VIDEO: Schoonering to Hawaii

First organized by the Transpacific Yacht Club in 1906, the Transpacific Yacht Race or Transpac is an offshore sailing race from Point Fermin in Los Angeles to Diamond Head, just east of Honolulu, a distance of 2,225 nm. This is among the world’s great ocean races, and biennially attracts some of the world’s fastest sailing yachts and most talented offshore racing sailors, but the race also attracts a wide variety of offshore sailing adventurers. Such as the team on MARTHA.

“I was privileged to be aboard the schooner MARTHA for the 2015 Transpac – the oldest yacht ever to race to Honolulu,” said John Callahan. “She was built in 1907 at Stone Boat Yard in San Francisco as a racing yacht for the Commodore of the San Francisco Yacht Club. Her many owners include James Cagney.

“MARTHA has survived – most recently as a Foundation vessel – she is a non-profit and her mission is to provide sail training for youth and promote seamanship skills.

“Racing across the Pacific on such a vessel may be unique in this day and age … she has no wealthy owner to foot the bill if something breaks, and she must be treated appropriately for her age. I restore 100 year old Steinway pianos for a living, and I felt like we were racing a vintage antique piano at times.

“Robert D’Arcy is her current Master, and the person responsible for her most recent and comprehensive restoration. Happily, as an old windsurfing pal of his, I was able to join the crew of seasoned MARTHA’s, all of them deeply skilled for many years at “schoonering” – even 12 year old Mary D’Arcy. They all cut me (an ultralight sailor from the get-go) a lot of slack as I slowly got up to speed on schooner sailing.

“We did not finish particularly well – but we had a blast – and our captain was wise to sail a bit conservatively as the massive light air sails (gollywabblers) we flew all day were struck at night lest a squall took them (and possibly our rig) down for us.”

John provides this video that he made of the schooner MARTHA’s epic race to Honolulu in July. Video published on Aug 8, 2015.

Race website – Results – Videos – Tracker – Facebook

Transpac schedule:
Monday, July 13: First Transpac Start: Divisions 7 & 8; 22 entrants
Thursday, July 16: Second Transpac Start: Divisions 4, 5 & 6; 18 entrants
Friday, July 18: Third Transpac Start: Multihulls, Divisions 1, 2 & 3; 19 entrants
Friday, July 31: Honolulu Awards Ceremony – The Modern Hotel