Reed Overshiner: Where Are You?

Preparing for the upcoming SHTP 2010 I thought it would be interesting to look at the results of some of the races past; comparing and contrasting the International Folkboat’s performance in relation to other competing boats. The year that stands out in my mind is 1994. Here is an excerpt from the 1994 Race Program:

” This time I’m really ready”, claimed Reed Overshiner who started the ’92 SSS Transpac in Reliance but withdrew after only two days. “Last time I went into the race physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted and made some poor decisions which led me to drop out. Among other things, I thought the boat was sinking, which is obviously wasn’t. anyway, discretion is always the better part of valor and I’m back to give it another try!” Learning a hard lesson from his frantic two-month scramble to the starting line in ’92, Reed has already finished preparing his boat, “I’m a lot less stressed out this time, and I’m saving up my energy,” said Overshiner. “In fact, I intend to vacation in the mountains the week before the race.” Reed has three spinnakers, a new 155, a new dodger, and new halyards for the race. A solar panel is the only source of electricity for his engineless 26-footer. Food will be simple (“I’m no gourmet”), and he has no set watch system. “I just drive until I’m bored, then sleep until something wakes me up, and the drive some more,” said Reed. “Like Dan Newland, I plan to hand steer as much as I can especially down the stretch.” Overshiner plans to point the boat straight down the rhumbline and hope for the best. “Remember, Bob Counts won one year in a Golden Gate, ” said Reed. “If I can average 150 mile days, I think I’ll have a shot at beating Stan Honey.” When the race is over, Reed will singlehand Reliance home. (“Who would be crazy enough to join me?”)

Reed Overshiner ended up coming in Second overall on corrected time, beating boats ranging from a Farr 33 to an Orion 27, finishing in an astounding 14 days 17 hours 57 minutes 55 seconds correcting out to 8 days 18 hours 51 minutes 55 seconds; just behind Stan Honey’s record setting win aboard his Cal 40 Illusion. Amazing!