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Aloha to our international competitors: Marten 72 Aragon, Andrews 77 Mach II, Volvo 70 Noahs II and Elliott 35 Palby Marine
Transpac’s reputation as one of the premier offshore regattas always draws a contingent of sailors from all over the world. With start and finish lines in iconic destinations, tough yet friendly competition, and a course characterized by stellar downwind sailing conditions, it’s no wonder that Transpac has gained notoriety on a global scale.
This year, four boats and their crews are crossing international waters and heading to sunny Southern California for the start of the race. Aragon (Netherlands), Ma
These boats and their crews are no strangers to offshore racing. Aragon, a Marten 72, is a veteran of the Rolex Middle Sea Race and other storied regattas. Andrews 77 Mach II is a returning entrant in Transpac and has been a formidable competitor in regattas in and around Vancouver. Palby Marine, an Elliott 35 Super Sport, is also returning to Transpac—the vessel competed in the 2015 race under a different name and ownership.
The race itself is half the journey for these international teams. Owners must coordinate all of the logistics required to get boats and crew members to California for the start. “We have the boat taken apart and shipped when moving to a regatta starting line,” says Palby Marine owner Michael Mollmann, which isn’t too heavy a lift for his 35-foot vessel, due to arrive for inspections and final preparations later this month.
Among the larger boats sailing to the start, Mach II and owner Daniel Sinclair are making the passage down the West Coast from their home port at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. Departing in late June, Sinclair says, “We are going to go about 200 miles offshore and sail directly to Los Angeles in about four to six days. That timeline will allow the team to get together and have a day of sailing to prepare before the official start.”
Also sailing their way to the start is Volvo 70 Noahs II. “It's a big endeavoor to get to the starting line as Noahs II is coming over from Brisbane, Australia,” says Johannes Schwarz. “Crossing the Pacific Ocean eastbound is against the trade winds, so it is quite demanding to get the routing right and not end up beating for hundreds of miles.” After a stop in Hawaii for a safety check, boat and crew will continue to California.
"It's a big endeavor to get to the starting line as Noahs II is coming over from Brisbane, Australia." — Johannes Schwarz, Noahs II
Meanwhile, the 72-foot Aragon is in SoCal following a cross-country shipment from Newport, Rhode Island. “The boat was already in pieces for a refit, so it made more sense to ship her instead of sail on her own bottom,” crew member Josh Axler tells us. Aragon’s crew is coming in from all across the globe, with sailors hailing from the United States, Great Britain and several European countries on the roster.
As with many Transpac entrants, key updates and upgrades are being made to these vessels in preparation for Transpac. Aragon’s refit includes a new keel and optimizations for the race’s rating system. Mach II will be sporting a new water ballast system, new sails and a freshly painted bottom.
For all of the international entries, Transpac stands tall as one of the world’s most important regattas. Sinclair notes that everyone on Mach II’s decorated and deeply experienced crew—think Olympians, world champions and legendary navigators—are all thrilled to be racing this year. “The number of people who keep coming back to Transpac and how far we travel to get there is a testament to how fun this race is. We just can’t wait!”
Though this is Mollmann’s first Transpac, the regatta has been on his bucket list for a long time. “For many years, I’ve wanted to do ocean passages. It has nice conditions and nice weather. What’s not to like about sailing in shorts and t-shirts?” Plus Mollmann foresees the regatta’s famous downwind point of sail as an advantage for Palby Marine.
“The number of people who keep coming back to Transpac and how far we travel to get there is a testament to how fun this race is. We just can’t wait!” — Daniel Sinclair, Mach II
Transpac represents a new challenge for Aragon’s owner and crew. After a few seasons racing in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, the Marten 72 will splash in Pacific waters for its first Transpac. “We are really looking forward to hitting the downwind portion of the race and the dreamy sailing there,” adds Axler.
The crew of Noahs II is excited for the team building that comes with long distance racing. “We will be looking forward to safe and fast passage and making sure that we can all do our best and that the team works well together. Of course finishing the race in beautiful Hawaii adds to the excitement,” crew manager, Jacek Siwek, added.
Post-Transpac, many of the international entries are carrying on to other top-tier races. Aragon and crew will continue on to Fiji from Hawaii and start training sessions right away for Rolex Sydney Hobart in December. Noahs II also has Sydney Hobart in its sights for later this year and following Transpac the Volvo 70 will make its way back to Australia via Fiji and New Caledonia. Mach II will return to British Columbia post-race, but the crew is planning a busy racing schedule in East Asia in the near future. Palby Marine is setting its sights on a campaign to add to its course time records back home in the Around Denmark Race.
The international teams joining Transpac elevate the world class competition and camaraderie of the regatta. Be on the lookout for these boats as the 2025 Transpac Race gets underway just over a month from now!
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