Monday Review:
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.
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 given the tragedy that struck them 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, the call for help went out to the Transpac community, and another entry in this class - 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. Overall she’s very pleased with the outcome, saying “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.
More and more boats are approaching the finish, yet many are still sharing their thoughts and stories on Tradewinds sailing during their final approaches to Oahu.
“Champagne sailing last evening accompanied by a lovely dinner and a freshwater boat wash in the early hours and expecting more this morning,” said Marchetta Furey’s SC 70 MIRAGE, “Enjoying the warm breeze and sunshine. Rainwater is warm too.”
“We haven't had much news to report but just like everyone we have been enjoying the spinnaker run in the trade winds the last few days with the early race upwind just a memory,” said another entry in Whittier Trust Division 3: Jack Jennings’ SC 70 PIED PIPER. “We are really enjoying our last days at sea as we approach Hawaii and the last few 2-minute noodles are eaten from the dwindling menu. Thank you to the race organizers and volunteers for all the work you have put into this race. The daily updates have been great too.”
“I could swear that when we started the 8AM report was during sunlight - now it’s still dark,” said Peter Isler, navigator on Roy Disney’s Andrews 68 PYEWACKET. “Have we been out here that long that the days are shorter?”
“Wicked day!” said John Brynjolfsson’s TP 52 SAGA. “Finally felt like Transpac and actually sailing a Transpac 52!! Hopefully this is the last one of these!” SAGA is projected to arrive tomorrow morning, the second to cross the finish line in SD Boatworks Division 2 behind John Raymont’s Ker 52 FAST EXIT II, who is expected to finish later this afternoon.