Sailing from Berkeley to Hawaii in a 19ft Sailboat
Bill Teplow sailed 2,142 nautical miles from Berkeley to Hilo in 24 days on his modified West Wight Potter 19 sailboat, Chubby, experiencing smooth sailing and ensuring safety throughout the journey.
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Bill Teplow, a consulting exploration geologist, embarked on a sailing journey from Berkeley, California, to Hilo, Hawaii, using his West Wight Potter 19 sailboat named "Chubby." After completing a work assignment, he decided to utilize his time off to fulfill a long-held dream of sailing to Hawaii. He prepared for the trip, which began on July 21, ensuring that Chubby was outfitted for safety and efficiency. The voyage covered 2,142 nautical miles and took 24 days, during which Teplow experienced smooth sailing without major incidents. He made several modifications to enhance safety, including additional cockpit drains, a higher cabin freeboard, and a jackline system for securing himself and cargo. Navigation was primarily conducted using GPS devices, supplemented by celestial navigation techniques. Teplow also focused on provisioning, taking 40 days' worth of food and water, and utilized a hand-pumped water maker for additional drinking water. He arrived in Hilo feeling fit and satisfied with the performance of his boat, emphasizing that while Chubby is not designed for blue water cruising, it performed admirably for the journey.
- Bill Teplow sailed 2,142 nautical miles from California to Hawaii in 24 days.
- The Potter 19 sailboat, Chubby, was modified for enhanced safety during the voyage.
- Navigation relied on GPS and celestial techniques, with a focus on safety and preparedness.
- Teplow carried 40 days of provisions and utilized a water maker for additional drinking water.
- The journey was smooth, with no major incidents reported during the trip.
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- Many commenters express admiration for Teplow's resourcefulness and courage during his voyage.
- Several users share their own sailing experiences or recommend related books and resources on solo sailing.
- There is a discussion about safety and the lack of backup power sources during the journey, raising concerns about redundancy in sailing equipment.
- Some commenters express a desire for more visual content, such as photos of the boat and the journey.
- References to other sailors and their adventures highlight a broader interest in solo sailing narratives.
20 commentshttp://josephoster.com/billsvoyage/index.html
I suppose every wife in any generation wants their husbands to be safe, but each generation has a different approach to risk and adventure. I know my wife would be resolutely opposed to any voyage like this (says the man with a dream of sailing a Hobie Cat across the Great Lakes...perhaps when my son is grown).
This page also includes a 100x136 pixel high-resolution color digital photo of the boat, and the year: 2002.
http://josephoster.com/billsvoyage/potter.html
There's also an update page with a GIF animation of the weather accompanied by the text "WARNING!!! file size: 1.5 MBytes"
From the article:
> The batteries were charged for about 1 hour daily using a Honda EU 1000 gasoline generator coupled with a 3-stage battery charger. The generator burned 1-1/2 gallons of gas in 24 days. ... There was no backup power source for charging the batteries.
24 hours of runtime and 1.5 gallons of gas equate to 0.625 gallon usage per hour. From the spec sheet, an EU1000 generator has a 0.55 gallon tank and can run for 6.8 hours at 225W output, that's 0.081 gallons per hour, so I estimate that the generator was operating at about 174 watts, given it ran for an hour that's 174 watthours per day.
23 years later, anyone would assume that your default source of 174 watthours per day would be a solar panel. A single 2x3 foot rigid panel would do ~100W peak and see the equivalent of 4-6 peak hours per day, easily beating that requirement. Any serious sailboat (even a little trailerable 19' coastal boat like this one) would have a whole array powering lighting and sensors and radar/radios and telemetry and would budget much more than that.
If you're interested in doing something like this, you could join the Vic Maui race: https://www.vicmaui.org/
wow
Is a pinhole leak on a can really that dangerous on a 24 day trip. I get ocean air...but wow. That is something I would have underestimated for sure.
wondering if someone in the know can weigh in? is this over cautious or like yeah, good idea?
Can't speak to his latest stuff, so YMMV, but for a while it worked for me as incredible background. I imagine there's more and more content like this on YT, what with more powerful technology becoming more ubiquitous.
This worried me reading it, wouldnt redundancy be sensible, or at least solar panels as redundancy via alternate means?
It also makes me think about fiction and how the same problems are even worse. For example, I always wondered on Star Wars -- how many redundant parts do they keep onboard a ship, just in case?
If you find this story interesting, definitely recommend reading about Robin Lee Graham. In 1965 at the age of 16 he started a solo sail around the world.
He ended up writing a book and they made a movie. Highly recommend.
Life is WAY more comfortable on a 36' boat, and once you add all the costs of making the passage, it's not _that_ much more expensive. Turns out, being able to stand up below decks is a HUGE advantage.
A great story about making big passages in a small boat is "Red Dot on the Ocean":
There is a documentary video, linked on the site above.
The (very) small boat thing has appeal to some people, but persoanlly, I'd rather have a little more comfort, and not have to fight a yeast infection in my crotch like Matt Rutherford did during his first ever solo non-stop sail around the entire American continent, in a 27 foot boat.
I did cross the Atlantic Ocean in a 37' boat (as crew), and it was still a WHOLE lot of fun and adventure!
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In 1968, Donald Crowhurst attempted a solo sailing journey for a prestigious race but faced numerous challenges, leading to deception about his progress. His abandoned boat was later found, and his fate remains unknown.
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Stephen Payne, 60, bought a boat after his mother's death, living full-time since January 2020. He explores Europe, values personal growth, and enjoys a community among sailors while in Malta.
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In February 2022, the USS Essex navigated 1,800 nautical miles using celestial navigation after electronic failures, emphasizing the need for traditional skills and regular practice amid rising cyber threats.
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