The following is an except of a memoir written by Charles Howard Duffy while sailing on the “LADY JO” in the Honolulu Classic, a yacht race between San Pedro and Honolulu, Jan 12,1939.
We have had to stand watches the last two nights. We can’t get the boat to sail itself, although we are on exactly the opposite tack down wind that we were on before. There is a brisk easterly breeze blowing and a moderate sea running. Every time on of those big seas comes up under the stern boat, one can feel it pick up speed and then it goes careening wildly down the forward slope until the wave passes. We are now about half was to our destination and on the same parallel of latitude as Honolulu. Sailing has now developed into very much a routine. Nothing of importance happened yesterday except that Sam got the radio transmitter in working condition again.