Race Archives

Cliff Webb and his team at 1080Media did a fabulous job with this descriptive story of this year’s 51st race to Hawaii. The storytelling is all the more remarkable considering neither he nor his team were allowed to travel from their base in the UK to California or Hawaii during the time of the race due to Covid restrictions… so a scramble of the media teams on site at the starts and finishes, along with footage provided by the racing teams, helped to piece together this great tale of a great race.

Having “interesting” races in the 115-year history of Transpac is not unusual. In the 51 times this race has been run since 1906, there have been numerous circumstances that had an effect on most if not all competitors.

However, the great majority of these were related to natural events, such as passing hurricanes, unusual positions and strengths of the Pacific High, or effects related to El Nino. Another was the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan that left lots of floating debris throughout the North Pacific, affecting numerous entries in the 2013, 2015 and even the 2017 races with impact damage to hulls and appendages.

So much of the Transpac experience is not in the race itself, but the journey taken to get to the race.

Jack Jennings and his team on the Santa Cruz 70 Pied Piper had a long journey in this year’s 51st edition of the race, starting in 2019 in Southern California, followed by Portland, Oregon for repairs and modifications, and then down to LA for the start.

Dave Powlison wrote for Sailing World magazine a great article about this journey not only of the boat, but of Jack and the evolution of his crew.

Read this in its full entirety >>

Steve Sellinger's Santa Cruz 52 Triumph sailed the 2021 Transpac with the fastest SC52 elapsed time in Transpac history. Hear about sailing professional Chris Snow's first Transpac Race experience from his own perspective on www.thefavoredend.com.

Someone’s tugging on my foot. What the %^&*? It’s my crew mate, Brad Wheeler, and I hear a muffled “You can sleep when you’re dead, Chris, you’re going to want to see this, get up.” I am hearing him through the foam ear plugs I am wearing to muffle the sound of the primary winch that’s 12” over my head, not exactly sure I’m hearing him right. Nevertheless, I slither backwards out of the quarter berth I’m in. It’s hot and sticky down below and I’m shirtless and shoeless, I can smell myself. It’s not good. I poke my head out of the hatch. It’s just barely getting light. Brad’s close by and I give him a nod. I keep my head low to not block the instruments, so the helmsman can see their red glow in the darkness. Astern, to the east, the edges of towering tropical clouds are just becoming visible. Ahead it looks black, scary black. Squall cloud black and that’s not what you want to be sailing toward in this part of the Pacific. I’d only been asleep for a couple hours.

J125, Nereid video logs from the 2021 Transpac Yacht Race from LA to Hawaii.

It was more than just the steady breeze across the 2,225-nautical-mile course that made this year’s Transpac a spirited race. And it was more than just the tenacity of intrepid sailors who waded through pandemic protocol, masked up and voyaged to Hawaii anyway. It was the ghosts of Transpacs past, carried by the team of the Farr 57 Ho’okolohe, who whispered to the winds and made the 51st Transpacific Yacht Race a truly spirited affair.

Cecil Rossi’s Ho’okolohe carried a crew of nine plus the cremated remains of five others to the finish line off the island of Oahu.

August 20, 2021 - Honolulu, Hawaii - After careful review of the materials submitted to support his application, a review panel from the Transpacific Yacht Club have determined that Jesse Osborn wins the Mark S. Rudiger Celestial Navigation Trophy for the recently completed 2021 Transpac. Osborn was navigator aboard Justin Waite's Stevens 47 Mikmaks.

The trophy is awarded to the navigator who submits celestial navigation worksheets or evidence of traditional navigation to the finish inspectors immediately after finishing, and whose work is selected as the "best" by an impartial panel of judges. First awarded in 2011, the trophy itself is an antique brass 1905 T. Hemsley & Son silver-vernier A-frame sextant, donated by Stan Honey, which receives plaques for each winner.

It was the thrill of a lifetime crossing the finish line off Diamond Head at the conclusion of the 51st biennial Transpac Race. The Transpac from Long Beach to Honolulu is one of the oldest and longest ocean races. The race started July 17, 2021 and would conclude seven days later after traveling 2,225 nautical miles. We set sail with all the thrill of excitement and preparation that any team could muster. You then realize at 1,100 miles offshore, you are closer to the International Space Station than you are to land. At that moment, your small boat, its provisions and your teammates are the most important things in your life. Whittier Trust Company was the Heritage Sponsor as numerous Whittier family members and employees have regularly been involved in the Transpac since 1923. It was 98 years ago that Max Whittier, our founder, purchased the 107-foot Poinsettia and entered her in the race with his sons. Since that date, numerous descendants and employees have completed this epic journey. As CEO of Whittier Trust it was my honor to continue our heritage and legacy.

A collection of arrivals into Hawaii enjoying the action and the thrill of completing the Transpac Race. Many teams came in a day ahead of their hotel bookings and were welcomed with flower leis, and strong doses of Hawaiian hospitality poured into pineapples....

Honolulu, Hawaii - With the finish today just before sunrise of Tim Jones' Olson 40 Live Wire, all entered yachts are accounted for in this 51st edition of the Transpac. The Cal 40 Nalu V skippered by Mark Ashmore with wife Kathleen, Chris Tadlock and navigator Hugh Westermeyer did not have the fastest ride to Hawaii, having broken their spinnaker a few days ago and sailing the remainder of the race with a poled-out headsail. For this they do earn the Tail End Charlie Award, but they also achieved a more important mission for their team in this race.

“Aaahhhlloooohhaahhh!” Transpacific Yacht Club Commodore Jim Eddy led the crowd of Transpac sailors and their friends and family with this traditional greeting that has so many meanings in Hawaiian: Hello, Welcome, Goodbye, or as an expression of love and affection. On the upper deck of the Hawaii YC this group gathered for the final of three ceremonies of awards to celebrate this year’s 51^st biennial edition of the 2225-mile Transpac race from LA to Honolulu.

Transpac Race analysis with Dobbs Davis of Seahorse Magazine. Today's guest is navigator Peter Isler of Pyewacket, Roy Disney's turbo Volvo 70. Isler gives insightful comments on not only their experience on Pyewacket, but the race in historic context. Tune in for this interesting discussion among the experts on this fast 2021 edition of this biennial classic ocean race.

July 27, 2021

Well it's day 14 and we have 44 miles to go.  It's been quite an experience and we have learned a lot. No matter how prepared you think you are, there is always more to do. We are finishing in our typical place - last across the line (Nalu-style), but I don't think we're last on a corrected basis. Getting in safely has always been goal #1 and we should accomplish that. 

Honolulu, Hawaii – An enduring service provided by the Transpacific Yacht Club is maintaining one of the largest and most impressive perpetual trophy collections in the ocean racing world. Dozens of works of art crafted in silver, pewter, brass and bronze, along with traditional Hawaiian materials like Koa wood, canvas, cord and reeds, have accumulated over the 115 year history of this race, first sailed in 1906.

Honolulu, Hawaii – By now the stories of massive waves, sustained high speeds, and record runs coming into the docks at this year’s Transpac are starting to sound routine. This year’s race was epic, everyone agrees, thanks to a perfect weather scenario allowing for sustained high-speed sailing. Teams came in a day ahead of their hotel bookings and thus hung out at the bars of the Waikiki and Hawaii Yacht Clubs, enjoy terra firma and strong doses of Hawaiian hospitality poured into pineapples.

July 25, 2021

It's Sunday afternoon and we are on a layline for the Molokai Channel. That's where we'll gybe over to a starboard pole, heading West along the southern shore of Oahu making for Diamond Head and the finish line of the 2021 Transpac Race.   

Honolulu, Hawaii - Having start dates staggered this year over five days and near-perfect strong breeze over the 2225-mile course has resulted in the first big wave of competitors coming across the finish line at Diamond Head today in the 51st edition of the LA-Honolulu Transpac. Since yesterday 10 more teams have finished the race today, with 9 more teams expected in tonight before dawn tomorrow. This makes more half the fleet of 41 entries expected to be in to their berths at Hawaii YC or Waikiki YC before another large wave of 18 finishers are expected tomorrow and tomorrow night.

Transpac race analysis for July 24 with Seahorse Magazine technical editor Dobbs Davis. In today's show the wind and weather features around the Hawaiian islands are explained and what its like to come at Oahu from being at sea and make the finish line at Diamond Head: the wind effects, the sights sounds and smells of making landfall in paradise.

July 24, 2021

Good Afternoon from Triumph.  We  are at N 25 degrees 03.617 minutes Latitude and W 149 degrees 39.965 minutes.   It is sunny and hot. Wind is 18-22 knots. Swells are 3-6. Last night was fun filled terror with a series of squalls. I have never liked squalls and after last night I hate them even more.  We drove right in to the heart of the death star squall but came out the other end.  Nick, Jeff, David (aka Spider Monkey) were on deck sailing in 22-25 knots of breeze, when about to be eaten David asks for relief and Jeff looks to me and says your up and I say NFW bud - that is above my pay grade. Jeff told The Spider Monkey to sit tight because we are not changing drivers during a squall.  Moments later it was game on and we were swallowed hole and wind speeds quickly reached 30-33 knots with torrential rains.  The rest of the crew was bunked below.  Brad and Chris reported to be listening as Triumph hydroplaned and we yelled to each other about the rapidly changing conditions.  Justin reportedly silently thanked David for his timing as Justin had just done a tiring 4 hour shift.  Zack slept through the entire event.  The Spider Monkey kicked the death star squalls ass!  He is the boat MVP today. Only one day because we can't let this go to his head!  BTW he continues to lead in the BMC. 

July 24, 2021

Last night was a great night of sailing under a full moon, scatterred clouds, and rolling seas, giving HORIZON ample opportunities to surf down big waves when the winds gusted above 20kts.  We continue sailing with our Code 2 spinnaker with average wind speeds of around 18Kt blowing from north/northeast. We took advantage of a right wind shift around 3am to jibe and point the nose of the boat at the finish line in Hawaii, now 275 miles away. We are on final approach to the Hawaiian islands and getting ready for what will be a fairly tight finish with the lead boat in our class. They are 16 miles ahead in terms of miles to finish but we think we have better strategic position to play the wind shifts as we approach the Molokai channel, the last and usually fast leg of the race. The race has turned out to be a 2000 mile match race between HORIZON and the other lead boat in the Santa Cruz 50/52 class. If you look at the yellow brick tracks of the two boats, they are almost identical. Obviously the two navigators, on our boat Pete, and on the other boat Jeff, think very much alike, strategically speaking.

Honolulu, Hawaii - Five days, 16 hours, 53 minutes and 20 seconds since starting off San Pedro in Los Angeles last Saturday, the team on Roy Disney’s turbo Volvo 70 Pyewacket crossed the finish line at 2:53 AM at Diamond Head to be first to finish in this year’s Transpac. While not breaking the 5 day 2 hour course record set in 2017 by the VPLP 100-footer Comanche, this was still an impressive feat in having an average speed of 16.3 knots over the entire 2225-mile course. Knowing they could not defeat the course record, the team decided instead to go after another record: the longest 24-hour run in the race. Navigator Peter Isler laid out the scenario: rather than gybing on wind shifts to reduce the distance to the finish they would extend to the north corner of the course, gybe once, and head at high speed for Oahu. The tactic worked: in 24 hours the team sailed 506.4 miles, at an average of 21.1 knots of speed.

July 23, 2021 - Honolulu, Hawaii - Five days, 16 hours, 53 minutes and 20 seconds since starting off San Pedro in Los Angeles last Saturday, the team on Roy Disney’s turbo Volvo 70 Pyewacket crossed the finish line at 2:53 AM at Diamond Head to be first to finish in this year’s Transpac. While not breaking the 5 day 2 hour course record set in 2017 by the VPLP 100-footer Comanche, this was still an impressive feat in having an average speed of 16.3 knots over the entire 2225-mile course.

Knowing they could not defeat the course record, the team decided instead to go after another record: the longest 24-hour run in the race. Navigator Peter Isler laid out the scenario: rather than gybing on wind shifts to reduce the distance to the finish they would extend to the north corner of the course, gybe once, and head at high speed for Oahu. The tactic worked: in 24 hours yesterday the team sailed 506.4 miles, at an average of 21.1 knots of speed.

Everything continues to go well on the good ship Rock 'n Roll. Conditions are excellent and fast--blasting along at 14-15 knots in 20 knots of breeze for the past day and trying to hunt down Bolt. The observant may have seen a tracker report that we were only going 6 knots at one point, but that never happened--just an oddity as the tracker took two positions before and after a gybe.

Our trusty A2.5 spinnaker which was painstakingly sewn back together a few days ago just finally gave up for good in a spectacular show of shredded cloth. So we are down to just two spinnakers and hopefully that will do.

At about 1320 HST the Judel-Vrolijk 72 LUCKY retired from the race, reporting a broken rudder at about 30 miles from the finish. All crew safe on board, and organized a tow to Honolulu. Lucky had been projected to be a top 10 overall finisher and had been ranked first in Class 1 at Friday morning's roll call.

Transpac 23 July race analysis with Seahorse Magazine technical editor Dobbs Davis. Today's show celebrates the first-to-finish achievement by Roy Disney's turbo Volvo 70 team on Pyewacket, along with the second across the line, Cecil and Alyson Rossi's Farr 57 Ho'okolohe. Weather continues to be strong, perhaps too strong in the Molokai Channel that claimed its first victim with the J/V 72 Lucky. And if this race were held one week later, it would have been a very different trip indeed.

In the early morning darkness on Friday, July 23rd, Pyewacket 70 was the first to finish the 2021 Transpac Race, winning the Barn Door Trophy. Roy Disney has sailed the Transpac Race 25 times now, and this was his fastest yet at 5 days 16:53:20. Pyewacket's elapsed time is the 2nd fastest monohull in Transpac history, 5.5 hours off the 2019 record pace established by Comanche. More Results as teams finish this weekend.

The Storm Trysail Team Scoring is updated with today's positions.

Day 9 race analysis of the 2021 Transpac yacht race from LA-Honolulu with Seahorse Magazine technical editor Dobbs Davis. Today's show highlights the final approach of the first teams to finish in high-speed conditions and an explanation of the live 200 mile radius YB tracker system. Also explained is the system of VPP-based scoring using the Transpac course matrix.

Honolulu, Hawaii – All eyes are on the YB trackers now to anticipate the arrival of the first finishers in the 2021 Transpac. The favorable weather in this year’s race of 2225 miles from LA to Honolulu has resulted in shorter distances and higher speeds for the fleet than in many other editions of this classic biennial ocean race, with boats starting to arrive in the pre-dawn hours tonight through the morning and into the afternoon.

July 22, 2021

We had our belated halfway party last night with a swig each of tequila and lots of laughs, even as we continued to send it. Skipper Sheehan said a few words to acknowledge how hard we've been pushing the boat and how much still had to go in this great ocean race to paradise. We also toasted our friends on Denali to acknowledge all of their work and preparation to sail the Transpac only to be dealt a cruel hand of cards after the start.

Daily analysis videos of the LA-Honolulu Transpac race featuring Seahorse Magazine technical editor Dobbs Davis. Today's show points out the everyone in the fleet is now past the halfway point in the race, and will now focus on the signature downwind sailing to Hawaii that this race is known for the world over.

Los Angeles, California – The predictions of this year’s 51st edition of the biennial Transpac race from LA to Honolulu as being a fast race appear to be holding true: all teams that left the mainland starting about a week ago through the end of last week are past the halfway point in the race. The 40 boats out on the course this year have been fortunate to have a strong stable North Pacific High pressure system to the north of the course area that is allowing them to enjoy perfect 15-20 knot winds through the majority of this race.

One week into the race, Technical Editor Dobbs Davis of Seahorse Magazine gives his view of the weather conditions on the race course, positioning strategies and tactics of the teams, and some projections of what's to come for the fleet using the YB tracker software.

July 20, 2021, 0800

The best sailing in the WORLD is about 1,000 nm upwind of Hawaii... which makes the TransPac the best race in the world! Morale is high and the sailing sure is fun! Aloha!

Today's show focuses on Ho'okolohe racing the halfway point, when and where Pyewacket might pass her into the finish, steady classic conditions on the course, and some stories from the teams.

Los Angeles, California – With just less than 1000 miles to go at 0800 Hawaii Standard Time today, Cecil and Alyson Rossi’s Farr 57 Ho’okolohe is the first in the 40-boat fleet to pass the halfway point in this year’s 2225-mile Transpac race from LA to Honolulu. At their tracker position of 27° 08’ North, 140° 44’ West they were speeding towards the finish at Diamond Head on Oahu at 11.8 knots, having traversed 227 miles in the past 24 hours.

The team on board is a mix of nine old and young offshore sailors from both California and Hawaii, with skipper Cecil being one of the most experienced.

“My first Transpac was in 1965, on a South African boat called Storm Vogel,” he said prior to their start. “I’ve done a lot of them since, but missed a few when we had our kids. I’ve probably done pretty close to 20 including Tahiti races.” The 3570-mile LA-Tahiti Race is also organized by the Transpacific YC, was raced first in 1928 and has been held 16 times since.

July 19, 2021

After spending the night on the R2, genoa staysail, and a reefed main, we finally put up a soft kite at the 8 a.m watch change. It feels great to have the boat sailing a little flatter. We’re on a new Doyle A2.5, which is a purpose-built offshore spinnaker. We’re eager to see the next round of position reports because we really made some distance down the course. We’re hoping it was in the right direction! Other than the start, we have not seen the sun. We did have a pod of dolphins playing in the wake yesterday. The systems are all working well, and we’ve been making water and eating well.

“All is well onboard BOLT! The sun is out and boat is moving fast. Morale is high and conditions are great. Chef Craig continues to provide a 5-star dining experience as we continue our journey towards Hawaii. Today we leave you with thoughts from the crew....

"Easier to cook when the boat is flat"
"The sun is finally out!"
"Can't believe they let the bow guy drive."
"Are we there yet?"
"Finally surfing!"
"The coffee is working."
"Dave spoils good dreams."
"White sails are faster than dark sails"
"I like going fast!"
"I'm not grumpy!"

July 18, 2021, 1600

News Flash! Jason sends an update on the first 24 hours aboard Callisto:

The first 24 hours have been good. Callisto was able to have a good start despite a large armada of spectator boats. The wind was blowing 8-10 knots and then built up to 14 knots off Catalina Island. The fleet headed north to Santa Barbara Island before making the last tack onto starboard (which is the tack for 80% of the race). Overnight the wind remained in the 8-12 range with a heavy marine layer. The wind built to 15 knots but the crew is still waiting for the wind to shift to the northeast. The boat is performing well but there are a few gear gremlins to deal with. Go Go Callisto!

Third wave of the fastest boats get the fastest start in the 2021 Transpac. Powered by the best breeze of the week – 10-15 knots at the start off Point Fermin – today’s final 19 entries in four divisions vaulted off the start line towards Honolulu from Los Angeles, USA, 2225-miles away, in the 2021 Transpac. These are the fastest boats in the fleet entered in Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4, and vary from 52 to 77 feet in length, with all expecting a speedy passage ahead. The current monohull course record set by the VPLP 100 Comanche in 2017 is 5D-1H-55M-26S, an average speed of over 18 knots. “A few days ago we got excited when the weather models lined us up for what looked like could be a record run,” said Peter Isler, navigator on Roy Disney’s turbo Volvo 70 Pyewacket....

Los Angeles, California – Powered by the best breeze of the week – 10-15 knots at the start off Point Fermin – today’s final 19 entries in four divisions vaulted off the start line towards Honolulu, 2225-miles away in the 2021 Transpac. These are the fastest boats in the fleet entered in Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4, and vary from 52 to 77 feet in length, with all expecting a fast passage ahead.

The current monohull course record set by the VPLP 100 Comanche in 2017 is 5D-1H-55M-26S, an average speed of over 18 knots. “A few days ago we got excited when the weather models lined us up for what looked like could be a record run,” said Peter Isler, navigator on Roy Disney’s turbo Volvo 70 Pyewacket. “This is less certain now, but it still looks like a fast race ahead if we can get off the coast tonight.”

Second wave of 15 entries off to a fast start - Los Angeles, CA - A second wave of 15 entries has started today in perfect breeze and sunny skies on their way to the finish 2225 miles away in the LA-Honolulu Transpac. This classic biennial ocean race, in its 51st edition, has 26 teams on the course now, with 19 more ready to start tomorrow at 13:00 local time. A building westerly breeze of 9-12 knots has helped propel the Division 5, 6 and 7 entries off to a fast start on their first leg of the trip, leaving the West End of Catalina to port before leaving the mainland behind with the next landfall being at Diamond Head in Honolulu.

Seahorse Magazine technical editor Dobbs Davis reviews the progress of the fleet in the 2021 LA-Honolulu Transpac. The first starters are well off the coast and enjoying cold, rough but fast sailing, and the second group has started today in perfect SoCal weather to get quickly offshore to join them. The weather forecast look fairly stable for a fast start to the race for this group.

Los Angeles, California – A second wave of 15 entries has started today in perfect breeze and sunny skies on their way to the finish 2225 miles away in the LA-Honolulu Transpac. This classic biennial ocean race, in its 51st edition, has 26 teams on the course now, with 12 more ready to start tomorrow at 13:00 local time.

A building westerly breeze of 9-12 knots has helped propel the Division 5, 6 and 7 entries off to a fast start on their first leg of the trip, leaving the West End of Catalina to port before leaving the mainland behind with the next landfall being at Diamond Head in Honolulu.

Seahorse Technical Editor Dobbs Davis gives his Day Two analysis of racing in the 2225-mile LA-Honolulu Transpac. Today's show highlights the Division 8 fleet's getting off the coast in their first 48 hours of racing and reaching the strong offshore northerlies that are now propelling them what towards Hawaii.

Seahorse Technical Editor Dobbs Davis gives an analysis of how the Division 8 fleet has faced their first day of racing in the 2225-mile Transpac. The YB tracker is used to show boat positions, weather and early standings based on elapsed and corrected time. This show also introduces new viewers to the use of the YB tracker browser version tools to follow the race.

1080 Media TV is a multi-award-winning company and is the official Host Broadcaster for Transpac 51, producing a 25-minute TV show of the race which will be available to a worldwide audience.

However, we are aware that many people will be shooting videos on the race, capturing the best, and worst, of the experience, so we thought we’d offer a few suggestions about how to get the best results. We’d love to share your footage and use it to tell your story in the TV show too, and explain to viewers what you and your team went through on this amazing race!

Read Full Trips Adviser

Los Angeles, California – After over a year of careful planning, tremendous uncertainty, yet dogged determination to run this race, the Transpacific Yacht Club today unleashed the first wave of entries on their long westward journey to Honolulu in the 51st running of the Transpac. This biennial 2225-mile race from LA-Honolulu, first run in 1906, is an ocean racing classic.

Seven entries ranging from 37 to 57 feet in length were on the start line today, set one mile south of San Pedro’s Point Fermin lighthouse. Weather conditions early this morning were uncertain, with local thunderstorms in the area, but this stabilized by midday to provide an 11-knot thermal westerly breeze. Even in this initial upwind leg towards the first of only two marks of the course – the West End of Catalina, 25 miles away – the fleet seemed to split with some opting to head north and others choosing to take the closer tack towards Catalina.

The slides from the July 10th Skippers Meeting are available online for review. This year's meeting was held on Zoom.

VIEW SKIPPERS MEETING SLIDES

Los Angeles, California – After a long winter and spring that made planning even more difficult due to Covid uncertainty, the fleet for this year’s Transpacific Yacht Race (aka, the Transpac) is at last in their final days of preparation. This biennial ocean racing classic organized by the Transpacific YC is in its 51^st edition of offering high seas adventure for 2225 miles from the start off Point Fermin in Los Angeles to the finish line off Diamond Head in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Presenting the 2021 Transpacific Yacht Race Event Program.

Past editions are available online as well.

Reserve your space for Transpac Race Official Photography packages from Sharon Green and Ultimate Sailing, and Official Videography packages from 1080 media TV.

AT START AND FINISH

Let the official Transpac Photo and Video teams make Transpac 2021 an adventure you will long remember.

World Class navigator and multiple Transpac winner Stan Honey provided his thoughts on Transpac in a recent webinar held for entries in this year’s race, including a detailed analysis of the race in several segments: getting off the start, leaving the coast, lining up in the correct lane to get west, and strategies coming into the islands and making the final approach to the finish at Diamond Head.

There is a lot of valuable information here, not just for this race, but tips for finding relevant resources to help navigate any ocean race.

This seminar was introduced by Heritage Sponsor Whittier Trust.

Transpacific Yacht Club invites all skippers and crew registered for the 2021 Transpac Race to a Zoom Webinar hosted on Transpac Race navigation and strategy, presented by Stan Honey.

Saturday, May 8, 2021
9:00 am to 11:00 am PDT
ZOOM WEBINAR (Access information will be sent out to race entries via email)

Los Angeles, CA – The 63-foot Reichel/Pugh-designed GoodEnergyco-skippered by George Hershman and Mark Comings is now the 60^th entry in this year’s 51^st edition of the Transpac, the Transpacific Yacht Club’s 2225-mile ocean racing classic from Los Angeles to Honolulu. GoodEnergy joins a strong fleet of similar high-performance monohulls along with a diverse array of many other boat types who will be starting in the race in three waves beginning on July 13^th, 2021.

In 1886 Hawaii’s King Kalākaua invited the yachtsmen of the US mainland to race across the Pacific to his island paradise. 2021 marks the 51st running of the Transpac race and Reyn Spooner is honored to be the official apparel sponsor. Our exclusively designed and hand painted scenic print commemorates key elements of the transpacific course features notable boats that have participated in the race over the years. Few races have the cultural heritage of an event started by royalty over a century ago and enriched by the participation of thousands of sailors since.

Official 2021 Transpac Race Reyn Spooner Shirtsbe
ORDER NOW

Clarence MacFarlane is considered to be the founder of Transpacific Yacht Race because he helped organize the first “Transpac” in June 1906, and he skippered his own schooner La Paloma in that race. Commodore MacFarlane would be proud of his grandson, Scott Abrams, who is sailing his 16^th and last Transpac this year. It will be Scott’s last Transpac because Scott passed away last November after a long and valiant battle with Leukemia.

For almost 100 years, Transpac and Whittier Trust have shared a commitment to meeting challenges. It was in 1923 that Max Whittier entered his family’s 107-foot war surplus yawl Pointsettia in the Transpac. They were met with the challenge of old, worn-out sails that failed when the wind blew hard, and no engine for when the wind quit.

Nonetheless, the family persevered with a commitment to offshore sailing, enjoying the sport “not because its easy, but because its hard,” as another sailor, John F. Kennedy, once said… OK, JFK was describing space travel, but you get the idea.

The Board of Directors of the Transpacific YC has confirmed the 2021 Transpac race is on. Interest is strong among participants, sponsors and members of the club to have no interruption this year in the 105-year history of this classic 2225-mile biennial ocean race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

With a strong turnout of 58 entries to date, three start dates are still on schedule, with the first start planned for July 13, 2021.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges for us in planning this 51st edition of the race,” said TPYC Commodore Jim Eddy, “particularly for shore side logistics and social events at both the start and finish venues. Nonetheless, we have been working through many scenarios with some expert help and feel confident about conducting this race safely.”

With the first of three starts now less than six months away, the 51st edition of the biennial Los Angeles to Honolulu Transpac race is still building its entry list, having reached 52 registered yachts last week. More entries are being anticipated, with race organizers at the Transpacific Yacht Club recently extending the deadline for Standard Entry Fee payment from March 1st to April 30th, 2021.

Transpacific Yacht Club is proud to partner with the Prince Waikiki Luxury Hotel. The hotel is located in the Ala Wai Marina, with convenient access for all boats docked there after the race, and a 5 minute walk to the yacht clubs and the Race Headquarters. Special rates for Transpac Race teams and families are available now. Make reservations through our custom reservation link to secure these rates.

RESERVATIONS LINK

PRINCE WAIKIKI
100 Holomoana Street, Honolulu, HI 96815
844-207-9998

$249 per night, plus taxes | Run of Ocean
$395 per night, plus taxes | One-Bedroom Ocean View Suite
$550 per night, plus taxes | One-Bedroom Ocean Front Suite

Presented by 2x America's Cup (and Transpac Race) winner, Peter Isler
Special guest presentations by veteran meteorologist, Chris Bedford & Marine electronics guru and Transpac Race record-holding navigator, Artie Means

Live Webinar - Saturday, February 20 - 9AM-1230PM PST
(available online afterwards for 24/7 access if you can't make the live show)

A great way to kick start your preparation for the big race. Peter will review the race strategy, pre-race weather study, in-race optimal routing and tactics, satellite data techniques, afterguard/navigator communication and much more. Much of the presentation will feature Expedition Navigation & Racing software and Peter will share his knowledge of this powerful tool.

January is a time for resolutions and we asked our 2021 competitors about their goals for the 51st Transpac Race. Be sure to check out all the competitor profiles and keep with the latest on our social media channels.

As of November 2nd, 8 months and 10 days in advance of the first start on July 13, 2021, there are 42 confirmed entries in the 51st edition of the Transpacific Yacht Club’s race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, the Transpac. This 2225-mile biennial race is an ocean racing classic, first sailed in 1906 as an idea inspired a decade earlier by Hawaiian King David Kalakaua, and has been an attraction for all avid ocean racers and adventurers ever since.

The milestone 40th entry was made by San Francisco Bay area-based Dave MacEwen with his Rogers 46 Lucky Duck. Dave is not new to Transpac: in three previous editions he and his team on his Santa Cruz 52 of the same name (shown at left at the start of the 2019 race) have earned respectable results, placing third in both the 2019 and 2015 editions in the “Fabulous Fifties” group of SC 50’s and SC 52’s, one of the more competitive classes in the race.

Marine Weather University FREE Class: An Introduction to Weather Routing & GRIB Files
Live Webinar: Thursday, October 29, 2020, 6:00 PM PDT

REGISTER NOW

This will be an entertaining, informational presentation - no technical experience necessary! The first 100 registered students will be invited to attend the live webinar, and the recording will be uploaded to Marine Weather University a few days later.

A free course presented by MWU founder and 2 time America's Cup winner, Peter Isler. Expedition software's inventor, Nick White and marine electronics guru, Artie Means will be joining Peter in this class.

This class will cover:

• The keys to good weather routing
• How to find the best weather information that can be used for weather routing.
• Weather models and GRIB files
• Finding the fastest - or safest route
• How to decide the best time to embark
• How to use Expedition Navigation and Sailing software's weather and weather routing features

The Transpacific Yacht Club hosted a virtual seminar October 24, 2020 previewing the upcoming 2021 Transpac Race. Watch the full seminar and review the PowerPoint for all of the info dispersed by the club and race experts.

There is a lot of planning that goes into doing the Race of a Lifetime, and TPYC is pleased to offer seminars to all those who are planning to race next July, or are just curious about preparations for a long ocean passage.

The first of these seminars is being held on Saturday, October 24th, from 09:00 to 12:00 PDT, with a variety of topics explained by expert hosts…see the schedule for more details.

Registration is required, so pleas write to seminars@transpacyc.com to express interest to attend, and you will receive details on how to tune in via ZOOM.

Aloha!

One year from now on July 13, 2021 the first of three waves of starters will set off on the 51st edition of one of the world's oldest and longest classic ocean races, the 2225-mile Transpac. First raced in 1906 and organized every two years by the Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC), this race starts off Point Fermin in Los Angeles to finish just south of Diamond Head in Honolulu, with plenty of fun and adventure lying between.

Already 22 entries are on the entry list, representing all areas of the US, Canada and beyond, and organizers from TPYC will be expecting more soon as sailors look ahead to their planning to go back out to sea to race.

Quentin Stewart's Infinity 46r Maverick from the UK at high speed just moments before finishing Transpac 50 at Diamond Head - photo Sharon Green/Ultimate Sailing

The Transpacific Yacht Club is pleased to announce the next 2021 edition of the LA to Honolulu Transpac is now open for entry. This will be the 51^st edition of this 2225-mile biennial ocean racing classic first raced in 1906, with the first of three starts scheduled for Tuesday, July 13, 2021 and the final awards ceremony to be held in Honolulu on Friday, July 30^th, 2021.

“Amidst all the recent bad news about races being cancelled or postponed this season, we hope this early opening for entries will be good news for all ocean sailors interested in Transpac next year,” said Jim Eddy, Commodore of the Transpacific YC. “In fact, we already have our first entry within minutes of opening the site!”