With 1000nm completed and the same distance to go again sounds like most of the 40 crews racing to Oahu are happy on board their yachts, only major complaint seems to be the noticeable lack of sunshine. A steady 15-20 knots has seen the fleet stay in reaching conditions for the first three days, with the breeze moving further aft as they get closer to the islands of Hawaii, the majority of the front runners have now hoisted spinnakers and enjoying some dream downwind conditions.
Alan Luber Zvi is powered by Doyle and currently sitting in 3rd place in Division 2 with 1072nm to Hawaii, report from onboard:
“After spending the night on the R2, genoa staysail, and a reefed main, we finally put up a soft kite at the 8 a.m watch change. It feels great to have the boat sailing a little flatter. We’re on a new Doyle A2.5, which is a purpose-built offshore spinnaker. We’re eager to see the next round of position reports because we really made some distance down the course. We’re hoping it was in the right direction! Other than the start, we have not seen the sun. We did have a pod of dolphins playing in the wake yesterday. The systems are all working well, and we’ve been making water and eating well. Amazing conditions with some 24-knot top speeds with only one storm cell overnight. We blew up a tack line splice right before a kite change. No damage, all souls safe on board and the crew is still pushing hard to Hawaii for some much needed tropical refreshments.”
Lucky a Judel-Vrolijk 72, owned and skippered by Bryon Ehrhart is making good progress towards Hawaii, currently leading Division 1 and 4th on line with 768 nm to go.
Chris Sheehan’s Doyle powered Pac52 Warrior Won is leading Division 3 and ahead of fellow Doyle yacht Vitesse, a RP 52 skippered by owner Thomas Furlong. Vitesse comments “the best sailing in the WORLD is about 1,000 nm upwind of Hawaii., which makes the TransPac the best race in the world! Morale is high and the sailing sure is fun! Aloha!”
Doyle Sails San Francisco expert Bill Colombo is onboard as tactician for Jim and Kate Murray’s Callisto who by all accounts sound like they are having an eventful ride down to Oahu, with head (toilet) issues, halyard strop breakages and some close port starboard crossings with other fleets. They are currently sitting in 3rd in Division 3.
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