SETTING SAIL

Marshall Science Teacher Wins Oceanic Race

BY KELLY SCHAMBERGER

Reprinted from The Hilltopper Magazine, Fall 2024

 

---

 

In July, upper school science teacher Dr. Greg Rohde embarked on a journey across the ocean in a yellow Olson 30 sailboat named “Tweety” as part of the Pacific Cup sailing competition. The race happens every two years, and participants traverse the approximately 2,500-mile distance between San Francisco, California and Kaneohe, Hawaii. While Tweety is usually found in Duluth’s Wednesday night and weekend sailboat races, the seacraft headed out to the big ocean for 13 days to take Dr. Rohde, Bob Schroer (Owner), Nick Rorem, and Melissa Kuntz to victory. The four crewmates shared duties in a space that was 30 feet long, 9.5 feet wide, and about 4 feet high in the highest point of the cabin. Bob’s wife Jeanine Weekes Schroer helped manage the group’s preparations and logistics from land.

Dr. Rohde shared, “The start of the race was uncharacteristically calm and, at times, the wind meter read zero. We enjoyed seeing large marine mammals, including a humpback whale surfacing a boat length away. We sailed south, encountering winds of 20-30 miles per hour with waves of 8 to 15 feet—occasionally much higher—and three to four squalls every night. The winds often increased during the squalls, and as we used them to our advantage to gain speed, we would sometimes go so fast that we would plough through the middle of the next towering wave. The water would crash over Tweety and fill the cockpit; we were always tied in so we wouldn’t wash overboard. If the squall got really strong, it would knock Tweety on her side, resulting in her mast becoming parallel to the water with sails draped on the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Tweety was designed for Pacific waves and wind; we rarely took our spinnaker, the largest sail, down. While that certainly led to more wipeouts, it also helped us get to Kaneohe faster.”

The team won the division for small boats with crews of more than two people. They celebrated with their competitors, solidified new friendships at the dock with food and cheer, and enjoyed the beauty and flowers of Kaneohe, Kailua, and Oahu.

Dr. Rohde’s key takeaway: “If you dedicate yourself to something, try to improve every time, and contribute to a supportive environment, amazing opportunities come your way.”