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Mutiny at Dawn - Transpac Race 2013

253K views 1K replies 138 participants last post by  chall03 
#1 ·
My crewing/captaining luck finally ran out on me, I was shaken but not broken. I need reinvent my luck to continue to sail the great ocean ours.

Here is my daily log while on board a 2002 Jeanneau 43 DS on on route from Long Beach, CA to Diamond Head, Honolulu, HI during the 2013 Transpac Race.

I changed the names of the people involved for now.

Me - rockDawg or RD. as on-board navigator
Jake – Near coastal USCG licensed Captain. Serve as a crew.
Harry - Skipper/Owner – A Japanese national owns a Sushi Restaurant in LA, long time old traditional sailor, but no off shore or long passage experience. Serve as a skipper
Jane – Partner of Harry, co-owner of the Sushi Restaurant. Has no sailing experience. Serve a watch crew as needed
Sheryl – Mother of Jane, 86 yo. No official duty.
Jeanneau 43 – Corporation owned sailing vessel

==========================
Arrived LAX Friday July 5.
Skipper Harry picked us up at the airport. He looks older than his age and on a heavy side, but nevertheless, a kind and humble gentleman. A number of close calls on the way to the marina, he veered off into other lanes on the highway a few times. I hope Harry sails better than he drives, :) but I did not say anything and just sat quietly so he could concentrate on the road.
When we got the marina, Harry had a hard time to find a parking space. Coming from as an exNYC cabbie, he does not how to drive. We were late for the 'First Time Racer' party. The kitchen at the yacht club was closed but Jane, Harry's business partner bribed the kitchen, and they made us a chicken sandwich for each of us. Actually I would have preferred go to Sam Woo to dinner. Oh well, the guests did not have the choice.

-Day 2, Sat, July 6
Clear sunny sky in Long Beach. Oh boy, I really have a hard time understanding Harry's English. We need to develop some sign language. He apologized to us all the time about his language , but this is ridiculous. He has been in this Country for 16 years……hahaha. We leave his marina and head to Long beach. He had me on the helm until we entered Long Beach since I have no idea when I am going. At time I have to rely on my iPhone. His chart plotter on the helm sucks, it is B/W and the screen has no contrast, impossible to read. We moved the boat to Pine Ave Pier, where the race official marina was.

There were other boats there on the pier. Because of space we were docked stern in with dropping anchor at bow. I was not able to convey my idea to Harry, so I drew pictures to show him my suggestion. He agreed and we docked successfully.

I saw lots of big boy toys in the race with professional crews. Our Jeanneau 43 just did not fit in the race. But whet the hell, we are here.
We had the skipper meeting in the late afternoon. I recorded the meeting so that I wouldn’t miss anything. I had zero local knowledge and was not familiar with the local names, so it was hard for me to follow what they were saying without a chart/map.

Obviously the meeting was not geared towards newbies like us. After the meeting was the party. Good food and good entertainment but one has to buy your own drinks in the party. Jake bought me a coke for the evening.

-Day 1, Sunday, July 7:
A bit disorganized, lots of things to do were found not done. We tried to help as much as we could. I found out the provisioning was not done as planned. Sat phone and other safety equipment not installed done. Harry refused to buy a pair jack lines from West Marine. He insisted to use an old 3/8” round sheeting rope. Some of the re-inspection from the race committee was not just a joke. Just a check in the box deal. Totally unfocused, Jane hauled in a wind generator she obtained from eBay and asked me to install for the trip. Are you serious? I asked in my head.

We canceled our trial spinnaker run with Sam of Norht Sail in San Diego because Harry needed to go shopping for our food. Sam was a 17-time TransPac veteran. It was good that I could at least meet him in person. I tried to pick his brain as much as I could for the race. He gave me a lot of local knowledge. Jake and I wrote down as much as we could. I felt much better as I had sometime to study the chart and the weather report. It seemed to all come together well and scientifically made sense to follow the 1020 isobar.

Rocky start at the top: not sure what was going on, but there must have been big fight between Jane and Harry. Harry barred Jane from boarding the boat until 2 hours before the race started. I got a text message from Harry that was intended for Jane to read. Things were not looking good, I felt uneasy. I finally intervened and made both shake hand and start the team again.

Jake was also having second thoughts and considered backing out. I sacrificed so much for this race/voyage, I felt like I was being let down. Jake asked me what to do. I told him that I was committed to this trip and if he and Jane wanted to back out, I was comfortable sailing the boat alone with Harry. I told him I know Jeanneau well. We would be fine if Jake backed out.

Day 0, Monday, July 8: Race Day.
An unexpected and totally unnecessary event. Harry blew up over the coffee filter left on the coffee maker by Jake. It was a half hour rage and total shut down all operation. My goodness, the man needs an anger management course badly. He threw things all over and around him. He was insulting Jake and everyone else claiming this is his house,….. blah, bah.
I don’t think it was a big deal. The filter was still warm and he should have given Jake a chance to clean up. After all, we were being pulled all different directions for the last two days by two bosses. Well…. I didn’t care, I just want to sail the Pacific and nothing can stop me know.
{Edited: Never knew this was just the beginning of an ordeal that I have never expected}.

When my daughter was in her second grade, I think she had a better organization skills than that of Harry and Jane. We rushed and rushed in a totally disorganized way, I didn’t really have time to think. Somehow, I thought we would have plenty of time to work out the details once the rush is over when on route to Hawaii. Jake reminded Harry to top off the water tanks but he left the dock anyway to head to the starting point. Both Harry and Jane were equally controlling.

We were 20 min late to the start of the race, but I was happy to see that we were underway; at least I was thinking we will have time to learn or adapt Harry’s style. As I often said to other on the net. It is his boat, his house/castle, his rules unless my life is endangered.

Day 1 and 2, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9 and 10:
I am totally confused with this trip. Stress and fatigue were high. We were pulled into different directions at all time, like working with two bosses. We were being watched at all time. Micromanagement is too mild a word on this boat. How about nano- or pico-management?

And how about constantly remind you:
1. You don't know and thing!!!
2. You are a very bad crew!!!
3. You are a crew and an employee, We don’t need your opinion, You should do what you are told.

Day 3, Thursday, July 11
Calling it quits.
Harry exploded with his temper. We had no idea what the hell he was screaming and jumping up and down and stomping his feet like a five year old. He does not use sentences to communicate, just a single words. He continued screaming at you louder and louder with the same mispronounced word. No one knew what he meant, including his partner for 13 years.

Day 4, Friday July 12
Weather is getting warmer. Water temp went up to 71 degree from 68. Partial sun is out for the first time. Our jib was tore and need to be repaired. Although it was a bit too early and we were far from the trades wind, at 2 pm. We flew the spinnaker with heading toward HI and wind was on 160 degree. Doing 6 to 8 knots. Argh, finally we got the speed that I was hope for.

Day 5, July 12.
Too upset and too exhausted to enter daily log. Micromanagement and constant yelling finally wore me down.

Day 6, July 13:
Conditions were not getting better despite Jane talking to Harry. There was a significant mistrust towards Jake and I. We were not allowed to talk to each other and not permitted to sit at the navigation table and must stay in our berth, per Jane orders. In despair, Jake contacted a military ship “HS V2 Swift” nearby for rescue, claiming unsafe environment. Unfortunately Harry and Jane refused to let us leave the boat. The captain of Swift talked on the radio that they would monitor for 3 hours. They took away the VHF radio and sent Swift away. We were officially their prisoners.

Without any hope of getting off the boat and still has at least 2 weeks of sailing, I tried to repair the jib and the jib track on jib furler. Jake hoisted me up to the forestay to repair the tract and lower down the jib. I ended up being hoisted 4 times. It was no fun and impossible to hold on. The bosun chair was so poorly made, it cut out my circulation from the waist down.

I was starting to put a doubt on this voyage what would if this bad situation continues. The boat was doing about 4 knots, and every day there are about 2 to 4 hour of yelling and the boat moved less than 3 knots. We are going to run out of food before seeing land.

Day 7, July 14:
Things seem getting better since I raised hell or should I say I exploded. Jake and I stopped working, Harry apologized to me telling me that he did not properly maintain his boat for this trip. The forestay track came apart because the loosen allen screws. He thanked me to go up the forestay to fix the track. Otherwise, we have to return to Long Beach.

I warned him that I made no apology of my behavior of rising hell if he ever endangers my life again. He ordered me to go on the dock immediately to take the spinnaker down with my harrass. At the moment of his rage, I obliged and went on the deck with Jake to take the spinnaker down. That was stupid of me.

Day 8, July 15:
Cloudy again
Since I was ordered to stay in my berth, I did not do any watch. When I was up, I was informed the spinnaker was down, Harry claimed it was a wild gybe or should I say he was not good enough to sail at night with the spinnaker. I told him to use autohelm if needed to control the sudden wind changes. But he avoids and claim that autohelm is dangerous.

The repaired jib at least held up. But we were moving very slowly again.

Conditions are getting worse. Blame games begins. It is apparent that it is their boat, it is their decision. They don't care how long it takes to get to Hawaii. Both Jake and I want to get out this situation as soon as possible.
Jake and I set up the spinnaker again. We were doing quite well and got the speed up. A few hours later, one of the snap shackles came loose and caused the spinnaker fly like a kite. We carefully got spinnaker safely on deck and just used the jib and main sail. Wind was good and we are doing about 6 to 7 knots.

Day 9, July 16:
Every day seems like just another explosion. Life on this boat sucks big time. They think we are here to be their servants. Constantly being humiliated, we can't even trim the sails until we are asked. WTF!!!
Jake and I sewed and repair the bottom part of the spinnaker so that it won't rip further up the sail. We have no control where we are heading where the wind is. Harry just take to rhumb line 243 degree, But we worked all day.

Jane took away the sat phone preventing Jake from downloading the weather grib file. Harry has a problem controlling his temper and totally lacks people skills, but Harry is not a bad person. Jane is an evil, manipulative, and controlling liar. She appears she controls Harry until he blows up.

Day 10, July 17
Got up early in the morning and found out Harry took us directly north for almost 45 nm. WTF. Now we need to spend a whole day sailing back south. Wind died again.

We saw a j40 passing us. They did not even look at us or wave. They depart 2 days behind us. We are hardly moving.

Day 11, July 18:
Jake and I stayed watch from 10 to 4 am. We had a good run with the spinnaker doing 6 to 7.5 knots at all time, we use the autohelm to get us through some hairly situation. It was the best we had for this trip. After more than 7 hrs, Harry came to relieve us. Less than 5 min at the helm. He lost control of the spinnaker and it suffered a total system collapse. We rush back on deck with total disbelief. We knew it would require 5 to 6 hours of me and Jake working hard to get the spinnaker up again to sail in decent speed.

Both me and Jake worked franticly to prevent any further damage to the spinnaker under a total darkness with 17 plus wind. I almost killed myself and I decided I must quit in the dangerous situation. Jake and I want back to the cockpit and told Jane we could not work under this condition. In less than two hours, it would be dawn. We would try again to fix the fouled spinnaker.

At day break, Jake woke me up and get ready to rescue the spinnaker that was stuck permanently on the forestay. After 3 hours, fight with the wind we got it down and fly the spinnaker again.
The rest of the day, we sailed ok. Me and jake tried to dominate at helm as much as we could. Because we don’t want harry at the helm to fuuk thing up. If things fuuked up, it is me and Jake to fix the problem.

Day 12, Friday, July 19:
Mutiny at dawn
Got 2 hours sleep in 24 hours, me and Jakeues were on the helm all night until 4 am. Handed the helm to Harry and within 30 min the emergency whistle blew and rushed to deck with my half naked body and harness. The spinnaker collapsed and fouled. The guy line fell. WTF!!!
Jake and I fought like hell and battled 15 knots wind with huge sail of the spinnaker, and tried to save the spinnaker. We finally reattached the guy and cleared the fouled lines went back down to sleep. We were very lucky this time.

Must be less than 5 mins, the whistle was blew again, what the **** now. I bet my blood pressure went through the roof. The spinnaker was hopeless wrapped on the forestry. After 2 hours, Jake and I took down the damaged, torn spinnaker.

Mutiny is the only way to survive. I begged Harry to use the autohelm to control the spinnaker or we quit. We gladly put our lives on the line so many times (6) and we were only half way to Hawaii. We could not do this anymore. Like all the other times, they refused to use autohelm. I instructed Jake to use my satphone to call Dave Cort (Race Committee) The boat's satphone was no Longer accessible to us. I spoke to Dave begging him to help us to resolve the problem. He refused and claimed that is not their problem and we must resolve ourselves. I told him that this had become a safety issue for the crew members. I asked him to contact the CG for us and have the CG to call the owner. He hung up on me.

Because of poor reception, we moved up to cockpit to call the CG. Harry came behind and attacked Jake and use his arm around his neck and tried to get our sat phone and throw it over board. I struggled with him and he turned around and picked up the winch handle trying to strike Jake's head. I blocked his arm from hitting Jake. I dared him to strike me. But I was in a combat mode to block and struck his nose. He hesitated for a second and I grabbed and threw the handle away. Jane jumped in the midst of this for our phone, I grabbed her hands and pushed her to the starboard side of the cockpit and sat still. I told Jake to escape into the v-berth with the phone.
I shouted both of them with fouled language that they were no match with my strength and speed. 'Don't be stupid'!!!

I went to the v-berth after Jake and locked ourselves in. Harry stepped on the hatch, preventing us from opening the hatch for air and better reception.

I had my iPhone with me and CG number. We contacted the Norfolk region and worked ourselves to west coast region. I asked Jake to call CG, since he speaks perfect English with un-detectable Jewish New Yorker accent.

After explaining the situation to CG, the remaining question was to ask CG for advice on how to take control of the boat legally. Under what situation we must follow to get us safely to Hawaii.

If we don’t take control for the boat and sail her properly, our sails will suffer more damage and water supply will become an issue. We would be in trouble. We were totally out of CG Helo range. The wild gybe that Harry causes because his inability to sail at night, put me and Jake a greater danger.

Our water is dangerously low. Jake only given 1.5 L bottle of water to drink each day. And we are carrying an 86 year old lady who has no idea what is going on around her.

The CG informed us to deescalate the situation best I know how while he seeks legal advice. Lt. Daniel Han asked us to call back in an hour.
=======================

I will download the rest from my iPhone later.
 
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#659 ·
Among the vitriol some wisdom has been imparted.
Before a race/ passage know your fellow crew/ captain. Know their skill set and personalities.
Don't attempt a long race/passage without some level of experience with all members ideally on that boat.
Survey the prep of the vessel. If any of the above doesn't meet your standards walk.
Keep in mine Sal's chilling tale of the 6m loss. Waviors may be of no benefit as " one cannot give up ones rights".
Personally, I've learned a lot when other people do walk throughs on my boat. The point about Bermudas especially the m to b being a whole different kettle of fish then a transpacific is key. Think folks will under provision when racing and push harder leading to more equipment failures. However the sea is the same so passage making has the same issues. Thats maybe why you see so many husband/ wife teams refuse additional crew even on long hops.
Curious what other people put in their sea bag before setting out.
 
#661 ·
I was able to get my hands on a critical frame from the elusive video:

 
#666 ·
Weinie-
Criminal negligence, like most other crimes, can only be found when the actions meet the exact definition of the law. "Stupid" or "careless" or "incompetent" doesn't meet the definition of criminal negligence in New York but since Long Island is a very political state they couldn't just say that up front. This does not mean a civil suit for negligence cannot or will not be filed and won, just that no criminal code was violated.
Civil, criminal, administrative. At least three kinds of legal codes that are allowed to contradict each other in the US and that's ignoring state versus federal.

sevvy, you're right! I can just see Tom Cruise playing the part of Rockdawg, he wasn't really right for Jack Reacher but I have never thought the dawg was THAT tall. No offense dawg. Of course for the movie we will have to add satellite internet and have RD constantly trying to get advice from Sailnet in real time.

Sal, you make a good point about disconnecting a ram although disconnecting might be a bit much. I've seen duct tape over the gearshift to ensure that an engine can be used for charging, but not propulsion. "No questions asked" when it can't be put in gear. Wouldn't pulling the fuse/breaker on the AP accomplish the same thing, with less crawling under the cockpit?

Aargau, if you want to hear the other side of the story it is not hard to see what boats did or didn't finish in what races and from there contact the owner. As to Peter Luger's, it is an "institution" and the snob appeal counts for as much or more than the steak, and has for many decades. Even as late as the 1980's if you didn't order a rare steak they would serve it "POittsburgh" meaning BURNT outside and still rare inside, they refused to admit "medium well" could exist. For those of us who don't mind waiting for the meat to cook, even The Old Homestead did a better job and made a whole lot less fuss about it. Peter Luger's keeps itself as a semi-private club as much as a restaurant. That's their right.

And smack, yes, you can make steak that good on the bbq, all you need is real prime meat and a little practice. But I think I'd be just as happy with a $25 prime ribsteak (and there's no such thing as a "boneless" rib steak that's a non-starter) and put the other $75 into a good bottle of scotch as the hundred bucks wasted on PL's attitude.

I'm still trying to figure out how a corporation, a business, a commercial entity, can possibly make any legitimate business use of a recreational vessel. Which would also make the corporate entity responsible for anything taking place on the boat. But, I'm easily baffled by these things. Like asking, why an alleged sushi chef and holding company owner wouldn't at least keep a trolling line in the water during the race, to get some really fresh stuff onboard.
 
#667 ·
Weinie-

I'm still trying to figure out how a corporation, a business, a commercial entity, can possibly make any legitimate business use of a recreational vessel. Which would also make the corporate entity responsible for anything taking place on the boat. But, I'm easily baffled by these things. Like asking, why an alleged sushi chef and holding company owner wouldn't at least keep a trolling line in the water during the race, to get some really fresh stuff onboard.
I was thinking the same thing. Unless you are fishing or chartering or something with little doubt of its business use, you are asking for frequent and regular audits.
 
#668 ·
This is a pretty good story...let me see if if have it...Jake and RD are excited to sail the transpac so they sail on a boat owned by a raw fish restaurant...skippered by a crazy guy who cant speak English and loses his mind if you breath funny and drink water and his wife is on board and is trying to get a trophy for dehydrating her mother on the way to Hawaii.....sorry about all this crap RD and Jake but it would be fun to have a beer with you guys ......
 
#670 · (Edited)
slayer-
I figure, the USCG wouldn't question the impropriety, they just want the hundred bucks. Hey, they're perpetually underfunded. And then the only folks who would know any better, would be the tax men, but they wouldn't pick up on it unless they were checking assets or sales tax on registration. And again, who checks? They just want to count money paid. Still, it just seems irregular. I wonder how that's insured...then again, I still haven't heard whether anyone was actually paid crew, or was paying to crew, or were just "guests" for the race.
Shouldn't this be in Lat38 by now?

david-
As long as the boat says "Eat my raw bar! Pier 15!" or whatever, it can be a legitimate advertising expense. You know, if that fish bar is at that waterfront location in the marina, advertising is all it takes. Of course, that would be a commercial use...but not used in commerce or coastwise trade insofar as the USC defines it?
 
#671 ·
hellosailor; And [B said:
smack,[/B] yes, you can make steak that good on the bbq, all you need is real prime meat and a little practice. But I think I'd be just as happy with a $25 prime ribsteak (and there's no such thing as a "boneless" rib steak that's a non-starter) and put the other $75 into a good bottle of scotch as the hundred bucks wasted on PL's attitude.
.
The use of Lugars Steakhouse was an analogy to compare to Golden Corral and not to imply it was the best steakhouse in America although it is certainly a top rated one.

No way you can ever grill a steak on a home BBQ that is as good a quality as these top steakhouses. Most people's palates probably would not know the difference and a prime meat steak on the grill would be the best thing they have ever tasted.

However at these top steakhouses you are getting a steak which has spent time in their dry aged rooms as well as the establishments buying meat from animals which are between 2 and 3 years old. The average person can not find a place to buy this level of meat nor do they have dry aged rooms. There is a tremendous difference in flavored anyone can taste if a side by side cutting ( tasting) is performed with normal premium prime beef and dry aged 2-3 year old animal prime beef. To most it isn't worth the trouble or extra expense, but to some who want a truly gourmand experience it is. Most younger meats have a distinct veal like taste compared to their 2 year old dry aged cousins.

It's the difference between an 2008 David Bruce California Cabernet and a 2008 Lafite Rothschild French one. The Bruce is in the top 90 % while the Rothschild is the gold standard. In Hellosailor terms the difference between a Glenfidich scotch and a Macallam scotch.

Any sub-primal cut of meat can be fabricated into a boneless one for cooking. When grilling I believe it is actually the best way as it insures uniform cooking temperatures as meat by the bone is harder to cook and grilling is such a quick coking method no taste is imparted nor is their enough time for self basting. In roasting a meat such as a prime rib roast, strip loin roast it will help with flavor and moistness.

Sorry for the hijack
 
#672 ·
chef, no problem and if I win the lottery I'll ask you to buy the beef for me. I suppose USDA prime, dry aged, 2-3 year old cattle, would still count as trash according to some Argentinians I know, who think US feedlot beef simply is the wrong way to go. And what they consider good, would still be considered trash by folks who buy and age real prime Kobe beef in Japan.

Me, I've always figured that if dinner is going to cost a hundred dollars a plate, it doesn't need to have my name on it. I can taste and appreciate all kinds of subtle differences but at a certain point, sublime to ridiculous just crosses over into "stupid rich" along with the gold flecked Beluga caviar.

Bottle of Cutty Sark, paid rent, little elbow room, and I'm happy enough. And I can use big glasses, so no one has to get up to get refills. (VBG)
 
#677 ·
I am with you. Some people actually have the money to burn a spend it. Has kept employed for years.

Americans generally don't appreciate or understand food like Europeans r even our neighbors to the north Canada. They will spend money on palaces, costly cars, but when it comes to what they eat they settle for mediocre.

I enjoy traveling to Europe as they are still food artisans in almost every town and city.
 
#673 ·


 
#680 ·
We need to know more about the 86 year old mother in law???? If you are setting out on the voyage of your lifetime would you bring your mother in law? Why???? no doubt about it ...Harry is nuts....sorry if I appear dim I just had a Rib-eye grilled on charcoal along with some viking size vessels of A B+ Single malt ....we need to meet Harry.....
 
#689 ·
Wow what a crazy journey. I have been too busy to hang out here in a few weeks but helped deliver a sailnetter's boat today and he told me of this thread. I think the first clew something was wrong was the owners need to find crew from on the other side of the country where stories of his incompetence and crew relations had not reached yet. He might have trouble finding future crews.

My one long offshore race had a bit of craziness and marginally competent crew but nothing along these lines. Enough for me to learn about my captain and crew before heading offshore again.

I am no longer jealous of your Transpac opportunity.

Are there photos of videos yet?
 
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