Transpac: Not just a race to Hawaii

While the start is imminent for the 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race on June 21, another biennial race is now ramping up as the 2025 Transpac Race attracts entrants for the 53rd edition of the 2,225 course from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Honors for the first entry go to Michael Marion’s Dufour 50 Insoumise. Marion raced the same boat in the 2023 Transpac but was forced to withdraw early after experiencing a serious rudder failure on day one, while sailing close-hauled from the west end of Catalina.

“We were crushing it hard to windward for about eight hours, and we were firmly holding 2nd position in our class and gaining on the leader when our rudder showed clear signs of imminent failure at about 2:45am,” recounted Marion. “The early failure was a devastating blow, and a mixed blessing. If it occurred days later in the race it would have been much worse!

“Having had an insurmountable rudder failure on the first long day of Transpac in 2023, I was eager to jump in with our early registration as soon as possible to show my commitment to my team and the Transpac community of sailors.”

A stronger reinforced rudder housing system has been a primary focus as he prepares to race the 2025 Transpac and achieve his life-long goal of sailing to Hawaii.

“I have always, since I was a kid, thought about how cool it would be to make a Pacific crossing from Southern California to Hawaii. However, I never really thought it would happen. After enjoying my Dufour for the past six years and with the realization that this boat would make the journey anywhere in the world, I started thinking about the long-abandoned dream of sailing to Hawaii.

“Our goal is to accomplish our best possible result. Winning our class is not out of the question, and within our capabilities. However, I will not consider that our efforts are unsuccessful if we do not win our class!”

Greg Dorn’s Favonius performed very well in the past two Transpacs, winning his class in 2021 and finishing 4th in 2023, but for the 2025 race he’s swapped the Dehler 46 for a Transpac 52, christened Favonius 2.

“I felt it was time to take on a faster and more pure race boat platform. The TP52 we will be sailing has a strong pedigree and appears to have excellent potential,” he said, noting that he’s hoping to recreate the right culture onboard that made his Dehler 46 so successful in past Transpacs.

He’ll be campaigning Favonius 2 in various offshore races along the West Coast in the lead-up to 2025, including Newport to Ensenada and the SoCal 300. Transpac, however, is special. “It is such a fantastic physical and mental test of endurance,” he said. “The distance, navigational challenge, and driving precision required to perform well creates a race of infinite complexity and variety.”

Another early entry is Alli Bell’s Cal 40 Restless. Bell is Transpacific Yacht Club’s Rear Commodore and has raced in four previous Transpacs, but this will be her first as skipper. She purchased Restless in 2019 and began restoring the San Diego-based classic—and started talking about racing Transpac, which brought many helpers to the forefront and turned the idea into a reality.

“I’m excited to field a crew of family and friends and hopefully make a lot of memories!” she said. “From my perspective as a sailor, an early commitment shows my crew and the rest of the fleet that I’m serious about racing.

“It also gives me deadlines to work towards. As someone who has a hand in organizing races, I always appreciate early entries—it makes planning so much easier! I guess I’m practicing what I preach.”

With legendary downwind surfing performance, Cal 40s are common Transpac entries and more than once in the race’s history earned the distinction of being the largest one-design fleet to compete. Bell is hoping more than a few line up to race against Restless.

Event information – Notice of Race – Rating system

Held biennially, the 53rd edition of the 2,225 nm Transpac in 2025 has staggered starts on July 1, July 3, and July 5 off of Point Fermin.

Source: TPYC