For us, the race really started in 1994, after racing in that year’s Vic-Maui Race. Joe Dubey said he would like to do the race again, god willing and Uncle Juicy capable.
So the starting gun found us at the favored end on port tack and going like hell. Charisma and Jubilee were alongside. At Race Rocks we still had position on the fleet.
It stayed that way till we were off northern California. There the East Pacific High jumped east and caught us. That allowed Meastro, a Newport 41 twelve miles to the east of Juicy, to escape. They got into the trade winds first and continually added to their lead.
Fun was had covering the rest of the fleet. Especially Endeavor II who we eventually beat by about eighty miles. That earned us second in class, sixth overall.
There were six boats in the class, including 1996 overall winner, Kismet. The crew of Juicy, Joe Dubey, Bob Connelly, Dennis Gudgell, Loran Carmichael, Lee Rogge, and your author, felt good about our finish.
Whales, porpoises, and other sea creatures seemed few and far between for the Race. But the take home crew, your author, my brother Don, Loran Carmichael, Carl Applebaum, and SSSS Past Commodore Jim Lengenfelder, had more to see.
Humpback whales, pilot whales, and porpoises visited. A group of four humpbacks performed for us. One showed us his tail fin. Carl photographed it. Another breached for us. Large groups of porpoises visited Juicy a number of times, both in the day time and in the dark of the night.
Another boat, Fastrack, one day ahead of Juicy on the way home, plowed into a whale. The whale struck back with its pectoral fin and they were left with a hole in the hull. When the damage was surveyed after they got back, blubber was found in the damaged area.
The trip took 16 days and 4 hours Victoria to Maui and 17 days and 12 hours back to Neah Bay. There were some magnificent days and nights out there, and a few that are better forgotten.
We were treated well by the sponsors, Royal Vancouver YC and the Lahaina YC. There was a send off party in Victoria. The Hawaiians have a reputation for welcoming the boats in this race. They lived up to that reputation.
The RC, with Ron Ogilvy from RVYC Chairman, did an exceptionally good job. If you followed the Race on the Internet, you must know how good it was. Over two-hundred people were involved in making this the best Race ever.
The year 2000 race should be a great one to plan for.
Bill Maclean, Savage
On behalf of both myself and SSSS, I want to congratulate Joe and crew. They sailed a good race. Sounds like they had fun.
I have been given to understand that they made a good move approaching the Islands. You will have to ask the crew. Ed.