Westsail Tortuga sailed in the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race.
It was another challenging race this time (my 3rd). Two days before sailing to Hanalei Bay my diver discovered very concerning movement of the Max Prop fore and aft on the shaft.
The good folks at SF boat works were able to get me hauled out and we got the issue sorted with the nut holding the Max Prop hub to the shaft being very loose. Got back in the water and then something was out of balanace with the blades and it wasn’t spinning right. Hauled about again the next morning and got it sorted (The day before the race!!)
Despite all the challenges, my finish time of 15 days 17 hrs beats the long standing Westsail 32 record time of 16 days 4 hrs set in 1978. The other 2 Westsails (Elizabeth Ann & Hula) crushed it as well and created new elapsed time records. Tortuga’s overall outcome is 3rd in class and 8th overall! I spent the day after I arrived in the ER getting my knee checked out. They Dr’s determined there was nothing broken, damaged etc and all the swelling was due to a cellulitis infection from the injury. Had to take a second layer of antibiotics to kick it out of my system now.
Hope you enjoy the video!

Race results:
https://www.jibeset.net/gpssummary.ph...

Great Latitude 38 Magazine article:
https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/...

Tortuga’s log:
https://www.sfbaysss.org/main/tales-f...

#westsail32 #westsailtheworld #fullkeelracing