Hawaii’s Alenuihaha Channel is a place where sailors rely entirely upon their own analysis of the oceanographic circumstances they will face — it’s a place where Gale-driven conditions are typical, and official forecasts are often incorrect. Be prepared to handle anything the Alenuihaha throws at you.
“Crossing the Alenuihaha on any given day is a challenge. To be ready, at the edge, aware of every circumstance and consequence laying ahead, proves mastery. However, the pinnacle of a sailing career is to summit the Alenuihaha with awareness of the total risk of doing so.” Paul Exner
Paul Exner has crossed the Alenuiahaha more times than anyone by sail since 2018 — the most senior and experienced sailing instructor actively practicing and innovating sail-coaching methodology anywhere in the world.
“I use proven sail-coaching methodology and a leadership-development approach for offshore sailing teams backed by decades of experience innovating and delivering sail-training expeditions. I coach sailors to know everything I know so they can do it masterfully, for themself — I task them to create and evolve our route and details, then execute a technically sophisticated itinerary traversing the Alenuihaha Channel.” Paul Exner
Alenuihaha Channel — the topographic / bathymetric cross-sectional view looking east between Big Island and Maui, Hawaii.
“To conquer heavy weather — a sailor must own the fundamentals of extreme sailing found by training vigorously for it, and gained only by taking responsibility for actions immersed in sea-experience.” Paul Exner