TransPac Finish

So as Bruce Hedrick noted, the TransPac is now officially in the finishing stages with Pyewacket winning the Barn Door as expected. Turns out those Volvo 70s are monsters in just about any race. Especially when they’re “turboed.”

Zvi, Sonic, Riva and our PNW adopted Spindrift all look to be finishing shortly.

Callisto

I’ll add to that list in the form of Callisto, the TP 52 that is second in Division 3 behind Warrior Won. Callisto is crewed by many PNW sailors including Jason Andrews and Shawn Dougherty. Remember that Hamachi team from 2019 – well, they shot up more of a rooster tail this time. The skipper, Jim Murray, is a Seattle Yacht Club member. They sailed a strong race, finishing second on the water (3rd on corrected time) in the TP52 class. She finished ahead of the entire Division 2, even the Kernan 68 Peligroso.

Andrews shared some updates from along the course:

Mon 6:36 PM New update-soft sails are up as of 3pm. 1650 nm to Hawaii

Tue 10:23 PM Update from Callisto: made our first gybes – stepped south for more pressure. Fast boat with all ten crew driving. Done w frozen food – freeze dried here to the finish. Fix ed our water-maker issue but now have a head issue. Just crossed Compadres stern by 1/4 mile in open ocean.

Wed 1:19 PM New update: We are more than half way!! 1055 nm to go. working south and west through light patches and then strong breeze. Had many close crossings with other boa ts and a freighter overnight. Top boat speed: Jason Andrews and Steve Orlebeck are tied at 24.9 kts. Top wind speed was north of 27 kts. Boat is very wet inside and out and really starting to smell. Head is permanently non operational.

Update received at 12:38: just about 500 nm to finish. been crazy busy w gybes and sail chan ges- some planned and others unplanned. we are four on and four of f but get woken mid off watch for these events so haven’t slept mor e than 90 min in two or three days. in trades now w 18-25 kts and occasional big seas. stuffed bow several times and exploded kites and ripped front pulpi ts off. lots of excitement… sending it home to Hawaii!

Friday, July 23 2021, 11:05 AM Update: as promised sent it overnight from the right hand corner of the course. beautiful run under full moon in 15-25 with gusts to near 30. we lost our only A2.5 and our new A2 yesterday so are ripping along w A4 (all we have left is old A2 and A1.5). under 300 miles to go and should hit the finish line tomo rrow morning. the boat is a 100 degree sauna and we bail about five gallons of water out of it ever two squally conditions will make for another exciting day squally conditions will make for another exciting day incredibly wet w water constantly over the boat

The Early Wrap

There are certainly many tales to be told from this TransPac, as usual. But the most dramatic were at the start and finish of the race. Twelve (12!) minutes into the race, Denali‘s mast broke. It was a compression break, a the mast stayed up, but that was the end of their race. And just 30 miles from the finish, the J/V 72 Lucky broke her rudder. She was unable to continue, dropped out of the race and arranged for a tow to Hawaii. As far as our local heroes go, Zvi found that waterline still matters and the bigger boats in her section legged away. Mark Omilian’s TP Sonic is still finishing, 6th in the TP class. The J/125 Riva from Portland appears to be second in division 7. Andy Schwenk’s Express 37 Spindrift V is also still on the water but looks very good for second in Division 8. The Division 8 Farr 57 Ho’okolohe flew down the course after a multi-day head start and finished second on the water to Pyewacket.

Here’s Zvi‘s video from the start:

There are many more tales to tell, and photos to show. I’ll get them to you when I get them.