transpac yacht race 2023

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Race Archives

• 2023 Race Info
• Hearing Schedule
• Race Program
• Pre-Race Weather Briefing
• Sailing Instructions
• SI Amendment #1
• SI Amendment #2
• Notice of Race
• NOR Amendment #4
• NOR Amendment #3
• NOR Amendment #2
• NOR Amendment #1
• Responses to Requests for Clarification #1
• Responses to Requests for Clarification #2
• Responses to Requests for Clarification #3
• Responses to Requests for Clarification #4
• RRS Appendix RV
• World Sailing RRS Appendix TS
• Monohull SER
• Multihull SER
• Protest Form
• Inspections Process
• Inspector Contact List
• Emergency Steering Affidavit
• MOB Affidavit
• Gear Transport Info
• Start Dates List

Final Race Recap Video

ALOHA! 52nd Transpac concludes, a new cycle begins

With a resounding ALOHA the final awards ceremony of the 52nd edition of the Transpac concluded last night at Kaneohe Yacht Club on the windward side of Oahu. There are a total of 75 perpetual trophies in the Transpacific YC collection, many of which were awarded on Tuesday and Thursday ceremonies, with the balance awarded tonight.

These included the podium finishers of Boatswains Locker Division 7 and smithREgroup Division 8 who were recognized among the 15 entries in these groups that started the race in San Pedro on Tuesday June 27th. Eleven of these entries made it to the finish line at Diamond Head, while four retired from the race and returned safely to California.

Division 4, 5 and 6 winners celebrated at Transpac

This evening at Hawaii Yacht Club the podium finishers for Divisions 4, 5 and 6 who started their race on Thursday June 29th are being celebrated for the 52nd edition of the Transpac. This group was blessed with some of the most favorable conditions in the race: eight of the top ten in overall corrected time are from these divisions.

Winning first among the six entries in Cabrillo Boat Shop Division 5 is Dave Moore’s Santa Cruz 52 WESTERLY, who also was awarded the overall fleet King Kalakaua Trophy earlier this week. Runner-up in this division is Chris Messano and Bill Durant’s Santa Cruz 50 DECEPTION, who coincidently performed their impressive and thorough renovation of this boat at the eponymous division sponsor’s facilities in San Pedro. DECEPTION also placed third in overall fleet standings.

Transpac Awards Ceremonies

Sailors, family and friends are all welcome to attend the three Transpac Race awards ceremony this week. No tickets necessary.

DIV I, II, III, MULTI Tue, July 11, 5:00 - 6:30 PM Waikiki Yacht Club

DIV IV, V, VI Thur, July 13, 2023 5:00 - 6:30 PM Hawaii Yacht Club

DIv VII, VIII + Specialty Trophies Sat, July 15, 2023 5:30 - 7:00 PM Kaneohe Yacht Club ( bus available )

YACHT CLUB PARTY INFO >>

Transpac Race Yacht Club Parties

Weds, July 12, 2023 Waikiki Yacht Club Party ( Tickets ) 1600 - 2200 HST

Fri, July 14, 2023 Hawaii Yacht Club Party ( Tickets ) 1800 - 0000 HST

Sat, July 15, 2023 Kaneohe Yacht Club Party ( Tickets  - Bus ) 1930 - 2200 HST

Division 1, 2 and 3 winners celebrated at Transpac

An irony of this year’s Transpac is that the teams that raced the fastest boats were expected to be in days ago and therefore celebrating their division victories first would make sense for efficient event planning. Yet two of these winning teams finished just in the last 24 hours, with one crossing the finish at Diamond Head only this morning at 5:30 AM, less than 12 hours before the awards.

The reason is the lighter winds experienced by all the Saturday July 1st starters in this race, particularly in the first 24 hours getting off the coast of California. While the earlier starting divisions sped away to the west, nearly all the entries in these three classes took almost as long to get to Hawaii as their slower-rated rivals. This affected their overall fleet results, where the top places went to entries among the groups who started on Thursday June 29th and will be recognized at the next trophy ceremony at Hawaii Yacht Club this Thursday July 13th.

Cal Maritime adds another chapter to its storied history by completing 2,225-mile Transpacific Yacht Race

Cal Maritime added another chapter to its storied sailing history when it arrived in Honolulu on July 10, nine days after taking off from San Pedro, California, as the only college team competing against the world's elite professional crews in the 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race.

In their fourth appearance in this world-renowned race, the Keelhaulers completed their journey in nine days, three hours, 44 minutes and 22 seconds.

A mix of current cadet-athletes, coaches and program alums represented CSUM in this biannual race and completed this 2,225-mile journey from Southern California to Hawai'i: Kerry Deaver (head coach), Mike Dybvik (assistant coach), Jacob Fisker-Anderson (program alum), Cyrus Khaleeli (Jr.), Ben Louttit (Fr.), Clay Myers (So.), captain Brock Paquin (Sr.), Spencer Powley (Sr.), Max Roth (Jr.), Cooper Smith (Jr.), Emi Stephanoff (program alum) and Nolan Van Dine (program alum).

More trophy winners arriving at Transpac

Over half the fleet of 57 entries on this year’s Transpac course have safely arrived in Honolulu, and among them are some more provisional winners of division titles as well as other trophies.

At just before 0700 this morning 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 Cal Maritime Division 1.

With the lowest rating in this class, the Long Beach-based team are the provisional winners among 7 entries in this class, having scored a corrected time 3.5 hours ahead of Tom Holthus’ runner-up Botin 56 BADPAK.

Provisional Barn Door and Kalakaua Trophy winners announced at Transpac

With the finish of 19 out of 52 boats in the fleet this afternoon and no potential rivals on the eastern horizon, the fastest monohulls in elapsed and corrected time have been provisionally determined in the 2023 Transpac.

With an elapsed time of 7 days 13 hours 16 minutes and 38 seconds, the provisional winner of the Barn Door Trophy is Sebastian Moshayedi’s Bakewell-White 100 RIO100 in Cal Maritime Division 1. The Barn Door is Transpac’s perpetual award that honors the boat with the fastest elapsed time in the race. First presented in 1947, this iconic 4-foot long slab of carved Hawaiian Koa wood has been awarded to many famous ocean racing yachts that are legends in the sport: examples include CHUBASCO, MORNING STAR, TICONDEROGA, RAGTIME, WINDWARD PASSAGE, MERLIN and many more.

Night’s Watch Boat Blog

Finished! Sunday, July 9, 2023

Good afternoon to those who have followed us on this crazy journey and supported the Wolf Pack so completely.  Night’s Watch finished the race yesterday around 11:00 am HST and were greeted by several of our loved ones on the “Follow Me Boat” near the finish line.  At this point, it looks like we took third in our division with a tight battle between Night’s Watch, Lenny, Macondo, Wings and Favonius for the Division.

ALOHA! First Monohull Finishers Arrive in Transpac

The first of the waves of monohulls from multiple divisions have crossed the Transpac finish line at Diamond Head and are now tied up safe and sound in their slips at the Ala Wai Marina getting re-acquainted with friends, family and a return to life on terra firma having been at sea for over a week.

The first to get in at 02:12:17 Hawaii time was Bill McKinley’s Ker 46+ DENALI3. This team was leading Ocean Navigator Division 4 for most of the race, and recorded an elapsed time of 8 days 16 hours 12 minutes 17 seconds after starting on Thursday of last week. Next in was Greg Dorn’s Dehler 46 FAVONIUS, finishing at 06:38:22 HST for an elapsed time of 10 days 20 hours 38 minutes 22 seconds, the earliest finish of a Tuesday starter in Boatswain’s Locker Division 7.

Ho’okolohe Boat Blog

July 8, 1200

Under 500 miles to go and we're flying, in every sense of the word. Our boat speed is consistently averaging over 9 knots, we're getting some killer drone footage, and apparently charging hard through schools of suicidal malolo (flying fish). We gybed early this morning and the sunlight revealed about six dead flying fish strewn about the foredeck and on our sail stack. Reading other boat updates, it appears we're not the only ones.

Life is good on board the Ho'- Cecil's awesome cooking and Ty's mastery of transom grilling keeps the morale high. The boat is getting lighter and faster as we dwindle our food and wine selection down to the final meals. Every morning we wake up to crystal clear skies and a warm breeze. Two more sleeps and we'll be at the barn door.

First Monohull Finishers arriving soon in Transpac

After yesterday’s finish of the two MOD 70 trimarans in the race, there are now numerous monohulls just over the horizon to the east which are going to be crossing the finish line at Diamond Head all weekend and for the following several days as well. The first of this wave will be entries that started in San Pedro on Tuesday and Thursday of last week.

First among them is Bill McKinley’s Ker 46+ DENALI3 from Ocean Navigator Division 4, who at 131 miles out at 1200 HST and traveling at just under 13 knots of boat speed is projected to get in late tonight. Even though they may be the first monohull to finish they may still not have the lowest elapsed time on the course to win the coveted Barn Door Trophy…this will likely be the fastest of the Saturday starters, such as Sebastian Moshayedi’s Bakewell-White 100 RIO100 who is about 32 hours from the finish and started 48 hours after DENALI3, thereby about 16 hours faster in elapsed time once they get to Diamond Head.

Blue Moon Boat Blog

July 7, 1115

Today marks my 30th day sailing on the ocean, except for two days in L. A. to get groceries. I left the Aloha Dock at Hawaii Yacht Club on June 7th headed to the TransPac start line. We left later than we would have liked due to a few situations that were beyond our control, but once all that was sorted out we cast off the dock lines, blew the conch shell and pointed the bow to L. A. The same high pressure system that is now plaguing the TransPac 2023 fleet threw us some curve balls on our sail from Hawaii to the TransPac start, which caused a few more days of delays.

Once we arrived in L. A. early Monday morning June 26th and found a slip at Cabrillo Way Marina we filled the water tanks, plugged in the shore power to charge the batteries and setup any repairs necessary to sail back to Hawaii with a new start date of Thursday June 29th. I had ordered new sails a couple months before and they were already in L. A. ready to be delivered to Blue Moon. I organized new running rigging and with no time to spare Blue Moon was ready for the scheduled start.

First Finishers in Transpac

This morning at 02:48 Hawaii Standard Time Justin Shaffer’s MOD70 ORION crossed the finish line at Diamond Head as the first finisher in the 2023 Transpac. Their elapsed time of 4 days 17 hours 48 minutes fell short of breaking the multihull course record of 4D 6H 32M set by H.L. Enloe’s ORMA 60 MIGHTY MERLOE in 2017, but impressive nonetheless considering the slow start last week’s Saturday starters encountered while getting off the California coast. Among both Multihulls and Monohulls this is nonetheless the 6th fastest elapsed time in the entire history of the race, first sailed in 1906.

The ORION crew of six (photo courtesy of Mark Brouch) included Paul Allen, Hogan Beatie, Morgan Larson, Cam Lewis, Matt Noble and Justin Shaffer.

Corrected Time Sailing in Transpac

Most trophies awarded in Transpac are based on not on an entry’s elapsed time but their score in corrected time, both within their division and overall in the fleet. How is this determined?

Since the entries in this race are of varied sizes and styles of design, a system is needed to equalize their performance under handicap. Transpac uses a system called the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR), which relies on detailed measurements of the boat, its keel and rudder(s), the spar, the sails and even the crew weight to predict the speed potential of the boat at all wind angles and wind speeds. The calculated speed potential becomes the basis for rating of the boat.

This is determined using aero- and hydrodynamic models within a VPP (Velocity Prediction Program) developed by ORR for wind speeds between 6 – 24 knots and all wind angles for which the boat’s performance can be predicted.

Good Trouble Update

I guess it’s day five…but actually it’s all a blur,” said Colin at the helm. We’ve passed packages wrapped in yellow tape that look suspiciously like drug drops. Transpac care packages? (DEA, are you listening?) Not seeing much sea life, but because we’re blazing by? Marie spilled miso soup all over the range, so we’ve decided to name our new boat band, “Miso Messy.” And please, please don’t ask what we’ve named, “The Cuban Missile Crisis.” (Hint: By-product of freeze dried Hungry Hiker Cuban Black Beans and Rice.”)

Never seen this much overcast and cold conditions this far into the trades. We’re having to rewear the few long sleeved shirts and bottom layers that we packed. Eew. 

The minute we decide to set the spinnaker, the wind direction goes forward crushing our ambitions. Hmm…whose decision was it to leave the code zero at home? Thank goodness for the peppy lil blast reacher. 

Life is amazing on this golden girl of the 90s. She was purchased from a sweet couple in Marin County, and meticulously revived by mechanical engineer and naval architect, Bill Rogers. In LA, Jib Kelly and Kelly Marine stripped down old systems and installed everything new. Bill and the crew continued with upgrades. Good Trouble’s (née Aldura) designer, Alan Andrews, has been a constant source of information and support for this program. 

As we enter whatever the heck date this is (oh wait, someone thinks it’s the 4th of July!!), we are dining well, taking care of ourselves and each other, and doing whatever it takes to make this old gal giddy-up. 

Champagne Sailing Soon to Come in Transpac

On this Independence Day holiday while the rest of us are enjoying grilled meats, libations and fireworks with family and friends, the 52 teams with 455 sailors aboard on the Transpac racecourse are still making steady progress west towards Hawaii. The sun is coming out from behind the clouds during the day, the moon is bright at night and the sailing angles are starting to turn from reaching to running for most of the fleet.

Steve Rossi on Cecil and Alyson Rossi’s Farr 57 HO’OKOLOHE reported “Right after roll call yesterday the A3 went up and the mood boosted on the boat. We saw [an albatross] for the first time yesterday and again this morning on dawn patrol. It's always great to see these majestic yet solitary birds.

“Last night's full moon was spectacular, making short appearances through the break in the clouds, so bright at times we almost needed sunglasses. The sun today has finally brought out that crystal clear blue diamond Pacific ocean water. We're reaching deeper into our sail locker, and were finally able to pull out the bigger A2 spinnaker- a much more manageable kite than the A3 we had up for the last 24 hours, which was a chore to keep under control in the confused wind conditions.”

Passing Lanes in Transpac

With the exception of five entries that have dropped from the race and have returned to the coast, the entire Transpac fleet is now finally making good progress down the racecourse towards Hawaii. The faster entries among the Thursday starters are also converging fast with the slower Tuesday starters as shown on the PASHA HAWAII YB tracker system and will soon be finding some passing lanes, mostly to the north of the rhumb line.

Using their satellite internet access all teams may download GRIB weather files while en route on the race. These are combined with their polar performance data and is used by routing software to help guide them on where to go on the racecourse to get the fastest possible calculated route to the finish.

Triumph Boat Blog

July 3, 1030

Quick update from the Triumph.  As you might see from the YB Tracker, we are barely holding off Deception but as we enter the downwind leg it will be a dog fight as they are a much lighter boat.  Westerly has got something we don't and I am not sure what that is. Perhaps an upwind sail. They continue to outpace us.  We continue to push. 

We have seen alot of debris today including a large chunk of foam with a 2 inch piece of rebar. Then we wrapped some plastic bag or something around the keel requiring us to back down (under sail of course).  We quickly got back underway.

Halfway point (for some) in the 2023 Transpac

After yesterday’s third and final start of the 2023 Transpac, the fortunes of the fleet of 57 entries can be ascertained from the PASHA HAWAII YB tracker system and reports coming in to race managers at Transpacific Yacht Club. There are some in this fleet there are starting to get a taste of the champagne sailing conditions that makes this race famous, while others are still days away from having this taste too as they struggle to get off the California coast.

The leaders in the first group of starters continue their match race battle for the lead in Boatswain’s Locker Division 7 among two Dehler 46 sisterships. At 0900 PDT this morning Greg Dorn’s FAVONIUS is shown to have managed to pass and build a 4-mile lead over Ian Edwards’ WINGS from Australia. With 1219 miles to the finish at Diamond Head in Honolulu these two are sailing at about 9 knots and are near the halfway point on the course after 5 days of racing.

Ho’okolohe at the Start of the 2023 Transpac Race

Gray But Great Final Start to Transpac

Today off Point Fermin not only did the fastest group of 20 boats arrive for the third and final start of Transpac, so did a moderate westerly sea breeze to get them off on an overcast start to their 2225-mile journey to Hawaii. Contrary to the earlier starts on Tuesday and Thursday of this week with their light air conditions, today’s 10-12 knots of wind in the start area had the fleet heeled over and going reasonably fast towards their first mark of the course, the West End of Catalina Island 25 miles away.

Some got off a little too fast: a 10-degree left shift made the pin end of the line very attractive, prompting three OCS calls from the race committee for entries in Cal Maritime Division 1: Cal Maritime’s Andrews 77 T/S CAL MARITIME, Tom Holtus’ Botin 56 BADPAK, and Michael Firman’s Infinity 52 ZEUS. Breaking free of the pack early is the largest monohull in the fleet, Manouch Moshayedi’s Bakewell White RIO100.

An hour earlier in the Epic Insurance Division of multihulls, three MOD 70s crossed the start in slightly less breeze on their way west, with Jason Carroll’s ARGO taking the start for an early lead.

Final Transpac Start Tomorrow

The last start of the 2023 Transpac will be tomorrow. First, the three MOD 70 trimarans will head west from Point Fermin for their 2225-mile journey to Honolulu in Epic Insurance Division 9 at 1200 noon. An hour later, the 20 fastest monohulls in this year’s fleet will follow. The latter are divided into three classes: Cal Maritime Division 1, SD Boatworks Division 2 and Whittier Trust Division 3.

With teams representing Australia, Canada, Italy, and the US, this is the most internationally diverse starting group in this year’s race. The US-based entries are also varied, hailing from New York, the Great Lakes, and Hawaii as well as from throughout California.

Within the teams in each division are some of the best amateur and professional talent in the sport, along with the long generational heritage of offshore sailing that Transpac represents since its very first edition in 1906.

Second wave heads to Hawaii in Transpac

Under sunny skies and a light westerly breeze, the second group of entries has started their 2225-mile journey to Honolulu in the 2023 Transpac. Nineteen boats divided in three classes  Ocean Navigator Division 4, Cabrillo Boat Shop Division 5 and Pasha Hawaii Division 6 – set off from Point Fermin to first clear the West End of Catalina island 25 miles away and then out into the open Pacific Ocean.

Like the first group of starters on Tuesday this week, they face an initial upwind challenge to clear the West End - the entire fleet tacked to port just after the start to have better pressure along the Palos Verdes coast - and then follow their navigator’s advice on the next steps. Do they carry on upwind to stay north close to rhumb line, thereby minimizing the extra distance sailed to Hawaii? Or bear off a few degrees once they clear the coast for increased speed at the expense of sailing extra distance in order to get an initial jump on the fleet and then maneuver to stay in front as the weather allows.

TS Cal Maritime Boat Blog

June 29, 2023

On Saturday, July 1 at 1 p.m. PT, Cal Maritime will begin its 2,225-mile adventure as one of the final group of boats departing San Pedro, California, to Honolulu in the 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race — a biannual open-ocean competition that features the top professional crews in the nation, in addition to one college team.

Throughout the race itself, crew members will take photos and videos of their journey, content you can view by visiting the team's Instagram page,  @CalMaritimeSailing . 

Thanks to a live tracker, provided by Transpac officials, sailing fans can see CSUM's location in the Pacific Ocean by  clicking here , scrolling through the list of competitors and clicking on the TS Cal Maritime link. 

Second wave of starters leaves tomorrow in Transpac

With the first group of 15 yachts making westward progress towards Hawaii after their Transpac start yesterday, the second group is in final preparations for their start tomorrow at 1:00 PM PDT. This group is larger – 19 yachts divided into three divisions – and are rated faster on the course so their start two days later is intended to compress the arrivals of finishers at Diamond Head in Honolulu.

Currently the YB tracker, sponsored by Pasha Hawaii, indicates yesterday’s starters are making great progress getting off the California coast. Their straight-line tracks indicate they had good steady breeze all night and are now close reaching southwestward in an arcuate path towards Hawaii which still lies over 200 miles away.

They’re off! First Transpac fleet starters on their way

Under clear Southern California skies, 6-10 knots of wind, and just a hint of fog out on the western horizon, the first wave of the 2023 Transpac fleet is on their way towards Hawaii. Nine entries in Boatswains Locker Division 7 and six in smithREgroup Division 8 crossed the start line today. One Hawaiian-based entry in the latter class – Russ Johnson’s Jeanneau 52.2 BLUE MOON – only arrived last night and received permission to delay their start until the next group sets off on Thursday.

A team who is taking on this race for the first time and on one of the smallest boats in the fleet is Herwig Baumgartner’s 1D35 BLACK MARLIN from Los Angeles with an assembled amateur crew of seven on board. This morning before leaving the dock at the Cabrillo Way Marina in San Pedro they “were looking forward to the tradewinds and the legendary downwind sailing Transpac offers.”

Transpac first start preview

Tomorrow at 1:00 PDT a group of 16 boats will cross the starting line in the vicinity of Point Fermin in San Pedro in the first start of the 2023 Transpac. After leaving the West End of Catalina to port they will sail another 2200 miles west towards the finish line at Diamond Head on Oahu… an epic journey.

They are the first of three waves of starting groups among 58 entries from Australia, Canada, Italy and the US in the 52nd edition of this biennial ocean racing classic, first sailed in 1906. Some are racing Transpac for the first time, others are veterans who keep coming back to enjoy this iconic race.

Multi-racial team for 52nd Transpac

The 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race has attracted 58 teams for the 2225nm course from Los Angeles to Honolulu, with the 52nd edition holding staggered starts on June 27, June 29, and July 1. Here’s one of the entrants looking to make waves:

For centuries yacht racing has been an elite activity. Sailing was known as the ‘king of sports and the sport of kings.’ Exclusive.

But now, the Offshore Racing Outreach (ORO) is bringing inclusivity to the yacht racing scene, with a team of sailors from diverse backgrounds set to compete in the biennial Transpac Race.

The team of nine will race an Andrews 56 aptly named Good Trouble, in honor U.S. House of Representatives John Robert Lewis, an American statesman and civil rights activist. And like Lewis, the crew is making waves.

Cal Maritime sponsors Transpac

Starting with donation of the 72-foot yawl BARUNA in 1972, the Cal Maritime Academy Foundation (CMAF) has provided numerous opportunities for cadets to sail on offshore yachts as part of their training to become merchant seamen. The experience they gain in seamanship, navigation, leadership and teamwork while offshore is an invaluable part of their skill set in this important and lucrative field.

No wonder Cal Maritime has the highest graduate employment rate (94%) of all Cal State Universities with starting salaries at the top of national averages.

Their entry in this year’s Transpac on the Andrews 77 CAL MARITIME is made possible by a donation made in 2022 and is the second time the boat will race under the Cal Maritime flag as a donated yacht. CMA Cadets have participated in four past Transpac races but 2023 will be the second race (first in 2019) that the team is being fully supported financially by the CMAF donation program.

“Our sponsorship of this race is intended to bring attention to the program and Cal Maritime,” said CMAF’s Donation Program Manager Bo Smith. “Last year the CMAF Donation program provided over $7,000,000 in support, equipment and capital improvements to the Academy and over $250,000 to support Cal Maritime Sailing and the Offshore Sailing Program for 2022/2023. These are all funds provided by the generous donation of yachts through the sailing and yachting community.”

Transpac Festivites Kick-Off in San Pedro

The 52 nd Transpac kicks off this weekend in San Pedro. Come be part of the experience!

Transpac Village

Transpac Village is open at Cabrillo Way Marina. Crews can stop into the Racers’ Retreat for access to wifi and local information. Race sponsors including SD Boatworks and LW Regatta Gear will be present. If you are in the area, you can walk through Transpac Village to see the boats and preparations.

Check out what else is in store for the next few weeks!

Transpac 2023 and RealSail offer virtual race game

For those unable to physically participate in the race, the Transpacific Yacht Club and RealSail have partnered to offer an interesting online alternate: the RealSail Virtual Transpac 2023 race game.

This virtual game is being made available for participants at no charge and is set up specifically for Transpac to mirror the real race. The game will feature five classes to choose from and three separate starts (on the same days as the Transpac starts). The classes and start dates are:

June 27 -- Cal 40 June 29 -- J/125 July 1 -- TP 52, ULDB 70 and MOD 70

To learn more about the RealSail Virtual Transpac 2023 and to enroll and play in the free practice race on June 13, go to  www.realsail.net .

smithREgroup™ sponsors Transpac

Given  smithREgroup  founder Randy Smith’s lifelong involvement in sailing, there’s a natural fit for the firm to be a 2023 sponsor of Transpac. Among the portfolio of services that smithREgroup offers its clients - which includes real estate brokerage and advisement of all types of residential and commercial properties, resort rentals, and business consulting – is corporate teambuilding through an entity called Teambuild Sailing.

As us sailors know, there cannot be any success in this sport without solid skills in communication, coordination, appropriate selection of personnel and careful preparation for uncertainties that may lie ahead. Teambuild Sailing teaches these skills with onboard sailing experiences coupled with classroom instruction to analogize how these will apply to and enhance the success of any business enterprise.

One week to go for first wave starters in Transpac

One week from today, at 1300 PDT on Tuesday, June 27th, the first wave of boats will start the 52nd edition of the biennial Transpac race. Starting in the vicinity of Point Fermin in San Pedro, they will race past Catalina Island and then onto the finish at Diamond Head in Honolulu. There are 16 boats starting on Tuesday: 9 teams are competing in Boatswains Locker Division 7, and 7 teams racing in smithREgroup Division 8.

Cal Maritime: From Tragedy to Support Within the Transpac Community

On Thursday, June 8th, the support trailer for the Cal Maritime’s Andrews 77 entry of the same name in the 2023 Transpac was reported stolen to the Port of Los Angeles police. In this trailer were the sails for the boat and other valuable equipment, undoubtedly of no use whatsoever to the thieves. This immediately put the team of 13 cadets, alumni cadets and coaches at jeopardy of not participating in the race.

Ocean Navigator sponsors Transpac

As the authoritative source for voyagers of all types who want to know more about their boats, their gear and the techniques to make them better voyagers,  Ocean Navigator  magazine is a valued partner with the 2023 Transpac race. The skill sets needed to prepare and sail a long oceanic race like the Transpacific Yacht Club’s biennial 2225-mile race to Honolulu from Los Angeles are described and discussed in Ocean Navigator, and serve to inspire a wide range of the readership, whether they too plan to cross oceans or make coastwise passages.

Regular topics covered in the magazine include Offshore Sailing, Navigation, Weather, Marine Technology and Power Voyaging, Cruising Skills, Boat and Gear news and Marine Industry news.

2023 Aloha Send Off Party Tickets Now for Sale

Join us in two weeks for the 2023 Aloha Send Off party aboard the USS Iowa! This is your chance to meet the Transpac crews as our fleet gets sent off in style. All are welcome!

When: June 24, 2023 Time:   1800 Place:   USS Iowa

Tickets are $50 and gets you: great food from Gladstone’s, La Bocca Felice, Sebastian’s and J Trani’s; entertainment that includes a steel drum band from Panjiv; and demonstrations from the LA City Fireboat, the US Coast Guard, and the 50 caliber guns aboard the Iowa.

Would you like to participate in the demonstration of Iowa’s guns? We will holding a raffle for the chance "pull the trigger" on the Iowa’s guns. There will be 200 tickets for sale for $10 each.

Buy your tickets today

Pasha Hawaii: supporting Transpac with ocean transport solutions

Since 2005, Pasha Hawaii has been providing safe, fast and effective transportation to and from the mainland for Transpac yachts and gear. How fast and how effective is this? That is a question that we can look forward to answering this summer as Pasha Hawaii, Transpac’s satellite tracker sponsor, fits trackers to its ships so you can see who gets to Hawaii the fastest – a Pasha ship or a MOD 70.

Division Breaks Announced and Sailing Instructions Released

The 2023 Transpac division breaks have been announced. There are nine divisions — eight for the monohulls and one for the MOD70s. Transpac thanks the sponsors of each divisions:

VIEW SCRATCH SHEET

Division 1 - Cal Maritime

Division 2 - SD Boatworks

Division 3 - Whittier Trust

Division 4 - Ocean Navigator

Division 5 - Cabrillo Boat Shop

Division 6 - Pasha

Division 7 - Boatswains Locker

Division 8 - smithREgroup

Division M - Epic Insurance

Sailing Instructions are also available on the website.

Whittier Trust and Transpac: The Perfect Fit

There is a strong connection between Transpac and  Whittier Trust , now in its third year as the Heritage Sponsor in this year’s 52nd edition of the race. This connection is not only based on shared principles of planning and managing risks for beneficial outcomes, something inherent to all ocean racers. As the oldest, private multi-family office headquartered on the West Coast, more than 500 families place their trust in Whittier to do the same: be prepared to navigate the wide range of uncertainties we face in current circumstances that require a steady hand at the helm and sound judgment.

Four Weeks Until First Transpac Race Start

In four short weeks – Tuesday, June 27 th – the first wave of starters in the 2023 Transpac Race will be assembled off Point Fermin in anticipation of their 1300 starting signal to set off towards the finish line in Honolulu, 2225- miles away. This will be the start of the 52 rd edition of this biennial ocean racing classic organized by the Transpacific Yacht Club and first run in 1906.

This first wave will consist of 14 monohulls from 35 to 63 feet in length – but why such a broad range? Because these boats are anticipated to take the longest elapsed times to get to Hawaii.  Starting them first helps compress the fleet arrival times in Hawaii so more of the participants may be together after their finishes.

Eight weeks to go for first Transpac start

In 8 weeks – Tuesday, June 27 th - the first of three successive waves of starters will cross the start line for their 2225-mile journey westward across the Pacific towards Hawaii in the 52 nd biennial Transpac Race, organized by the Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC). Most will have said emotional goodbyes and received well-wishing Alohas from family and friends from the shoreside venue in the Cabrillo Way Marina in San Pedro before their short commute to the start area in the vicinity of Point Fermin.  

Reyn Spooner launches official Transpac 2023 Aloha shirts

The Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC) – organizers of the 2225-mile biennial Tranpsac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu – and  Reyn Spooner  – creator of the World’s most collected Aloha shirts – are pleased to announce the release of the official  Transpac 2023 Collection  of Aloha shirts for men and women custom-crafted for this year’s 52nd edition of the race.

Aloha Send Off Party Aboard the USS Iowa

The 2023 Transpac Race will kick off with a special Aloha Send Off Party on June 24th aboard the USS Iowa. Tickets are available for online purchase for this unique experience aboard the battleship turned museum.

BUY PARTY TICKETS

Guests affiliated with Transpac (racers, club members, families) can use Discount Code: "Transpac" for 20% off tours  of the battleship museum.

USS IOWA EXPERIENCES

Start Dates Announcement

VIEW START DATE LIST

With over 60 boats entered, the 2023 Transpac Race promises to be another classic race to Honolulu. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to San Pedro for the Person in Charge meeting and Aloha send-off party on the USS Iowa on June 24.

With just over 3 months to go we know this is a busy time completing final preparations for the race. To assist you with planning travel, hotel, and other arrangements we are releasing the start dates for each boat in the fleet. These are start dates only, the division breaks will be announced following the final rating submission deadline of May 26. We’ve also provided provisional dates and locations for the awards presentations which will be held separately for each start date.

Transpacific Yacht Club Turns 95

Ninety-five years ago, on March 1, 1928 the Transpacific Yacht Club was born of an idea hatched by the same man who had sparked the 1906 inaugural race to Honolulu. That man was Clarence MacFarlane, still engaged with his brainchild but entrusting the leg work to an old friend known for getting things done. That was Albert Soiland.

First-time Transpac with Energy

We often wonder: what motivates someone to take on the challenge of not just sailing but racing 2225 miles from Los Angeles to Honolulu? For all of us who’ve done this race it’s a no-brainer, this is one of the best races in the world and we’re hooked for life. The waving so-long to friends and family, the light beat out to Catalina, the coast disappearing astern with nothing but the ocean and the lure of tropical paradise ahead. There’s nothing better.

In with the new, but why out with the old?

(This article, written by Dobbs Davis, appeared in the most recent edition of Seahorse Magazine, photo courtesy of Sharon Green, Ultimate Sailing )

In these pages quite a bit of emphasis is placed on new technologies and designs, and the influence they have. All of us get excited when brilliant minds go to work on creating new ideas and even new spaces for the sport to grow into. However, there are equally brilliant minds at work enhancing what has already been created to improve performance, safety and (usually) comfort too.

This is particularly common in the USA offshore scene where there are dozens and dozens of boats designed and built over 30 years ago that are still cherished and raced in a variety of classic races: the Bayview and Chicago-Mac Races held annually, the Newport-Bermuda Race held on even-number years, and the Transpac from LA to Honolulu held on odd-number years.

TPYC Announces New Apparel Partner

Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC) is proud to announce a new partnership with LW Regatta Gear for all Transpac related apparel and merchandise.  TPYC Commodore Tom Trujillo welcomes the new partnership saying “After a detailed and exhaustive search to determine the best supplier for Transpac owners and crews, we are delighted to be working with LW Regatta Gear.  We believe that this will be a significant upgrade to the quality and variety of apparel Transpacific Yacht Club can offer its members, boat owners and crews.”

Navigators, Tacticians, Watch Captains Seminar Video

Visit MARINE WEATHER UNIVERSITY to learn more about the course offerings available to enhance your sailing, navigating and software knowledge.

Transpac Fleet at 55 as 2022 Draws to a Close

The first starts of the 2023 Transpac are just around the corner, and our 55 entries prove that there is no one right boat for Transpac. The current list ranges from Steve Campo’s BAZINGA, a Hobie 33, to Manouch Moshayedi’s RIO100  to three MOD70 trimarans that will be looking for speeds in the high thirties .

As always, the 2023 Transpac fleet will feature races within the race. The Santa Cruz 50/52 fleet is one of the long-standing rivalry classes. This year, our 50 th entry was Chris Messano’s DECEPTION, a Santa Cruz 50 that is one of many boats undergoing work with high hopes in the bargain. Messano and co-skipper Bill Durant are excited to put the improved Deception through her paces this summer, particularly because the crew consists largely of the Messano and Durant families.

You Can Never Be Too Prepared

The Transpacific Yacht Club takes preparation and safety seriously, and held a Pre-Race Seminar on November 9th to provide attendees with some valuable insights from a panel of experts on how to be ready for this race of a lifetime.

There is a video available now on YouTube that can help those unable to attend to tune in on the information presented, as well as act as a reference resource for those that did attend to remind them of the material.

PlanetSail DockTalk on the 52nd Transpac Race

Next year will see the 52nd edition of a race that is famous for delivering a downwind sleigh ride across the Pacific. Yet the reality is that despite the apparent simplicity of a course that has just one turning mark 26 miles from the start before a 2,200 mile leg that follows … winning this race is never straight forward……

2023 Transpac Race Promo

7 months until the start of the 2023 Transpac Race - Enter today!

Historic offshore yacht marks 40th entry in the 2023 Transpac

Leglus continues strong Hawaiian tradition in the race

Solomon Ka’ne’s Leglus , a 1986-built Ohashi 52, is the 40th entry to next year’s 52nd edition of the 2225-mile Los Angeles-Honolulu Transpac Race. Leglus is among a diverse fleet of boats currently entered that range in size from 33 to 100 fleet long and hail from all over the US, Canada and Australia. The fleet is expected to grow even larger until the final entry deadline is reached on May 26th, 2023.

Save the Date: Transpac Pre-Race Seminar on Zoom November 9th

Wednesday, November 9th 6:00 - 8:00 PM ZOOM PRESENTATION

RSVP HERE to receive Zoom meeting information.

Join four experienced race veterans for a 2-hour presentation.

• Pre-race prep, planning and training
• Maximize the next 6 months
• Manage your program correctly
• Q&A  

• Current technology for communications/electronics
• Best Practices for navigation and on-board systems
• How much data do you need?  What will it cost?

• Sail Inventory - what sails are needed for Transpac?
• Sail Repair Kit – what to include
• Crossover Charts and Polars

• Safety at Sea – Preparing the Crew
• Boat gear vs. personal gear
• Preparing for the worst-case scenario

Notice of Race published, first entry is John Raymont’s Fast Exit II

The Transpacific YC is pleased to announce that the entry process is now open for the 2023 edition of the Los Angeles to Honolulu Transpacific Yacht Race. Known as the Transpac, this will be the 52 nd edition of this classic 2025-mile ocean race held biennially since 1906.

The Notice of Race (NOR) detailing the terms and conditions of the event is now available online at www.transpacyc.com . The race is open to entry for offshore-capable racing and cruising monohull yachts from 30 to 100 feet in length that also meet other criteria listed in the NOR.

Transpac 2023: Save the Dates

Los Angeles, CA – The Board of Directors of the Transpacific Yacht Club are pleased to announce that start dates are now chosen for the 52nd biennial running of the Los Angeles to Honolulu Transpacific Yacht Race, better known as the Transpac. The first edition of this race was run in 1906 and it is one of the longest and oldest among the world’s classic ocean races, with a start line at Point Fermin in San Pedro and the finish line lying 2220 miles away at Diamond Head in Honolulu.

For the 2023 edition three start dates have been chosen: the first is Tuesday, June 27th 2023, the second Thursday June 29th and the last will be on Saturday July 1st. Once divided into divisions, entries will start in a trend from slowest to fastest in order to have more boats together on the race course and come closer to finishing together at Diamond Head.

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Grunion Sports | On the Water: Here’s an update on the…

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The Grunion

Grunion sports, grunion sports | on the water: here’s an update on the transpac race to hawaii.

Yet, five boats had already dropped out of the Transpacific race to Hawaii as of deadline — and one never even started.

Larchmont Yacht Club’ s entry, Jason Carroll and his MOD 70 Argo, retired with engine issues. Malilia, a Hylas 63, retired because of a shroud issue. SAM returned home after Jerome Sam Marcelli was airlifted off the vessel because of a finger injury and Ben Kaliwoda returned the Carbon 32 singlehanded. Insoumise’s rudder housing broke, forcing that vessel to retire. And Glass Slipper out of Berkeley Yacht Club, never even made it to the starting line.

But then Steve George’s Shadowfax experienced a damaged masthead and started limping its way back to the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. That one really hit home.

I sat with the Shadowfax crew, wives and girlfriends during the June 24 sendoff party on the USS Iowa , in San Pedro. The crew features a great mix of experienced racers and those for whom Transpac was a bucket list item.

“They are all amazing. This crew was incredible.  They’re eating well,” Julie Green King, whose husband, John, was on board Shadowfax, texted me as the vessel made its way home. “After the initial sad shock of it all, they appear to have come to terms with it — everyone is resolved to go to Hawaii. All the gals have booked their guys a flight except bowman Zach Miller, who has to get back to work.”

During the send-off, Zach told me he had never been to Hawaii.

The airlines were helpful as the shore crew worked to get the Shadowfax team to Honolulu, Julie said. After flights were booked, the wives, girlfriends, adult children and sailing pals started planning a Long Beach greeting on the same level Shadowfax would have received in Hawaii. So as the boat entered Alamitos Bay early in the morning on Tuesday, July 4, when, mai tais were being mixed and the crew was welcomed to their dock at ABYC.

“They were poised to be on the podium, such a bummer,” Julie texted me “They will be in Hawaii to congratulate the victors.”

I watched the third and final start of the 2023 Transpac on Saturday, July 1, on board Seal Beach residents Rick and Christi Von Heydenreich’s yacht, dubbed Boat Hair.

Rick, who is the port captain of the Transpacific Yacht Club is a veteran of the ocean race and he serves as one of the volunteer boat inspectors for the regatta. Rick had spent the last couple of weeks delivering a boat in some gnarly weather, before flying back to Los Angeles International Airport on Friday night. On Saturday morning, he was there ready to take 10 of us to watch the start.

After getting off the start line and around the west end of Catalina Island, most tacked to port and headed northwest. Unfortunately, most got stuck for hours in light and drifting conditions among the outer Channel Islands.

Heather and Chuck Furey’s Santa Cruz 70 Mirage, with navigator Ray Marchetta, reported, according to the TransPac media team, that their crew “fended off a sea lion looking for a resting place, marine mammal presumed we were another rock.”

They also reported that only Manouch Mosheyedi’s Bakewell-White 100 RIO100 and George Hershman and Mark Comings’ Reichel/Pugh 63 Good Energy — with two-time ABYC Staff Commodore Chuck Clay at the helm — were able to break away to the southwest and are progressing on a southerly track at speeds of 10 and 8 knots, respectively.

At the last look of the tracker, Long Beach Yacht Club’s Doug Baker and his Dencho/Kernan Peligroso (with fan favorites Benjamin Wheatley and Dustin Durant on board) have started to lead the rest of the group out of slatting conditions and into a more decent breeze.

All entries in Transpac can be tracked on the “Yellow Brick” system, including positions, speeds and headings. There is a built-in four-hour delay for each entry, except when within 200 miles of the finish, when the tracker goes live. To follow the fleet, go to cf.yb.tl/transpac2023# .  For more information on 2023 Transpac, go to transpacyc.com .

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