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Fleet Endures Diverse Conditions in 48th Transpac

All three starting groups now en route to Hawaii, but are sailing in very different conditions

San Pedro, CA - As the lead group that started nearly a week ago continue their speedy progress towards Hawaii, the influence of the tropical depression Delores is being felt by the trailing two groups that started on Thursday and Saturday in the 48th edition of the LA-Honolulu Transpac. This has resulted in very distinct weather conditions for each of the groups on the course.

In the morning reports, boats in the lead group reported Northeast winds 15-20 knots, with higher gusts in squalls, and good progress being made to Hawaii, even if they are looking for some sun. Paul Stemler’s J/44 Patriot continues to lead Division 7 and the fleet overall, while Ron Simonson’s SO44 Sleeper is leading Division 8.

Final Fleet Starts Slow in 48th Transpac

Strange rainy weather and light southerly breezes greet the fastest boats in the fleet; first wave leaders pass halfway point to Hawaii; second wave starting to slide out of light air slump on their second day of racing.

San Pedro, CA – Tendrils of moisture spinning off tropical depression Dolores centered several hundred miles south in Mexico were making their way into Southern California today, bringing clouds, light southerly breezes, the occasional rain shower and a clap of thunder for the third and final starting day of the 48th biennial LA-Honolulu Transpac. And while this was bizarre weather for July, it did not discourage dozens of spectator boats assembled in everything from kayaks to cruise boats to watch the two starts held off Pt Fermin in Los Angeles today.

First off the start line at 12:30 local time were the three Gunboats in the multihull class, just able to get moving in the light air off the start line, but as a puff from the south rolled in they were quickly off. Pat Benz’s bright green GB 66 Extreme H2O took an early jump off the start for being the only boat with a masthead genoa, but Lloyd Thornburg’s bright orange Phaedo, another GB 66, was holding close once the breeze filled in a few knots.

Wild Oats gets Hawaiian christening and light air ahead for last start

In a deferential nod to the Hawaiian gods, Wild Oats XI co-skipper Roy P. Disney invited Kahu minister Danny Akaka Jr. and his wife Anna to conduct a traditional Hawaiian christening ceremony today as the boat prepared for tomorrow’s final start of the 48th edition of the Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu. In a moving tribute to a Polynesian culture that reveres the sea, the ceremony blessed the yacht and its crew for a fast, safe passage to Hawaii.

“We started this tradition in 1997, the year we broke the course record [on Pyewacket],” said Disney. “We felt this may have had some influence on our good luck that race, so we did it again in 1999, and broke the record again, so its become a tradition every race since.”

Second Wave Also Off to Fast Start in 48th Transpac

Over-eager starters now en route in their first day of good breeze; first wave starters now nearly 25% down the course; weather ahead looks light

San Pedro, CA – A second wave of 18 entries in Divisions 4, 5 and 6 are now on their way west towards the finish at Diamond Head, 2225 miles away in the 48th edition of the LA-Honolulu Transpac.

The group’s start today was in picture-perfect sunny skies and a building 10-15-knot seabreeze that had everyone so excited that a large pack of starters crowded the start line on final approach, with Bill Durant’s and Jeff Shew’s Santa Cruz 52 Relentless called back after the obligatory 2 minute delay specified in the Sailing Instructions.

Lending Club 2 opts for record-run attempt

Renaud Laplanche and Ryan Breymaier co-skippers of Maxi trimaran Lending Club 2 have made the decision to withdraw from the 2015 Transpac race and instead leave Long Beach today, July 15th, to attempt the outright Transpac record, currently held by Olivier de Kersauson onboard Geronimo.

Lending Club 2 had entered the 2015 Transpac race with the intention of beating the race record that stands at 5 days 9 hours and 20 minutes. The co-skipper team attempted this feat in the 2013 Transpac but were hindered by debris as large as tree trunks and telephone poles thought to be left by the Japanese tsunami and arrived in Hawaii just two hours outside the record.

First Wave Away Fast, Second Wave to Start Tomorrow

Two teams retire from race, and Lending Club 2 opts for record run

San Pedro, CA – The first wave of 22 entries in Divisions 7 and 8 have had a great 48 hour start to their race from La to Honolulu in the 48th edition of the Transpac. The class leaders have traversed nearly 500 miles, almost one–fourth the distance to the finish in this 2225-mile biennial ocean racing classic, organized by the Transpacific YC.

Leading the pack in both elapsed and corrected time is Tracy Obert’s Marjorie, a gorgeous Stephens Waring-designed 59-foot ketch built in cold-molded wood and Kevlar at Brooklin Boat Yard in Maine in 2007. Despite having a traditional interior made of oak and mahogany, the use of contemporary materials (such as carbon fiber spars) and modern design shapes below the waterline are producing the fast speeds she’s now enjoying towards Hawaii.

First Wave Gets Good Start in 48th Transpac

First two divisions of 22 entries start their 2225-mile odyssey to Honolulu

San Pedro, CA – Under clear skies and in a light westerly breeze that is promising to build through the evening, the first 22 entries in Divisions 7 and 8 have started their 2225-mile race today in the 48th edition of the LA-Honolulu Transpac. This biennial ocean racing classic is organized by the Transpacific YC.

The fleet starting today was a broad mix of designs, from the 1907 sail training schooner Martha sailed by a crew of 11 to the relatively new 30-foot Italian sportboat Fortissimo II sailed by a team of four from Japan. All must clear the West End of Catalina Island before heading over the horizon en route to a finish line at Diamond Head on the island of Oahu.

Transpac 2015 Yellowbrick Leaderboard

Latest Race Standings

Race standings are being provided continuously on the Yellowbrick Tracking Leaderboard.  You can check on the boats positions at anytime through the Yellowbrick Race Viewer and also directly through the Yellowbrick Transpac 2015 Leaderboard.  

The latest results are avaiable by the Transpac Race Divisions and also ORR Overall standings.