Golden Rule Peace Boat Needs $15,000 More to Get to Japan!

Left: Zoe Byrd, Bob Broderick, Bok Dong Yoon, Suzanne Yoon, and Helen Jaccard have all worked hard on the Golden Rule peace boat. At its recent haul out, the crew did a week’s worth of work in four days! Right: Amanda Huntemer had her first sail on Golden Rule from Ala Wai to Ke'ehi. She is one of Kate's Thompson’s crew.

By Helen Jaccard

March 2020

I've been involved with Veterans For Peace's Golden Rule peace boat for five years now. Joining Golden Rule has given my life an incredible purpose — to work to stop the possibility of nuclear war and educate the public about all things nuclear.

After President Trump and Chairman Kim started threatening each other’s countries with nuclear weapons, and with India and Pakistan doing the same, we decided it was time to send Golden Rule into the Pacific to “Challenge Nuclear Madness and Militarism.”

Golden Rule and her competent crew of four (not me) sailed from San Diego to Hilo, Hawaii, in July 2019. Click here for a slideshow of the remarkable people who have made this voyage possible, from skippers and crew to skilled maintainers and craftsmen.

Ninth graders sailing on Hanekunamoku and the Golden Rule in Kane'ohe Bay.

It’s been a very meaningful visit. We’ve given over 60 educational presentations here and reached over a thousand people. Our presentations are welcomed by Quakers, Buddhists, students of all ages, yacht clubs, Rotary clubs, and more. We’re learning about the struggles of Native Hawaiians against the takeover of their land, in the past and today.

Now it’s time for Golden Rule to complete the voyage to Japan for the 75^th anniversary of the US nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6 and 9). On the way, we’ll visit the Marshall Islands where Golden Rule was headed in 1958 to stop nuclear bomb tests. Then on to Guam and Okinawa before we reach Hiroshima in July.

The boat is ready! We had the hull inspected last weekend when the boat was out of the water for her annual inspection and maintenance. People along the way eagerly await our arrival.

There is just one final roadblock — we need more money in the bank before we can sail from Hawaii.

Please give a generous tax-deductible donation — click here.

Or send a check to:
VFP Golden Rule Project
PO Box 87
Samoa, CA 95564
Tax ID # 83-3243849

The Veterans for Peace historic anti-nuclear sailboat Golden Rule was recently hauled out at Keehi Marine Center on Sand Island, Honolulu for inspection prior to leaving for her voyage to the Marshall Islands, Guam, Okinawa, and Japan, in time for the 75th anniversary of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The inspection, minor repairs, and routine maintenance all went extremely well (see my report below). The Golden Rule and her intrepid crew are ready and raring to go. The only thing that can stop us from making this epic voyage now would be insufficient funds, but we are optimistic. Supporters like you have been very generous. In the last couple of weeks, we have raised $15,000 of our $30,000 goal for the five-month voyage to Japan.

Just recently, longtime supporter Skip Oliver and his wife Mary Jane donated $2,000 (in addition to their previous generous donations)! Skip and Mary Jane asked us to tell you about it and to encourage you to dig a little deeper, too. Here is what Skip had to say:

As a sailor and a member of Veterans For Peace I just could not resist the idea of a VFP anti-nuclear navy. Though we live out in the wilds of Ohio, we made the long drive out to northern California to work on the restoration of the boat several times. Her upcoming voyage to the Marshall Islands – the destination of the Quaker crew in 1958 – will be truly historic. And her timely arrival in Japan to mark the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will give a major boost to the international cry for abolishing nuclear weapons.

Friends, we owe it to our kids and grandkids to stand up against weapons of mass death. To that end, and because of the great people in the project, I have to say that giving to the Golden Rule is just about the best money I have ever spent.

Please join me in giving generously!

Haul Out Report

Golden Rule was hauled out at Keehi Marine Center on Sand Island, Honolulu, this past weekend for inspection and maintenance.

After inspection during the haul out process, Golden Rule Project manager Helen Jaccard described the condition of the 61+ year old sailboat as excellent but with a few needed repairs:

• All planks are in good shape, with no rot and the boat is well fastened.
• One seam needed to be re-cottoned and re-caulked.
• After thorough sanding and scraping, two (and in some places three) coats of bottom paint were applied.
• All thru hulls are working.
• The “dripless seal,” which keeps water from coming in around the propeller shaft was replaced.
• Zincs, which prevent micro-electric charges from corroding the boat were replaced.
• The epaulette decoration on one side of the boat was loose, so we repaired and refastened it.

The boatyard manager said we did a week's worth of work in four days!

Thank you, volunteers, who did so much to make this haul out possible and efficient!