THE "COCONUT CUP REGATTA".......

...is a race held in the lagoon of Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands each year. Because there are very few sailboats they allow all comers to enter. You will see everything from sailing canoes to 100 foot cruisers participating.

Carol is on the starboard, I'm on the port, and a guest helmsman on the wheel. It was a blustery, (note the sloppily reefed sail) drizzly day, but a fun regatta anyway.

At the stern of the boat you can see our arch with the radar dome, two 65 watt solar panels, and the Airmarine Wind Generator. The two boxes hanging from the arch are stereo speakers for the music to go with those wonderful evenings spent relaxing in the cockpit.

We won a prize: 55 gallons of diesel, but I don't remember why. Maybe because we were not last. There was a great party that night with lots of Marshallese singing and copious amounts of liquid refreshments.

UNDERWAY TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

Our boat is a 1975 Hans Christian. It is 36 feet long on deck and was probably one of the last 36 footers made by Hans Christian. The molds were then sold and used for the hulls of the cheaper "Union" brand boats. We have checked with Bob Perry the designer of the boat and he agreed that it was a genuine Hans Christian, not one of the later, inferior models.

This photo was taken by the Saunders from the deck of their boat "Swan". This is the departure of "Morning Wings" from Keehi Lagoon near Honolulu as we left for the Marshall Islands. We are sporting all new chain plates, stanchions and rigging that was added during our Hawaii stay. We also had the Volvo Diesel repaired and a new mainsail made. In all, about $40,000 in upgrades.

The lady, her dream, the boat

In 1989 our kids were grown, retirement was near, and I asked my wife what her wish was for our lives from this point on. Carol replied, "I've always had a dream of sailing to wonderful islands and countries. To explore, Scuba, and relax."
"Done" I replied, " All we need to do is get a boat, learn to sail, learn to scuba, learn to navigate, and we're on our way. That shouldn't be too hard."