Kahuna Breaks Its Mast
by Race Committee, July 19th, 2014
Sometime after 6:00 pm HST, the US Coast Guard reported to the LYC Finish Line that they had received a report that Kahuna had broken its mast just north of the island of Maui. At 7:20 pm HST, Kahuna contacted the Finish Line to report that they had jury-rigged a mast and were proceeding toward the finishing line. They finished at 8:30 pm HST.
It happened out of nowhere. Skipper John Leitzinger reported that the boat was just trucking along in good breeze, but nothing tough. It had been a good race and wonderful sailing. All of a sudden it just broke at the first spreaders and fell over. After making sure no one was injured, there was a bit of panic to straighten things out and clear the worst of the debris. The Kahunas still had a 3rd of a mast and half a mainsail and turning downwind, they managed to make over 4 kts with the wind pushing on the left-overs. With more clearing and securing the stump, they managed a bit more speed and crossed the finish line in good order, if not good appearance.
They arrived in Lahaina to a very enthusiastic greeting crowd and to much relief of the waiting family.
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Planet Express (2022)
Type: Beneteau 43Skipper: Adam Serediuk
Port: Victoria, BC Canada
Blog: 1 articles posted
Planet Express second boat to enter.
Adam Serediuk will skipper and navigate Planet Express to Maui in the 2022 Vic-Maui. Adam sailed the return trip in 2018 and is looking forward to "brochure sailing conditions" as advertised on the poster before sailing back to Victoria again.
He is joined by a wholehearted crew which has experience in over 15 Vic-Maui events, including Carl Blouw as 2IC and tactician, Safety at Sea instructor Vern Burkhardt, RYA Yacht-Master Hayley McIntosh, who serves in the Canadian Coast Guard, and additional Vic-Maui alumni Bill Jones. Maggie, Jaimie, and Michael round out our team!
If you've sailed with us before, you'll know that we are all looking forward to the "Planet Express Experience." We're working on a better acronym.
Planet Express sails under sail number 1958 in honor of Adam's mom, Sue; cancer took her away from us before her time in 2020 and serves as inspiration that life is short. Seize the day, and live your dreams.
This year, Planet Express will be entered in the Patos, Southern Straits, and Swiftsure events leading up to our start date in July.
Safe. Fun. Fast. We'll see you at the start line and in Lahaina! Why not? Just get it done.
