5 Pearson 365's in harvest Moon race

[Lola]

Harvest Moon Regatta - Third Coast.
October 1 09 is the start of the harvest Moon Regatta race from Galveston to Port Aransas. A glance down the list of 215+ entrants shows 5 Pearson 365's - 3 ketches and 2 sloops. A pretty good representation of a 25+ year old design.

[sailorbob2008]

I did that race in 2001 in a Kirby 25 (Parsons project) and we were second over all.... did I memtion that we did not have running lights and this was weeks after 9/11... the raqdio chatter was interesting and I was sick for the entire race.

Any of the Pearson Ketches looking for crew... short flight down to Houston.

Bob Gronberg
SV Solstice (ex Top Secret)
1980 Pearson 365 Ketch.

[EdHouston]

Moonlight Mile #110 took third place in class "R" 2009 Harvest Moon Regatta

Great sail 40+ knot winds in storm offshore almost no wind at finish line thank God for in coming tide or we would surely have not crossed the line.

What happened to you Lola?

Ed

S/V Moonlight Mile

[Lola]

Hi All,
On Friday morning Lola got hit with a squall of about 40 - 45 knots. The stitching blew out on the rollerfurling sunblock and fouled the forestay about 30' up. Remants went into the water and fouled the prop. Not a good scenario. Got the anchor out and it seemed to be holding while repairs were under way. I was able to free the prop by very carefully reversiing the prop - a huge relief. The storm was on us for about an hour. While in capacitated we took about an 8' wave broadside. Unable to repair the jib. With 6' seas and and a headwind of about 20 kt we made for Freeport - about an 8 hr tiring bash. Unable to repair the jib so we bailed out of the race.

Our biggest issue was a lack of crew with only two able to sail Lola - we had a novice sailor - helpful but no helmsman and a long time crew who was incapacitated w/ violent sea sickness the entire race from race start to docking.

Sooo.... many lessons learned.

Thanks Ed and his Midnight Mile which made the trophy stand - Congratulations! Many thanks for sharing your thoughts on this crazy race, your race strategy, and your suggestions for next year.

BTW - the three P365 ketches were absolutely smoking the other cruisers in class at the windy race start - 215 boats.

[BlameItOnBuffett]

We finished behind Ed in Moonlit Mile. We read a forecast (three actually) that showed the storm was going to stall at the coastline. Wrong!!!! Fortunately, with dawn not quite there but approaching, we could see the storm chasing us south all night. Thought if we got out far enough, we would miss the pasting. We watched it on the radar as the front approached and had everyone in full foulies and tight in their harnesses, and the mizen down and the main deep reefed when it hit. We did have the 139.9% all the way out, so we got dumped on our ear. Dumped the jib sheet and she stood back up. rolled in the jib and headed towards Aransas like a scalded dog in blinding rain (thick enough that it was hiding all the rigs on the radar. Because everyone else stayed further north, we had some makeup to do. Finally got within about 12 miles of Aransas when the wind died. We sat there and stared at it for 13 hours but refused to start the engine. We finally came across the finish doing 2 knots in a 4 knot breeze at 8:30 Saturday morning.

Fished on the second day on the way back (first day we were jamming along at 8 knots in 20 knots of wind and 6-8 foot seas). We caught two spanish mackeral, one king mackeral at about 36", and one 45" 40 or so pound cobia. It was quite the trip. We have photos of both you guys at the start. respond to me with your emails (coded against scrapers) and I will get them off to you.

Had a ball and will be out there again next year. Hope you two will also.

[Lola]

Hello Tysons, just found this post. Glad you made it safe and sound in the Harvest Moon. I'd love to see any pictures you have of the 365's. Lola is fixed up and ready to go again. gh

[BlameItOnBuffett]

Outstanding. Offshore Racing actually begins in just over two weeks out of Galveston with Texas Race Week. It is three days of offshore racing, with heavy duty evening parties. Typically, their SIs call for all races to end at 6:00PM, regardless of our rating, so that everyone can make it back to the parties. Everyone docks in Galveston at night, with parties around the pool after tie-up. However, they try to set a reach/reach course, which defintely would advantage us...

Look at GBCA.ORG for NORs. Would love to see a ton of us out there for both this and the harvest moon. I have the pics still from last year, and wil work to get them in this post.

JT

[allanc]

If anyone needs crew for the Harvest Moon, I would love to have a chance.  I live in San Antonio so it is pretty easy for me to get anywhere in Texas.  I'm not ready to race my boat yet but would love some experience on another one.

Thanks,
Allan