Red Bull is shreadin' up the ocean again

[Eagle Eye]

Joby Easton started the Pacific Cup sailboat race from San Fran to Hawaii in his rebuilt 36ft sailboat
RAINDROP this last Monday.

He is in the DH1 division. Stands for double handed.. yup, just two guys. Should take from 12 to 14 days.

Here's a link which follows the race via satellite transponders on all the boats. VeryCool!
http://trackinfo.fistracking.com/pc2008/

As of Tuesday evening, RAINDROP is leading the pack with about 1900 miles to go.

That's my boy ENJOY!

Eagle Eye

[steelymann]

My cousin is Running the Tiki Blue that started today. First time for them

[greenbuttskunk]

joby is a sailing stud, and god! I will not bet against him, really.
He's a Dennis Conner, only nicer and with only one chin.

Go for it J! We'll have the party ready for you guys when you get back.

[Cosmic Lazy Susan]

Cool deal, that's a great link. I'll have to keep an eye on him.

-Dale

[Riverkeeper]

Thanks for the link, Lynn! They are pulling away!

[Hogmaster]

Go Joby Go!!!!!!

[ampersat]

Keep those sails well trimmed and kick their butts Joby!!

[Freakwater]

Cool link. Thanks. I'll be watching. Go Joby!

Freakwater

[Paddlefish]

I sailed on the pre-modified Raindrop a number of times, both in competition and for pleasure/transit with her original owner, Jack Gainer.

Crew members were warned to not take too seriously any mid-race shouted comments from the skipper regarding their mothers or grandmothers. Other than that, it was a wonderful experience.

I'm sure that if the Rain-girl is out there flouncing her skirts to the competition, Jack is grinning from up there somewhere.

[Eagle Eye]

Hey there Paddlefish.
I too sailed with Jack Gainer over the years and when he passed a couple of years ago, he donated Rain Drop to his club, Rose City YC to be used for the benefit of the club's JR. Sailing Program. Joby ended up buying the boat which had fallen into a state of neglect with Jack's failing health.
Joby spent over 2 years and a bucket of bucks bringing the boat back to better than when Gainer first built and launched her in 1973. Lot's help from friends/family and professionals. But this was Joby's dream and he made it happen.
We have just heard that the JR. Sailing program has put 8 kids thru their level 1 classes funded on the Gainer scholarship funded in part by the sail of Rain Drop.
It's just good all around......
And, this is also the 20th annaversary of when Joby and his partner Bill Huesby first did this race on Bill's boat, a Soveral 33 in 1988. They won it then and hope to again....
Rain Drop herself with Capt. Gainer at the helm is a 2-time Transpac Vet....
And the beat goes on....

[Cosmic Lazy Susan]

Hey Lynn, you got any pictures of Rain Drop you can put up. I remember Jack from my days as a kid at RCYC. This is stirring some old memories.

-Dale

[Eagle Eye]

PM sent

[Eagle Eye]

Here is the link to all the shots Joby's wife Danielle took at the start.
Be sure to read her comments on the opening page.
Go to link, click The race is on/ view photos. click slide show.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...w&linkid=link5

Enjoy

Lynn
PS as of this morning they were still out front.....
and many miles to go before they sleep.

[Ken Drifter]

Heres a few pics of Joby and Raindrop.

[Ken Drifter]

Heres some more. Go Joby.....

[Ken Drifter]

Another.

[lilnorthfork]

Good stuff!! We took the kids down to see the boat, drink his beer and wish him luck. Tonight we were all gathered around the computer cheering him on. Nice basic geography lesson for the kids.

Hawaii............................................ .................................................. .................................................. .........................San Fran

[STGRule]

Yeah, Joby! Way to make us proud to know you.

[Eagle Eye]

Got a SailMail from Joby...
Boat and crew doing well,
Still holding 1st place
Should reach half-way point late this afternoon.
Figuring 12ish day crossing.
All is well

Lynn

[Riverkeeper]

Awesome pics!!

[Eagle Eye]

First in Class
2nd over all on corrected time (60 boats)
950ish miles to go.

[Eagle Eye]

Check out this link...great photo and story, read to the
end....great ink for the Job-man
Man, I can't keep any buttons on my shirts.


http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/...yid=143#Story2

[STGRule]

I was bragging on Joby at work today. It's fun to see them out front like that.

[Eagle Eye]

Originally Posted by STGRule

I was bragging on Joby at work today. It's fun to see them out front like that.

Yeah, me too!
Duh

[Ken Drifter]

1st in division and 1st overall on corrected time. 736 miles to go.

http://pacificcup.org/08/positions/pc08-prd8.html

[Flatfish]

Severe badassness!

[Ken Drifter]

Puttin' down the whoopin' on everybody

[Eagle Eye]

SailMail from Joby
Tuesday 22 July
16:20 hrs

Hey Pop
Yep, things are good. Fortunately not much to report. Just doing our thing and it's very nice aboard. All those opening hatches were at
GREAT idea at this point.

Both exciting and anxiety ridden at the same time. Who we think is our key competitor for overall, Sleeping Dragon, needed to put 27 miles on us per day and only put 5 miles on us. Now they have to make up more miles in a shorter period of time. Could be tough to do. But we have 690 miles to go and lots can happen.
With love,
J

[Eagle Eye]

2008
15th Biennial
Pacific Cup
2008 Pacific CupPress Releases.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2008

PCYC CONTACT:
Michael Moradzadeh (415) 830-3861 PacificCup@gmail.com
Kathleen Helsper (417) 830-5465 k.helsper@gmail.com
Ray Sweeney, Sweeney Communications, (808) 533-0033 Sweeneycom@aol.com
STC CONTACT: Barby MacGowan, Media Pro Int'l, (401) 849-0220
barby.macgowan@mediapronewport.com

16 more Pacific Cup racers hit one week mark Divisions led by Checkered Past and Sweet Okole

Kathleen Helsper
July 22, 2008 – SAN FRANCISCO – Steadily gaining on the fleet, Raindrop (Portland, Ore.) has pushed into first place overall, recalling Skip Allen's double-handed victory aboard Wildflower in 2002. Employing a similar strategy of a sharp southern starting course, combined with superior boathandling, Easton and Huseby on Raindrop are now the ones to beat.

With some superbly well-equipped and crewed boats chasing them from a more favorable Saturday start – more wind always being good – Raindrop will have quite a job holding on to her #1 spot. Following close in second and third place are Dean Daniels’ Sleeping Dragon (San Francisco) and Paul Cayard’s Hula Girl (San Francisco).

[Freakwater]

That's just so dang awesome! Keeping my fingers crossed here.....

Where is the finishline? Honolulu? Hilo?

Freakwater

[ampersat]

I took a deep breath and blew it out sort of in a SW direction and hope that it lands on Raindrop's sails. Go Joby!!

[Riverkeeper]

In the lead!!!! So awesome!

They finish in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu.

[STGRule]

This sooooooo cool! Look how far ahead they were this morning!!!

[elisesings]

Originally Posted by STGRule

This sooooooo cool! Look how far ahead they were this morning!!!

I meant to respond sooner. This has been so exciting to follow Raindrop's amazing progress. I wish to tell the guys that posted comments about my father, Jack Gainer former owner of Raindrop, how much I enjoyed what you had to say...especially the mid-race stuff about mothers...so very true! And I'm sure somewhere in sailboat heaven he is watching all this and cheering too! Smooth Sailing to you, Elise Gainer.

[Pete]

Sounds like it's a done deal for Raindrop ... cruising!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2008

DOUBLEHANDED RAINDROP KEEPS FLEET LEAD IN PACIFIC CUP, SAN FRANCISCO- KANEOHE YACHT RACE - RAINDROP & HULA GIRL IN TOMORROW

Ray Sweeney, Sweeney Communications, (808) 533-0033 Sweeneycom@aol.com

Kaneohe – In yesterday’s transmission the word “Experience” came into play regarding the doublehanders on Raindrop. It turns out that the experience dates back to the 1998 Pacific Cup Doubelhanded efforts by the same duo. In that race Joby Easton and Bill Huseby brought Bill’s Soverel 33, Sting in for the doublehanded trophy. Now, 20 years later, Easton and Huseby are also looking at beating their1998 time of 12 days, 6 hours and 6 seconds by two hours (!) and add another addition to their trophy cases. Raindrop is predicted to cross the finish line next to Marine Corps Base Hawaii by around 2pm. Raindrop will also be the first yacht to cross the finish line beating all others in the fleet and gaining a trophy for Doublehanded Division 1.

[lilnorthfork]

Should be in port soon... great run.

[lilnorthfork]

It's official. You can post a message to them here...

http://pacificcup.org/08/arrivals/pc...ivals_list.php

[Redbull]

Originally Posted by lilnorthfork

It's official. You can post a message to them here...

http://pacificcup.org/08/arrivals/pc...ivals_list.php

Hello Team Ifish,

YES! it's a done deal. We were first to finish, first in class and first overall.

It has been a TON of work but a dream accomplished none the less.

I will do more later, but my parting words are a heartfelt thanks to all the people who were pulling for us. Yes I do believe Jack would be very proud.

Thanks,

Joby

[Jennie@ifish]

Awesome! I posted my note.

You guys provided us with some really fine entertainment! How great to know the people who won! I'm proud!

Jen

[Gus Orviston]

Awesome Joby, congratulations! gus