Ala Wai Boat Harbor. Ala Wai is right in downtown Honolulu and next to Waikiki Beach. For a municipal marina it’s not too bad at all. It’s costing me less than 10 bucks a day and includes power, water and reasonably clean rest rooms and shower facilities.

The 70 mile trip was very a pleasant contrast to the previous passage I made between the Big Island and Maui through the Alenuihaha passage. For one thing the Trade Winds had lessened from 30-35 knots to 10-15. The seas had calmed down a lot, too.

Now I have a confession to make… I withheld a bit of interesting information from you in my last blog entry. During the Alenuihaha trip I was washed over the side! Yes you may beat me and abuse me, please do! I was tired, I had no life jacket on, no tether on and I ignored the most important rule of all, “One hand for the ship and one hand for yourself�. It happened like this… I was broad reaching at about 8-8.5 knots with only a double reefed main up. I had the helm tied off and the seas were very short and steep and breaking violently. I noticed a jib sheet had been washed partly into the water and when I reached for it a wave broke into the cockpit… the boat lurched and the breaking wave literally washed me OVER THE SIDE! I managed to wrap my arm around the winch and my leg around the stanchion and hauled myself back aboard. People, please be careful out there! Bad stuff happens way faster than you can even imagine it!
There, I feel better now that I admitted it. I feel really stupid.

Upon arrival in Hono I hoped to get a slip at Hawaii YC where I had a pleasant stay in 2001. There was no room at the inn. Ditto at the Waikiki YC . Fortunately there was one slip available in the municipal marina for me. It’s right on the sea wall and gives me the most pleasant view of the sea and the surf break where the surfers do their thing. Very nice! It’s also much cheaper than the Yacht Clubs.

I want to point out that the infra structure for both visiting and local yachts here in Hawaii is very poor. There is not enough moorage facilities anywhere in these islands and most of the suitable anchorages are off limits.It’s not the Northwest… but it is warm!

Cheers and all the best!