Strong interest in Transpac Tahiti Race

Since the Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC) created the Tahiti race almost 100 years ago, it has been run only 15 times in this time. The most recent editions were in 2008 with 5 boats and in 2012 with 2 boats. But with planning underway for the Transpac Tahiti Race 2020, ten boats between 40 and 77 feet have already pre-registered for the start on May 28.

When the race was first staged in 1925, at 3,570nm it was the world’s longest ocean race. Then as now, the race’s enduring appeal lies in it being held over a truly bluewater race course of mostly trade-wind sailing from Los Angeles, California, to Papeete, Tahiti.

The rhumbline course runs along a south-southwest axis, and requires crossing the terrestrial equator and the meteorological equator: the famous Intertropical Convergence Zone (or Doldrums). This challenge awaits all entries, large and small, fast and slow.

For the fast yachts, the goal is to better the current monohull record of 11 days 10 hours 13 minutes 18 seconds, set in 2008 by Doug Baker’s Magnitude 80. With an average course speed of 13 knots, it is felt by many that this course record could be “ripe for the plucking” since this is a pace easily matched by the newest generation of ocean greyhounds.

The current monohull course record in the LA-Honolulu Transpac set by the VPLP 100 Comanche in 2017 was for an average pace of 18 knots – at this same pace the Transpac Tahiti course record would fall by over 3 days. And for multihull enthusiasts the course record is ready to be established, since multihulls will be encouraged to enter this race for the first time ever.

The maximum number of boats able to participate is restricted to 30.

Event information – Race details – Entry list

Source: Transpacific YC