Abandoned derelict boat spotted on Transpac route

by Rich Roberts on 20 Jul 2005 Rick Gorman's Swan 53, Incredible, from Long Beach reported sighting an abandoned 40-foot sailboat at 25-54N 134-35W Monday. It had been dismasted and the word ‘derelict’ spray-painted on the topsides.

Alaska Eagle wrote: ‘We subsequently discovered an article in the current edition of Latitude 38 noting that the vessel was a Newporter 40 named Kamera abandoned by her skipper, William Peterson, after she was dismasted 800 miles SW of San Diego on June 10. The skipper was recovered by the USS Chun Hoon out of Pearl Harbor. Kamera appears to be on her way slowly to the South Pacific.’

Meanwhile, boats that started two days ahead of the Morning Glory gang indicated they had gone as far south as necessary to avoid the Pacific High and were headed straight for the finish.

Mike Dawley, watch captain on Norm and Rosemary Dawley's Custom 48, Pursuit, from Maryland, reported: ‘We actually got our first brief glimpses of blue sky today (alternating with a foggy heavy mist) which was a nice change from the plain gray we have had since the start. The big strategy change of the day was the decision to start heading directly for Hawaii instead of looping around to the south along the traditional route.

‘Based on various illegible weather faxes, notoriously inaccurate 'grib' files and radio weather reports that
think we have totally different winds than we have, we have come to the conclusion that the High is too far to the northwest to trap us in the doldrums.’

Dan Doyle reported from Two Guys On the Edge that ‘we are pointing directly at Diamond Head Buoy. We had 20 minutes of sun today and a lot of squalls.’