Hear's2Us - Day 3

Today started w a beautifully calm day. No wind. Around 8 am, shook out our reef and began sailing slowly in light winds. Wind died so we again motored for an hour or two before the wind returned and we were finally able to secure the engine. Around 1430 we raised our asymmetric spinnaker and we able to coax 8.5 knots +/- for the next 3 hours before Kim prepared a marvelous meal.  Then doused the spinnaker and settled in for an evening of motorsailing in light winds. Looking forward to more sustained winds tomorrow we hope!Rich and Kim and the crew of Hear’s 2 Us!. read more...

Hear's2Us - Auspicious start to ARC Europe! Day 1 and 2

Hello from Hear's 2 Us!.We have had a slow start to the sailing portion of the race.Most of the boats have been motor-sailing for the first few days as have we.Winds light rarely above 9 knots but beautiful calm seas with a very full moon and clear skies.We got off to a good start crossing the line #5 out of 32 yachts.We have made about 125nm per day for the first 2.We were able to put out the jib for some help with the motor-sailing and on day 2 (May 23) actually sailed for about 7 hours making about 5.2knots +/-.Last night it's back to motor sailing but with a slight push making 6+ knots with motor assist.Day one, we landed our first fish.A small mahi (called a peanut dolphin).Could have served lunch for 2 but we let her go to grow larger for the next fisherman.Waiting on the. read more...

Hear's2Us - Little River to Bermuda day 4

Yesterday was another eventful day in the life of S/V Hear's 2 Us!. Our traveler car failed on Day 2 so we Jerry rigged a tack point for the main sheet with lines which worked beautifully for 2 days then last night as we sat down for dinner, the line chaffed through and we again had all hands on deck to secure the swinging boom. Mission accomplished with no injuries other than pride. Since the wind was 9 knots and it was calming even further, we left it 'til morning and motor sailed with the jib until around 0100 Tue am then motored for the rest of the night. This am, crewman Bill Wheary and I made chafe guards from fire hose (graciously supplied by our son Erik Osman and Horry County Fire Rescue and re-rigged our new tack point. We are back in business (if we could only find some wind).. read more...

Hear's2Us - Day 2 Littler River to Bermuda

The 11th started off strong with good winds from the north and nice progress until shortly after noon when the winds petered it. Ended up motor sailing (a lot more motoring than sailing. In the middle of the night e managed to break our traveler car (Lewmar) when a rogue wave unloaded and loaded it. I secured it at 2245 and Jerry rigged a solution at 0630 on the 12th. Late in the am, the winds built to 22-25 from the west and we flew our spinnaker for the first time this season. We saw up to 15 with a small squall with gusts to 29. Chafed through our tack and secured her for the day. Hopefully no more excitement. Have been tagging along w Queso Grande II which has been nice. Tried out our SSB and tracking w Iridiun  at Ocens.com. Starlink is working well and Chris Parker has been very. read more...

Hear's2Us - Departure update

We are still hoping for departure on Sat am, 11 May from Little River, SC. Will keep our eyes out for Carpe Diem out of Charleston. See you all in Bermuda!. read more...