(Honolulu, Hawaii)- This year's Pacific offshore 2,225nm classic was not
one of your typical Transpac's. While the finish line off Diamond Head
Light and the red bell often produce spectacular photos with boats
flying down waves in massive plumes of spray under spinnakers in 20-30
kts of breeze over 10-15 foot swells, the rest of the race leading up to
this final blast was anything but fast. With the Pacific High
meandering all over the place, expanding, retreating and moving around
like a drunken sailor on high heels, the teams knew they were in for a
tough race.The race did start out on a high note, with the small boats leaving Monday on a gorgeous, sunny, windy day. All boats fetched Catalina Island on two tacks, left it to port and within hours many were sporting spinnakers flying towards Hawaii into stronger, more favorable tradewinds (at least that was the plan). The second starting group on Thursday had to contend with a freakish Low pressure system that produced ESE winds, with boats taking off on port tack from the starting line with little wind and spinnakers and gybing towards Catalina. What? Didn't Neptune get the memo? The brochure says the fleet is supposed to start on starboard, set chutes, blow down the Molokai Channel, get "lei'd" and celebrate arrival with a massive punchy umbrella drink! It was not to be. The second fleet starters faired badly in the overall standings as a result of this freak show. The third and final fleet of turbo's and sleds took off Saturday in more typical conditions-- sunny with a moderate breeze from the NNW, enabling most of the fleet to clear Catalina Island during daylight hours after a tack or two.
Starting
in the second start, Tim Fuller's J/125 RESOLUTE still sailed a helluva
race, taking 3rd in class and 19th overall. The J/125 WEST COAST
WARRIOR sailed by Greg Constable was doing well until they hit something
in the middle of the Pacific and gouged their keel badly, as well as
affecting their rudder. Many boats reported damages or collisions with
lots of trees and one boat even had to avoid a partially sunken
refrigerator, all largely a result of the tsunami that hit Japan over a
year ago. The J/105 CREATIVE team skippered by Ed Sanford from San
Diego, class winners in last year's Pacific Cup, have had a rough go of
it this year in the lighter airs.
Meanwhile,
of note was that J/WORLD SAILING SCHOOL's 50 footer HULA GIRL again
sailed the Transpac and managed a 6th in class. Led by Wayne Zittel and
two coaches plus six J/WORLD students as crew, the old GIRL sailed
admirably in the difficult conditions. Most of the Transpac
participants have learned to sail on J/Boats and a few own J/Boats - at
least 2 J/105s in this year's crew! Wayne and the J/WORLD coaches have
countless days on the water teaching on J/80s, J/105s, J/120s, J/70s,
J/111s and more! Sailing photo credits- Sharon Green/ UltimateSailing.com/ Transpac YC For more TransPac Race sailing information
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