Transpac: Early starters escape

(July 9, 2013) – The first of three staggered starts for the 2225nm Transpac Race got underway Monday, with 14 of the 58 entrants making fast progress offshore toward Hawaii. Separating from the pack has been Bob Hayward’s Seastream 650 Manatea, building a 20nm lead on the field.

The American classic Dorade is among the field, returning to the race which she won in 1936 with a course record that stood for many years. In 2010, owners Matt Brooks and his wife Pam Rorke Levy went to Newport in search of a classic yacht, and were immediately entranced by Dorade’s history and pedigree.

Designed by the legendary Olin Stephens II, he and his brother Rod Stephens built the 52-foot Dorade in 1929, commissioned by their father Roderick Stephens, Sr. as a family yacht. “My idea is to enter Dorade in all the races where she was victorious during her early years,” said Brooks. After Transpac, in 2015 Dorade will compete in the TransAtlantic, Fastnet, and Cowes. “In her early years, Dorade won all of these ocean races, a record that stands unbeaten today,” said Levy. (click here for more details)

The race tracker is providing race progress with a six hour delay. The second and third starts will be on Thursday and Saturday, July 11 and 13.

B’Quest: It was reported on Monday that the entry for the yacht B’Quest – Challenged America in Division 7 had been withdrawn by race organizers for non-compliance with entry requirements. Despite this, the doublehanded team of David Hopkins and Urban Miyares started the race on Monday with the intent of filing protest upon their finish in Hawaii. However, the team reported on Tuesday they have turned away from the race route and are returning to their homeport of San Diego. Click here for a track of their progress.

Video: Christophe Favreau edited this clip of the 72-foot trimaran Tritium Lending Club Project training this week. The team starts on Saturday in their quest to break the Transpac record. Click here to view.