43rd Biennial Transpacific Yacht Race / Los Angeles to Hawaii

Transpacific Yacht Club, Jerry Montgomery, Commodore
Starts July 9, 12 and 15, 2007; WEB site www.transpacificyc.org

November 3, 2005

LONG BEACH, Calif.---The Transpacific Yacht Club's biennial dinner meeting Jan. 27 will celebrate two of the more memorable Transpacs: the one last summer and a wild and windy adventure a quarter-century earlier.

The event at Newport Harbor Yacht Club is an off-year tradition featuring men, women and boats prominent in the race's 100-year history. It also marks the transfer of leadership for the next biennium, this time from Commodore Jerry Montgomery to Vice Commodore Al Garnier.

Tickets are $45 and available by contacting Transpac administrator Cathie Nash at (949) 646-5129 or by e-mail at transpacificyc@sbcglobal.net. Reservations are advised because of limited seating. The event sold out in 2004.

The affair is open to all Transpacific Yacht Club members. Others who became eligible for membership by participating in the 2005 race may join by mailing $35 with an application available on the race Web site www.transpacificyc.org (click "TPYC Info").

The 1981 Transpac had 74 entries, exceeded only by this year's fleet and the record of 80 in 1979, and there was plenty of excitement to go around.

Transpac historian Jack Smock wrote: "There were enough thrills, spills and chills to satisfy everyone---steady winds all the way, two men overboard, a rescued crew from a broken-up catamaran, a record-breaking passage attempt that failed by 46 seconds, four disabled rudders, two dismastings . . ."

The men overboard were rescued, as were the unofficial catamaran sailors, who were transported all the way to Hawaii on Willard Bells' Westward. Two Transpac icons—both still competing---provided nail-biting finishes when Merlin missed its record by less than a minute and a rudderless Ragtime passed Diamond Head steered only by two headsails set wing-and-wing.

All that and more will be recalled by some of those who were there.

Camille Finds A Welcome Worth Waiting For

Camille made a different kind of Transpac history in 2005, finishing in 22 1/2 days---the slowest race passage ever from L.A. to Honolulu. But Jim and Ann Read did finish as the race's first coed doublehanders, not counting their dog.

The first day of the official elapsed time recorded for the Stewart 42 was spent in Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach waiting for new sails to replace those blown out on the trip down from Northern California. They reached Waikiki almost six days after the next-to-last boat, but the Reads were sailing in Aloha B class for the adventure, not the glory. They weren't disappointed.

After arriving home in Inverness, Calif., Ann Read wrote to Transpac Commodore Jerry Montgomery, who greeted every other finisher: "You were inquiring about whether we were greeted by Hawaii YC? Jim Markey and Karen Hume met us in their power boat. Susan Novac came aboard and provided local knowledge. It was dark and 2130 [9:30 p.m.] and our engine was not showing oil on the dipstick. We were crippled.

"When we rounded the fuel dock we saw that a party was in progress and hoped we could quietly join them. Al Bento and Rocky were on the microphone calling out a welcome to Camille, Ann, Jim and our dog Sweetie Pie. It was a party hosted by Lyn Silva and Jim Bradley. Because it was Aug. 2, we thought everyone had packed up their tent and gone home. Instead, 80 people greeted us with mai tais, music, super smorgasbord, Al's poki and warmth, cheer, cordiality and hospitality."

Such welcomes are a Transpac tradition, no matter what time of day or night---or how tardy a boat may be.

The letter ended with hearty thanks to numerous members of the Honolulu Committee, as well as "the entire Transpac team," the Shoreline Yacht Club that oversaw the inaugural Rainbow Harbor departure point operation, and the City of Long Beach.

The official 2005 TransPac Yacht Race Website http://www.transpacificyc.org
Website © 2004/2005
Doug Vann, Lisa Niemczura, Walt Niemczura