Transpac: More than a race to Hawaii

(July 10, 2023) – Over half the fleet of 57 entries on this year’s Transpac course have finished, with the results shaping up as well as other recognition trophies.

At just before 0700, Doug Baker’s Dencho/Kernan 68 Peligroso crossed the finish at Diamond Head after 8 days 20 hours 59 minutes 54 seconds of sailing in Division 1. With the lowest rating in this class, they are the provisional winners, having scored a corrected time 3.5 hours ahead of Tom Holthus’ runner-up Botin 56 Badpak.

Also finishing today in this class at 13:49:05 HST was the team of 13 cadets, coaches, and alumni of Cal Maritime Academy, sailing their Andrews 77 named T/S Cal Maritime. While not having scored in the upper rankings of the results, their very presence in this race was remarkable as it was just a few weeks prior to their start when a trailer with most of their sails was stolen at Cabrillo Way Marina.

With no time nor budget to get new sails, George Hershman’s Reichel/Pugh 63 Goodenergy stepped up to help by providing some second-hand sails that were close to fitting the Andrews 77 sail plan. It’s ironic the only sail that needed repair during the race was the one not stolen: the mainsail. A few days ago, a tear on the leech 15 feet from the head required stopping the boat, pulling down the sail, repairing it, then re-hoisting.

With dozens of Hawaii races and many thousands of sea miles experience, Kerry Deaver and Fred Berg were the designated coaches on board T/S Cal Maritime, and had high praise for the cadets racing their first Transpac.

“I can’t say enough about how impressed I am with this group,” said Deaver, who is also on the Board and Chief Safety Inspector for Transpacific YC. “What they lacked in previous experience they more than made up for in the enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

“Within days they were developing a competency in all positions on the boat, and if they generated ideas that I did not agree with, they respected my decisions without reservation and learned from this as well.”

Deaver also explained that besides the drama with the lost sails in the weeks leading up to the race, many members of the team were unable to come on board in advance due to the training cruise requirements on the training ship Golden Bear, which made port in Oregon just in time for them to rush to Los Angeles for the start.

“Thankfully we had been sailing in short offshore trips in Southern California coast over the past year to train and meet the pre-race requirements,” she said. “We are here safely with no injuries, no significant damage, and the team learned a lot. Mission accomplished.”

With all eligible teams finished the race, the Nash Family Corinthian Trophy that honors the all-amateur team with the lowest corrected time will be awarded to James Nichols’ J/125 Velvet Hammer. All six crew on board were confirmed to have valid World Sailing Group 1 (amateur) categorizations and sailed to a corrected time of 9 days 5 hours 20 minutes and 50 seconds.

While the early days of the race is hard, the second half of the course is what brings people back.

“Champagne sailing last evening accompanied by a lovely dinner and a freshwater boat wash in the early hours and expecting more this morning,” reports the SC 70 Mirage, “Enjoying the warm breeze and sunshine. Rainwater is warm too.”

Jack Jennings’ SC 70 Pied Piper added, “We have been enjoying the spinnaker run in the trade winds the last few days with the early race upwind just a memory.”

Event details – Preliminary results – Tracker – July 10 Roll Call

From the inaugural race in 1906, the biennial Transpac Race in 2023 is the 52nd edition with 57 entrants to take on the 2225 nm course from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Staggered Starts
June 27 – Division 7, 8
June 29 – Division 4, 5, 6
July 1 – Division 1, 2, 3, 9

Source: TYC