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Resurgence of an Offshore Classic by Latitutde 38

Whether your involvement in offshore racing includes eagerly standing watch at all hours in all weather, or is limited to watching transponder tracks move across your computer screen while you’re comfortably perched in an easy chair, we think you’ll be interested to learn about the resurgence of a Pacific Ocean classic: the 3,570-mile Transpac Tahiti race, which is slated to begin May 28 from Long Beach.

Transpac Tahiti Race 2020

Crossing an ocean

‘I did 20 transatlantic crossings and races by 2000 and then I waited until 2016 to do the 21st and now 2019 for a first Transpac. I will not be waiting so long again. There is something magical about the rhythm of the ocean race that is lost in the frenzy of a Fastnet.’ Gordon Kay enjoyed his first race to Hawaii.

In the end it was all about the finish. After three days’ racing neck and neck with the Botín 65 Caro the last few hours saw us come from behind to cross the finish line just 39 seconds in front. Boat speed in the low 20s, an A2 far beyond its design wind range with a widening hole from a previous repair, and a diminishing amount of track to run all made for an exhilarating final push that none of us will forget.

In those conditions we were always going to be faster, but fast enough to edge in front before the finish line? That was the tricky bit. We had crossed swords with Caro a few times over the years, notably in the 2016 Middle Sea Race – that time we ran out of runway as we caught her at the finish. We tried on several more occasions but until we passed Diamond Head in July we had not finished in front of her on the water. The tale of the tape is 46ft versus 65ft – Caro sporting a deep-draft lifting keel versus the canting keel and DSS of Maverick.

Onde Amo Race Blog

On Monday, July 22^nd, we were less than 200 miles from the finish.  At around midday, and looking at a midday finish on Tuesday, I heard the words that I have come to hate “I have no helm”!  Debbie and I were just starting to repair the A2 (again) as it had come apart the evening before after we had flown it most of the day.  The repair that we did before worked so well that it came apart at a different spot! I am still of the opinion that we weakened the fabric by dragging it across the rough spreader tip at the upper spreader and then it was a weak spot looking for a chance to fail. 

Aloha Spirit at the Final Awards of Transpac 50

"Aaaalloooh-haaah!" This greeting repeated in unison by the crowd of over 600 attendees is how Transpacific Yacht Club Commodore Tom Hogan commenced the Awards Ceremony to the 50th edition of the LA - Honolulu Transpacific Yacht Race on Friday night. For the next two hours this audience was entertained by local Hawaiian dancers, photo and video images of the race, a few stories to provide context, and an awards ceremony emceed by Chuck Hawley where dozens of beautiful and historic trophies were presented to winners in numerous categories of multihull and monohull divisions in the race.

With 10 divisions of monohulls and 2 divisions of multihulls, and awards given to the winners, runners-up and in the larger classes third-place finishers as well, there were lots of leis and trophies distributed in this ceremony. Here is a summary of each:

The Cal 40's are an important part of Transpac history, and this year had an impressive turnout of 6 boats. Unfortunately one had to turn back, so they missed the fight into the finish between the top three. The Eddy family's Callisto emerged from that fight on top, while Rodney Pimentel's Azure and Don Jesberg's Vivamargin for second and third, respectively, was only 2 1/2 minutes in corrected time after 12 days of racing.