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50 Years After His First Transpac, Doug Jorgensen Preps for his Seventh

For many of the skippers and crews who have registered to race in the 2025 Transpac, the event is one they return to time and time again.

Pasadena, California’s Doug Jorgensen agrees with that sentiment. This year, Jorgensen will be making his seventh crossing from Los Angeles to Honolulu racing in the 2025 Transpac. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Jorgensen’s first time competing in the race, a milestone in his sailing resume.

Transpac is for Everyone

Entries are stacking up for Transpac 2025, with 34 boats committed to what's considered one of the most enduring long distance sailing contests in the world.

Once again, the challenge of racing 2,225 nautical miles from Los Angeles to Hawaii is drawing all types of boats, from high-tech multihulls to traditional monohulls, from amateurs racing for the first time to veteran competitors who’ve racked up several Transpacs in their sea logs. 

Transpac 2025 Merchandise Now Available

Get a jump on holiday shopping for your captain and crew with Transpac 2025 merchandise now available from Pirates Lair. Check out the crew jackets, ball caps, wicking jerseys, customizable polos and more.

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Why Not Race Transpac 2025? A Crew of Friends for 50 Years Signs Up

INSTEAD OF WHY, ASK WHY NOT?
Friends for over 50 Years embark on their first Transpac aboard Santa Cruz 52 Heroic Heart.

For many Transpac skippers and crew, the race to Hawaii is their first ocean crossing. Not so for the crew of Heroic Heart—which includes two sets of brothers, Steve Firestone and Dan Firestone, Ron Zamir and John Zamir, Mike Wolfe, Andy Cranmer, Bobby Feinberg, Gil Varon and Sam Attrill.

Though it's their first Transpac, this crew first sailed the LA to Hawaii route together 50 years ago, when they were just teenagers. 

It was the summer of 1975 on an 85’ wooden schooner, Vltava, which the kids and their parents had rebuilt and outfit for long distance voyaging. For the young crew and their parents, the 1975 crossing kicked off an era of sailing and working together as a team. In 1976, they set sail around the world as the core crew of Vltava, with their parents and friends joining them along the way. The oldest of the crew was 19 years old, the youngest just 14, and 17-year-old Steve was elected captain. That 18-month voyage changed their lives, solidifying them as friends for life and laying the groundwork for many more achievements in business, while growing their families and continuing to sail the world on bigger and bigger yachts.

TRANSPAC 2025 HITS 30 ENTRIES

Entries are steadily increasing for the 2025 Transpac, with John Raymont’s Ker 52 Fast Exit II the 30th boat to register and one of several veteran competitors to commit to a repeat offshore run from Los Angeles to Honolulu. 

The Transpac is so many things to so many sailors. It’s a long race between two legendary destinations; it’s an ocean crossing; it’s 118 years of breaking records and pushing the boundaries of boat design; it’s a challenge; it’s a triumph; it’s where memories are made. It’s a great story. 

Every sailor has a different reason for racing. What’s your Transpac story? Share it with media@transpacyc.com for a chance to be featured in official Transpac media.