Larry Robertson single hands his Seawind 1000 catamaran to victory in the 2018 Shaka Challenge

Larry Robertson single hands his Seawind 1000 catamaran to victory in the 2018 Shaka Challenge…

Congratulations to Larry Robertson who has just crossed the line, taking first place in the 2018 Shaka Challenge! The Shaka Challenge is a 3000nm single handed race from Marina Del Rey, CA to Hawaii. The race is simple and in the spirit of short handed sailing. The start held in Marina Del Rey, and the finish in the vicinity of Diamond Head buoy.

“[Shaka]: The shaka sign, sometimes known as “hang loose” by outsiders, is a gesture of friendly intent often associated with Hawaii […]. Hawaiians use the shaka to convey the “Aloha Spirit”, a concept of friendship, understanding, compassion, and solidarity among the various ethnic cultures that reside in Hawaii, lacking a direct semantic to literal translation. The shaka can also be used to express “howzit?”, “thanks, eh?”, and “all right!” Drivers will often use it on the road to communicate distant greetings and gratitude.”

While the race attracts boats of all shapes and sizes, a small offshore catamaran like the Seawind 1000 catamaran offers a comfortable and safe platform to attempt such a passage single handed.

Larry Robertson, has had a dream of racing his Seawind 1000 catamaran to Hawaii for a few years. That dream came true when the Pacific Single Handed Sailing Association (PSSA) introduced the Shaka Challenge!

“I have been racing with the PSSA (Pacific Single Handed Sailing Ass.) for a couple of years now.  I was planning on doing the Single Handed Transpac that leaves out of San Francisco.  In Sept. of 2017 the PSSA created the Shaka Challenge from Marina del Rey (Los Angeles) to Diamond Head buoy in Honolulu so those of us living in southern California could have a single handed (or double handed) race to Hawaii without having to go up to San Fran.  There were only four boats for the inaugural but I’ll take it.  I was the only multihull.”

Updates on the 10th of July during the race:

“Left July 1st on the first ever Shaka Challenge, the So Cal Single Handed Transpac.  The race was created last fall by we at the PSSA so people that wanted to race could without have to bash up to SF.  

Anyway eight days out now and my half way point is coming up in 41 miles at 1636 Monday the 9th.  It all gets to be a blur but here are some highlights I can remember right now. Last Thursday was awesome.  Wind 20+ or -. Swell 6-8 ft. Hand steered all day because it was fun. Drove my Seawind 1000 33 ft catamaran like a beach cat and hit 17.1 kts.  Then Friday everything went down hill. My main halyard cover split it self while putting in a reef. Took all day to fix that the next day. Had a batten car fitting come off its mast car and tore the main.  Another batten decided to come out of its keeper at the aft end of the sail. And a couple other things. Finally got it all fixed and main back up this morning and back in the lead. Sailed Saturday and Sunday all day with just the screecher as sailing deep downwind.  Quite comfortable. Merrily on my way now. Hope to finish in 15 days”, Larry Robertson, owner of Seawind 1000 catamaran.

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