Transpac: Earning the champagne sailing

Scuttlebutt founder Tom Leweck also conceived Trans Pac Anonymous to protect yachtsman from devious boat owners who describe miles of champagne sailing voyages to Hawaii on the sparkly blue water of the Pacific Ocean.

The beginning of the Transpac Race can be a little rough as detailed in this report by Greg Dorn who started the 2023 edition on June 27, racing his Dehler 46 Favonius:

In chilly air and under a thick blanket of low clouds Favonius continues to reach for the Hawaiian Isle. After clearing west end of Catalina and tacking back on to starboard we sailed into the teeth of the Northwesterly that has been blowing offshore for days.

The conditions hit us hard with 25 knot winds and 3 meter seas. At dusk on the first night we did a bear away sail change to J4 and put a reef in the main which took much longer than expected. The team did incredible job up front on the pitching bow with seas washing across.

Sailing across the swell made for wet and bouncy ride, preventing the crew form eating much and sleeping well as the crashing hull sounds made for constant worry of potential unexpected damage to the boat. As we drove on, ‘le mal de mer’ started stalking the crew, taking one victim – the owner – away for 12 hours. Now fully recovered, we have not yet exorcised the threat from the boat as it hunts another crew member.

Since the difficult first 30 hours, we are currently sailing in manageable weather with winds of 15 knots and 1 to 2 meter seas. Current sail plan is a full main and J2 while, we wait for the wind to veer to a true wind angle of greater than 100 degree, when we plan to hoist our largest jib (the jib topper). The current conditions are allowing everyone to settle into a regular rhythm of eating, drinking, and sleeping.

Reviewing our position, we are were we wanted to be at this stage. The Transpac Race is not won in the first 500 to 600 miles but it can certainly be lost. We are pleased to have not done the latter.

Other goings on about the boat include a complaint to management that crew on the high side of the starboard aft cabin are encroaching on their adjacent leeward team mates due to a sagging lee cloth. Advice was given.

Everyone onboard is well.

Event details – Entry list – Tracker – Facebook

From the inaugural race in 1906, the biennial Transpac Race in 2023 is the 52nd edition for the 2225 nm course from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Staggered Starts
June 27 – Division 7, 8
June 29 – Division 4, 5, 6
July 1 – Division 1, 2, 3, 9

Source: TYC