Date: 7/25/2002 2:20 PM

NEWS ON ALAKAZAM

And the news is good. After 110 hours without contact, we heard from Alakazam last night (7/24, 8pm HST), complete with position. While there was natural concerns for the safety and good condition of the JDF 30s
inhabitants, while schlepping over the briny without rudder and making barely 3 knots toward Kaneohe, they were concerned about their Awards Banquet tickets! Must be a food thing.

Matson's containership, Lurline left Honolulu early yesterday morning, bound for San Francisco. With the position information of a few days ago, they hoped to intercept Alakazam and drop off a package of significant importance. A replacement rudder, food, water, diesel fuel and a waterproof VHF, donated by West Marine fill the package. Last night's information is making this connection far more likely than as of nearly five days ago.

Quoting Lou Ickler, "When the Lurline stops beside the little boat, they will (if nobody on Alakazam has a heart attack) have a rocket line fired over them, attached to their care package. We hope to see Alakazam in Kaneohe about Tuesday 29 July so the ham nets and marine radio nets can breath a sigh of relief and stop calling 73s."

The banquet will be over, the tents down, many West Marine Pacific Cup boats headed home or elsewhere. But Alakazam can expect a well deserved Aloha.

Ladies, don't forget the leis and trays!

And a great Mahalo to West Marine for extending their kokua (kindness) out a few hundred miles.

Ray Sweeney