Ken "the General" Roper

Harrier

Finn Flyer 31

#77

Los Angeles, CA

This is my 9th Singlehanded Transpac race.
Home: North Myrtle Beach, SC Boat Home Port: San Pedro (LA Harbor)
Profession; US Army officer Grad US Military Acad 1952. Served 25 years active duty. Promoted to Brig. Gen in 23 years.
Engineer and Master Army Aviator (fixed wing and rotary wing). Served in Germany, Korea and Vietnam (25 months), plus
US service at various assignments on both coasts and many in between (eg, Texas, Kansas, Tenn Alabama).
Vietnam Combat commands: 48th Assault Helicopter Company, 168th Combat Engineer Battalion, 11 Combat Aviation Battalion.
Retired 1977 "to go sailing and scuba diving". Just got back from dive trip to Palau (4th time) in time to prep boat for pre-race passage to San Francisco (usually the hardest part of my singlehanded transpacs...you locals are fortunate!)
Education: USMA (BS), CalTech (MS in CE), Auburn Univ (MBA)
Why doing race (again): Habit, I guess. Still need to correct out 1st overall. Been close but no cigar yet. Also to maintain position as oldest competitor (ha ha). My insurance age when starting this year's race will be same as my boat ID No (77).
Eating; The usual...live food, dead food and dog food (Boat has no refrigeration) Potatoes, bananas, oranges, onions/packaged foods like pasta/ canned foods (look at canned hash sometime...looks like: DOG FOOD)
Sleep patterns: Normal except when crossing shipping lanes. Usually wake up when boat tells me something has changed.
Important not to get too tired...that's when mistakes occur.
Steering: electric tiller pilots. Yes, I still carry what Jefferson calls a "golf bag full".
Oh, and married since 1952 to "OW" (original wife). Two daughters, both of whom are good sailors, having been doing it off and on since kindergarden. Three grand children.