Defibrillators Available Free to All Racers

Thanks to a former Long Beach Fire Dept. paramedic and the AED Institute of America Inc., Centennial Transpac 2005 will advance the race's long-standing emphasis on safety.

Ray Magana has arranged through Pam Foster's company to make an automatic external defibrillator (AED) available at no cost to every boat in the fleet. Some boats, including Roy Disney's series of Pyewackets, have

Defibrillators go to sea

carried their own similar devices, but this is believed to be the first major ocean race to offer them to all competitors.

Transpac Commodore Jerry Montgomery said, "This is a safety issue that is consistent with a policy we've tried to promote for a long time."

In 42 Transpacs since 1906, a competitor has never lost his life during the race. Another rule initiated by Transpac was to require anyone on deck between dusk and dawn to wear a personal flotation device.

Defibrillation is the definitive treatment for returning a normal heartbeat. The battery powered device delivers an electrical current to stop ineffective heart action and allow a normal heartbeat to return. It has an 80-90% survival rate if used within the first few minutes of sudden cardiac arrest.

Magana, who sailed Transpac 2003 as medical officer on the Cal 40 Celebrity, proposed the plan to Transpac directors last month and it received swift and unanimous approval this week.

Foster, who is founder, president and CEO of the of Brea, Calif. company, said, "We'll provide an AED to every boat that requests one and will qualify with a minimum of two crew members trained and certified in its use."

A training session takes 4 to 6 hours and costs $75 per person.

Competitors who are interested may contact AED Institute Inc. at (714) 488-0454 or info@aedinstitute.com

Transpac Trivia Quiz

What was unique about Mir's finish in the 1969 Transpac? Answer below.

A Transpac Comeback After 28 Years

People have been sailing Transpac for various reasons the past hundred years and, in this centennial year, one of the latest entries is typical.

Brad Thorson of Bellevue, Wash. will sail Mongoose, a Santa Cruz 70, under charter from Dennis Conner. He just rejoined the Transpacific Yacht Club, which is exclusive to race participants.

Brad Thorson (lower right) with his father George (upper left) and the Ariana crew in 1977. He's returning after 28 years.

"I did the Transpac in 1977," Thorson said. "I was in the club for several years and then got

married, had kids, stopped sailing and dropped out. The whole point of Transpac for me and the group I'm taking is to get a bunch of guys together that I really liked to sail with and have an adventure."

Thorson, 47, was 19 in 1977 when he sailed the race on his father George's Cal 40, Ariana. They won Class C and were fourth overall among 69 boats.

This time, Thorson said, "We have some guys that are all good sailors from Puget Sound, plus a couple professional-type guys. Our objective is to be competitive and have a great time."

At first Thorson was looking for something along the lines of a Santa Cruz 50, then he learned that Mongoose might be available. He talked to Conner and worked it out. Mongoose, launched in 1987, is from the golden era of ULDB 70s that dominated the race from the mid-80s well into the 90s. It has sailed six Transpacs under three owners, the most recent in 2001.

"This appeared to be the best boat that I could get my hands on," Thorson said.

Trivia Answer

Mir, George O'Brien's 78-foot ketch from Vancouver, B.C., is the only boat ever to finish sailing backward. After a knockdown destroyed the main mast 400 yards from the line, the crew rigged a sail to the mizzen.

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