Latest News

Transpacific Yacht Club Announces NEW Perpetual Trophy for Yachts in the Open Division

Organizers of the 2,225 mile Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu have announced a new perpetual trophy for competitors in the Open Division. The newly established Open Division was created for those monohulls which utilize waivers under the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) for movable ballast and/or the use of powered sail handling gear. These entries will be eligible for a new shortest elapsed time trophy which is currently under development by TPYC. This perpetual award is intended to be a trophy that emphasizes the high-tech, unlimited, modern world of yacht racing - truly created for those yacht owners that push the edge of design, development, and performance. 

Program Cover

2009 Transpac Race Program Cover

16 Early Entries for Transpac 2009

The upgraded online entry system for the Transpacific Yacht Race is off to a vigorous start with 16 boats from five countries already signed up for the next summer's 2,225-nautical mile race to Hawaii. Those include Ragtime, the Spencer 65 now owned by Chris Welsh of Newport Beach. The two-time Barn Door winner will be extending its record number of Transpacs to 15. The wooden wonder followed its overall victory in this year's Tahiti Race with a homecoming cruise to New Zealand and has enjoyed a Down Under summer of racing to be climaxed by the Sydney-Hobart Race after Christmas.

Yippee Kai Yay

DANA POINT, CA Dec. 8, 2008 – Transpacific Yacht Club Director Sue Senescu has her sights set on her fifth Transpac, in 2009 – this time as skipper of a custom-built Class 40 race boat designed by Jim Antrim.

Sue is serving her first two-year term on the TPYC Board of Directors, is Chair of the Trophies Committee, and Staff Commodore of Dana Point Yacht Club. She previously raced in Transpac 1995 and 1997 on all women crews; in 2003 she mixed it up with the guys aboard the SC50 Horizon, and in 2005 on the Cabo Rico 56, Madrina – winning second in class.

Morning Light the movie dawns in October

The world beyond sailing is counting down to the Oct. 17 launch of the film documentary Morning Light in 55 theaters from the U.S. east coast to Honolulu, following special premiere benefit and charity screenings in various locations starting Thursday, Oct. 2. List of theater openings

The high-definition film presents a real-life, unscripted account of the year-long recruitment, tryout selection and training of young sailors ages 15 to 23 to sail a high-performance Transpac 52 called Morning Light in last year's Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii. From the 538 who applied, 15 were trained and 11 sailed and placed third overall in Division 2 (second among TP52s) against boats with professional sailors among their crews. Trailer video (2 minutes 20 seconds)