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Singlehanded Sailing Society

2006 Singlehanded TransPac

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Andy Evans

Foolish Muse

Olson 30

#8234

Victoria, BC

Skipper: Andrew Evans
Boat: Olson 30 “Foolish Muse”
Club: Royal Victoria Yacht Club
Home Port: Victoria, Canada
Age: 45
Profession: VP with JSF Technologies, manufacturer of solar powered traffic beacons.
Profile:
Andy started watching the BOC Challenge in the 1980s, when a long distance phone call was the only way to get daily position reports. It was in 2001 that Andy said to his wife Sharon “If I’m going to do that race, I’d better get a boat.” His wish was granted with a Father’s Day gift from his stepson Steve: the Tanzer 22 renamed to “Foolish Laughter”.
Andy was singlehanding a week after launch. Just three months later his first major challenge was the “Fall-50 Mile Race” on the Ottawa River against fully crewed boats. He was given two awards for that event:
The Keenest Sailor in the Race – Singlehanding. Quote from him heading to last up-river rounding, way behind the rest of the fleet: “Isn’t this a great adventure”. Finish time 10:59 p.m.
The Mayu Rock Trophy – For Spectacular Performance in Shoal Waters
(He hit three rocks in the race.)
Andy did numerous 50 and 100-mile races over the next two years, always singlehanded against crewed boats; quite a challenge flying a spinnaker with just a bungee-cord on the tiller. He created and won the “Singlehanded 24-Hour Race.” But in 2002 was given the “Broken Prop Award” after being rescued by the fire department less than 6 feet from a set of rapids.
In 2003 Andy traded up for the Olson 30 “Foolish Muse” and immediately had vengeance by winning, on elapsed time, the Fall 50 and 100 Mile races against crewed boats.
Looking to the future, Andy taught himself weather forecasting and went on to give seminars at the club. After receiving a sextant from Santa, and out of frustration with the available texts, he wrote his own manual that has been downloaded nearly a thousand times over the internet.
In the spring of 2004, Andy and Sharon moved to Victoria where he could sail in big water twelve months of the year. He immediately changed his planning from the Bermuda 1-2 to the Singlehanded Transpac. He notes that the qualification run for the Transpac is nearly equal to the singlehanded leg of the B1-2.
His goal for the Transpac; “to stay in racing mode for the entire trip.”
Navigation: Davis Mark 3 Sextant. “If Jack London can hit Hawaii, so can I.”
Two GPS units as backup.
Food: A variety of stuff, suitable for every mood and ocean, as long as it fits into one very small pot.
Steering: Raymarine 6001, S2G and 4000GP with a Navman 3100 wind vane.
Special Thanks:
To my incredibly wonderful wife Sharon, who has been a widow to my solitary pursuits these past 21 years. I’ve hooked up an SSB receiver at home so she can follow the race.
To my stepson Steve, who kick-started this great adventure on Father’s Day, five years ago.
To my boss Jack Foster - a lifelong sailor who has provided sponsorship, machine shop time, solar panel expertise, and a real understanding of what is involved.
To Rich Jones and Edie Felix, both expert sailors with thousands of miles of blue water behind them, for bringing my beloved Foolish Muse back to Victoria after the event.