The Transpac Race – An Overview from our Navigator

Welcome to the 46^th Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii.  What starts off as a very cold, wet, rough, bumpy sail into a brisk, westerly headwind, gradually turns into a warm, high-speed, downwind run to Diamond Head with the tradewinds at our backs.  This year there are 53 boats entered in the race with eight of those competing in our division, the Aloha Class.  All boats race against each other, and the divisions are established by handicap ratings that allow for boats with similar speed potential to race against each other; sort of a race within a race.  The two slowest divisions, which includes us, begin the race on Monday, July 4^th, while the rest of the faster boats in the fleet begin their race on July 8^th.  We hope for a 12 to 14 day crossing but of course this is all dictated by the wind and weather.

Probably the biggest challenge of the race is routing our course.  This is not a simple matter of leaving Los Angeles and sailing the shortest course to Oahu.  That course, known at the Great Circle Route, is used by airplanes and commercial shipping, but it would be a poor choice for racing sailboats due to predominantly light winds.  The wind and weather of the North Pacific Ocean is dominated by a constantly shifting, high pressure center known as the North Pacific High.  If we sail too close to the High we will have a shorter course but definitely lighter winds; too far from the High we will have plenty of wind (sometimes too much) and more miles to sail.  Several times each day we will download weather charts via our satellite internet connection and then analyze them and try to predict the best route with a compromise between wind strength and shortest distance.

Of course there is a lot more involved in the race.  Three meals a day for seven healthy appetites for 14 days means food for 294 meals stowed throughout the boat.  In addition we have 200 gallons of water, a dozen sails for different wind conditions, emergency liferaft, medical supplies, navigation equipment, tools, personal gear, and a long list of spare parts.

It all adds up to a lifetime experience and one we choose to do.  Wish us well!  If you will be on Oahu around July 16-18, bring more Mai Tais and join our arrival party.

-Brian