HistoryFollowing the precedent set by Commodore Dale Nordin in 2008, in 2012 Transpac again accepted challenges for the race from Los Angeles to Tahiti. Initially it appeared that 5 boats might accept the challenge, but in the end only Steve Rander with RAGE and Karl Kwok with BEAU GESTE came to the foggy start line off Pt. Fermin. With the clock winding down to the start, 1300 from Point Fermin, Rage skipper Steve Rander was sounding nonchalant. “We’re just sitting around trying to think of anything we’ve forgotten,” he said. “I’ve done 23 Transpac crossings, all between the West Coast and Hawaii. Now it’s time for something different.” And if that something different, all the way to French Polynesia, turns out to be a race with only two boats entered? “You have to commit a long way ahead,” Rander said. With a veteran crew of longtime friends and family (“no rock stars”) the argument comes down to doing it now, regardless, “because if not, we’ll be too old.” So how does he feel now? “It’s still a race. We’re racing every boat that ever sailed to Tahiti.” And who wouldn’t like to sail to Tahiti?
To that question, you won’t find any doubters among the crew of RAGE's opposition, the mighty BEAU GESTE from the Royal hong Kong Yacht Club. Owner and skipper Karl Kwok is a longtime member of the Transpacific Yacht Club, and he has been on a tour of the great American and Caribbean races with his twin-ruddered 80-footer. Kwok’s target is the elapsed time record of 11 days, 10 hours set in 2008 by Doug Baker’s Magnitude 80, and however that comes out, racing to Tahiti is the most interesting way possible to get the boat a bit closer to home.
As BEAU GESTE approached the Equator, Big Mike Howard wrote, “having done a few miles on the ocean as well as Transpacs, I must admit this sprint to Tahiti is like no other sailing. 1900 miles down wind on port jibe in 20 -25 knots of trade winds with the bow pointing toward the southern Cross standing out brilliantly in the southern sky. The temperature outside is a pleasant but warm shirt sleeve condition. With the exception of the occasional flying fish hitting you at night in the side of the head, nothing could compare. It's a shame more of us who have sailed to Hawaii have not taken this opportunity provided by Transpac Yacht Club to visit another paradise.”
Unfortunately, the winds were not there for a record this year. After a few days of very light winds and slow sailing, BEAU GESTE got the bone back in her teeth and finished the Tahiti race in style. They sailed in to Papeete after 14 days, 5 hours, 9 minutes, 22 seconds.
Although the breeze was going light again at their finish, steve rander's Rage held on to her corrected time win overall. Trophies were presented at the Yacht Club de Tahiti,and warm Polynesian greetings welcomed each boat at the quay in Papeete.
Transpacific YC looks forward to more Tahiti races in the future. The MAGNITUDE 80 record is there to challenge, and one of the world’s most dramatic passages to tropical seas.