PHRF rating: 63

Yacht Club: Oakland Y. C.

Homeport: Oakland

Occupation: Retired Police Sargeant

Age: 55

"I'm four years older and will have some physical limitations due to a shoulder operation," says Steve, "but I'm really looking forward to it." Having recently retired from a long career as an Oakland police sergeant, Steve confides, "I now get my adrenaline rushes from singlehanded ocean racing - it's my drug of choice."

Although Faustina has a much larger boat this year, he's careful not to expect too much success, "There are a lot of fine racers this year. I'm especially anxious to meet John Guzzwell - he's been one of my idols for years." Win or lose, Steve will certainly be more comfortable this time, and with both radar and a radar detector, he'll probably sleep easier too. His PC with weatherfax will give him insights into the best routing, and will allow him to communicate with the mainland via satellite e-mail.

Steve doesn't anticipate that loneliness will be a problem while out on the big blue Pacific, as he'll have favorite companions like Miles Davis and John Coltraine and other classic jazz masters to keep him company.

He's one of the few competitors who has an open agenda at the end of his voyage. He may sail back singlehanded, as he did in '94, or he may opt to continue on into the Pacific. After paying his dues policing the (sometimes mean) streets of Oakland, it must be comforting to know that either option will involve wide open spaces and plenty of time to commune with nature.

Navigation: Garmin GPS, Traxar GPS; Freiberger and Davis sextants. Steering: primary: self-steering; secondary: Alpha 3000 autopilot.
Food: freeze-dried.
Special thanks to: his father, Leonard Faustina, Steve Keefe, Bruce Swartz, Mike Nood.