We have distilled many (at least 25) conversations about sailing around the islands of Hawaii into a sail plan. Starting on the docks of the Kaneohe Yacht Club, we asked questions and gathered local insights into places to go on a boat. Some of it had to be filtered through many years of sailing experience from old salts. The cross-referenced the best suggestions several times with Charlies Charts, along with several other maps and resources. The foundation of our plan is to participate in a race, The Lahaina Return Race, a downwind race from Maui to Oahu on Labor Day, Sept. 5th.
We leave at first light tomorrow to sail to Moloki. We expect to get to the small harbor of Hale-0-Lono by mid-day. The prediction is that the seasonal trade winds are returning, and we want to get ahead of that event. We hope to find 15 knot winds, versus the 25 knot trade winds that normally make the Moloki Channel a rough crossing. Once we are in the lee shore of Moloki, we should be able to relax and explore. Moloki is a 34 miles long and is rumored to have great natural beauty, and we will find out. We will then have the option of going to the island of Lanai, or the Molokini, the remnant of a volcanic crater. Lanai has an old barge harbor that is deep enough for Avion to enter, but the other 2 harbors are too shallow. We might just go straight to Molokini, as it is rumored to have great snorkeling. We will definitely go there.
The next big choice is where to go on Maui. We will probably go into Lahaina, and check in with the Lahaina Yacht Club and pick-up our tee shirts for the race. Apparently there are limited slips available in the harbor, so we might have to drop an anchor off the old Mala Wharf and use the inflatable to go ashore. The race starts from a harbor on the north-western tip of Maui, Honolua Bay, so we will go there one or two days before the race. It offers protection from the trade-winds and is supposed to be a great place to drop a hook.
The Lahaina Return race on Labor Day starts at 8:00 AM and is downwind to the Honolulu. The awards party is the same day, 12 hours later, at the Hawaii Yacht Club. The expectation is that you sail hard all day and then party. We will then return to our skip here at Kewalo Harbor. It is a fairly busy commercial harbor, but we have a good slip on the C dock, where it is quiet.
Needless to say, to be ready to sail tomorrow morning, we have done a huge amount of work. Good teamwork can be very productive. The list of things accomplished includes: installing new zincs (the first time I have ever done this myself), installing 2 new house batteries (the old batteries were not holding a charge, thanks you West Marine for free delivery), sending the main sail out for repair (several small holes from the upper spreaders) , purchasing 2 new jib sheets (solid red), purchasing micro-fiber sheets and towels (cotton never dries), filling-up the tank with diesel (and 3 jerry cans), carrying the propane tank to City Mill to be refilled (just 1.2 gallons but it will last 4 weeks), cleaning clothes (Megan found the “IDo Laundry”), and purchasing a bunch of food and fluids for a ten day trip. We are now ready. It is now time to get some sleep. Stay tuned.
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