The big attraction of Transpac is the downwind sailing for days and days. Big swells,sunshine and big spinnakers in strong tradewinds. At least that's the theory. It does not always work out that way. For example of the seven Transpac races and five Pac cup races that I've done so far, only two Transpacs and two Pac Cups were truly windy. That said, we still often get great days and nights of spinnaker sailing at speeds that make grown men and women squeal like little children. It also means that the race attracts a wide and varied assortment of yachts prepared by their owners and crews to perform at full potential 24/7 for the whole race, pushing as hard as they can whenever they can. It is a race of "run what you brung" . Take Fast Exit. We have a kitchenette, small bathroom, some cabins with bunks and a saloon with convertible settee/bunks. A sort of Sprinter van with a really big engine, in the form a tall Carbon Fiber mast, big mainsail and big spinnakers. Now, also in our class are boats akin to a large sport station wagon. Think Cadillac CTS-V or Mercedes AMG, decent size with a stupidly big engine. You could sleep in it, but would you really want to? And, so we race, in handicap style. They have to beat us to Hawaii by a certain amount of time to win. Get to the wind first, be in the right lane and put up the biggest kite you can. Sheet in, hold on and drive. Shooting down big rollers with spray flying about all over the place, half the time in daylight half the time at night. If you're lucky, like this year you get a full moon, if not, it's pitch black. No matter what, you don't back off. Ever. Days two and three the Turbo Camper team pulled off 24 hour runs of 278 and 288 miles. Pretty good for a fully powered up Turbo Camper.
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Hello friends and family from, well, somewhere in the Pacific. We just wrapped up day 6 of the 2019 Transpac aboard the SC52 Westerly. Another wonderful day of sailing.
Yesterday was marked by crossing the halfway point on the race from California to Hawaii. Out here, it is said, you are farther from any dry land than you can get anywhere else on the planet. It is more that 1000 miles in any direction until you reach terra firma. And even though we know there are a lot of boats out here – we see all 90 of the racers on the position reports – the ocean still feels like a very big place and sightings of other boats are uncommon… although that is starting to change as the three different fleets begin to compress.
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After the same slow start that plagued all Saturday starters this year in the 50th edition of the LA-Honolulu Transpac, Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant's VPLP 100 Comanche still managed to sneak out of the light air, get into the offshore breeze, and sail on to be first to finish in Honolulu at 21:14:05 Hawaii time. For being the first monohull to cross the finish line at Diamond Head, the Comanche team will win the coveted First to Finish carved slab of Hawaiian Koa wood known as the Barn Door Trophy. From 2009-2017 this award was given only to yachts with no powered systems, but was re-dedicated this year for monohull yachts of all sizes and types.
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After Jason Carroll's Argo crossed the finish line at Diamond Head last night 20:52:32 local time, only 29 minutes later Peter Cunningham's PowerPlaycrossed the line, followed 6.5 hours later by Giovanni Soldini's Maserati, ending the rivalry between all three MOD 70 trimarans in the 50th edition of the Transpacific Yacht Race. For over four days these teams battled with each other, one (Maserati) limping for a while due to impact damage after the first day of the race, but never giving up.
"Crossing the finish line was a great moment for us," Carroll told local TV news teams. "It was 4 1/2 days of anticipation to find out if we were going to beat out the competition and it came down to a pretty close race in the end, so this was a great celebration."
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At 3.56 51” on July 18th local time (13.56 51” UTC, 15.56 51” Italian time) Maserati Multi 70 crossed the finish line of the 50th edition of the Transpacific Yacht Race (Transpac) off Diamond Head, Honolulu, Hawaii. Giovanni Soldini and his Team arrived with an elapsed time of 4 days, 18 hours, 26 minutes and 51 seconds.
The American MOD 70 Argo crossed first the finish line, at 20.50 32” on July 17th local time (on July 18th at 6.50 32” UTC and 8.50 32” Italian time), with an elapsed time of 4 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes and 32 seconds. The English trimaran PowerPlay followed shortly after, at 21.21 50” local time (July 18th 7.21 50” UTC and 9.21 50” Italian time), concluding the race with an elapsed time of 4 days, 11 hours, 51 minutes and 50 seconds. The multihull record, set in 2017 by ORMA 60 Mighty Merloe, of 4 days, 6 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds, remains undefeated.
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Team Hamachi is laying down the gauntlet-time to do the serious business of racing.... to win it all. Jason's (last) report:
Latest (last?) post:
Transpac is a race within a race within a race. There are four J/125s, an above average collection, who are competing with each other to be the fastest J/125 on the west coast. Each boat has donated to a prize for the first across the line. This was our main focus going into Transpac, as its been a friendly rivalry and a great chance to meet other J/125 owners. All four J/125's are racing within Division 3, which is highly competitive and comprised of 13 boats. It's a great honor to win your class at Transpac, especially in a class this competitive. Finally, there is an overall winner based on corrected time for all 92 boats.
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Partly Dark with Periods of light developing at sunrise, Winds 16-18Knts at 083 degs, seas 2-6', Bar Press 1024 mlbs
Breeze was full on yesterday seeing 34knts at the top end. Quester set another speed record of 17.2 knts. Its like seeing an RV pass you on the highway going 140 mph. Sure they can go that fast but should it? Breakfast update, the Maple Pecan scones were outstanding.
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After a frustrating day of sail issues, lines wrapped on rudders, etc. We finally fixed everything including the leach line on the kite and have made great progress at night. We have lowered the main to third reef which has shifted the center of effort forward and reduced the blanking effect on the kite. The crew seems to be having a much easier time on the helm with the COF shifted. This is probably not the best VMG for this boat, but given the steadier helm, we will probably do better overall.
Surf and turf Wednesdays made up for all the issues.
P.S. We just saw Medicine Man pass by. Looking sharp.
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| July 2027
2027 Race Starts |
