Latest News

Transpac first start preview

Tomorrow at 1:00 PDT a group of 16 boats will cross the starting line in the vicinity of Point Fermin in San Pedro in the first start of the 2023 Transpac. After leaving the West End of Catalina to port they will sail another 2200 miles west towards the finish line at Diamond Head on Oahu… an epic journey.

They are the first of three waves of starting groups among 58 entries from Australia, Canada, Italy and the US in the 52nd edition of this biennial ocean racing classic, first sailed in 1906. Some are racing Transpac for the first time, others are veterans who keep coming back to enjoy this iconic race.

Multi-racial team for 52nd Transpac

The 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race has attracted 58 teams for the 2225nm course from Los Angeles to Honolulu, with the 52nd edition holding staggered starts on June 27, June 29, and July 1. Here’s one of the entrants looking to make waves:

For centuries yacht racing has been an elite activity. Sailing was known as the ‘king of sports and the sport of kings.’ Exclusive.

But now, the Offshore Racing Outreach (ORO) is bringing inclusivity to the yacht racing scene, with a team of sailors from diverse backgrounds set to compete in the biennial Transpac Race.

The team of nine will race an Andrews 56 aptly named Good Trouble, in honor U.S. House of Representatives John Robert Lewis, an American statesman and civil rights activist. And like Lewis, the crew is making waves.

Cal Maritime sponsors Transpac

Starting with donation of the 72-foot yawl BARUNA in 1972, the Cal Maritime Academy Foundation (CMAF) has provided numerous opportunities for cadets to sail on offshore yachts as part of their training to become merchant seamen. The experience they gain in seamanship, navigation, leadership and teamwork while offshore is an invaluable part of their skill set in this important and lucrative field.

No wonder Cal Maritime has the highest graduate employment rate (94%) of all Cal State Universities with starting salaries at the top of national averages.

Their entry in this year’s Transpac on the Andrews 77 CAL MARITIME is made possible by a donation made in 2022 and is the second time the boat will race under the Cal Maritime flag as a donated yacht. CMA Cadets have participated in four past Transpac races but 2023 will be the second race (first in 2019) that the team is being fully supported financially by the CMAF donation program.

“Our sponsorship of this race is intended to bring attention to the program and Cal Maritime,” said CMAF’s Donation Program Manager Bo Smith. “Last year the CMAF Donation program provided over $7,000,000 in support, equipment and capital improvements to the Academy and over $250,000 to support Cal Maritime Sailing and the Offshore Sailing Program for 2022/2023. These are all funds provided by the generous donation of yachts through the sailing and yachting community.”

Transpac Festivites Kick-Off in San Pedro

The 52^nd Transpac kicks off this weekend in San Pedro. Come be part of the experience!

Transpac Village

Transpac Village is open at Cabrillo Way Marina. Crews can stop into the Racers’ Retreat for access to wifi and local information. Race sponsors including SD Boatworks and LW Regatta Gear will be present. If you are in the area, you can walk through Transpac Village to see the boats and preparations.

Check out what else is in store for the next few weeks!

Transpac 2023 and RealSail offer virtual race game

For those unable to physically participate in the race, the Transpacific Yacht Club and RealSail have partnered to offer an interesting online alternate: the RealSail Virtual Transpac 2023 race game.

This virtual game is being made available for participants at no charge and is set up specifically for Transpac to mirror the real race. The game will feature five classes to choose from and three separate starts (on the same days as the Transpac starts). The classes and start dates are:

June 27 -- Cal 40
June 29 -- J/125
July 1 -- TP 52, ULDB 70 and MOD 70

To learn more about the RealSail Virtual Transpac 2023 and to enroll and play in the free practice race on June 13, go to www.realsail.net.

smithREgroup™ sponsors Transpac

Given smithREgroup founder Randy Smith’s lifelong involvement in sailing, there’s a natural fit for the firm to be a 2023 sponsor of Transpac. Among the portfolio of services that smithREgroup offers its clients - which includes real estate brokerage and advisement of all types of residential and commercial properties, resort rentals, and business consulting – is corporate teambuilding through an entity called Teambuild Sailing.

As us sailors know, there cannot be any success in this sport without solid skills in communication, coordination, appropriate selection of personnel and careful preparation for uncertainties that may lie ahead. Teambuild Sailing teaches these skills with onboard sailing experiences coupled with classroom instruction to analogize how these will apply to and enhance the success of any business enterprise.

One week to go for first wave starters in Transpac

One week from today, at 1300 PDT on Tuesday, June 27th, the first wave of boats will start the 52nd edition of the biennial Transpac race. Starting in the vicinity of Point Fermin in San Pedro, they will race past Catalina Island and then onto the finish at Diamond Head in Honolulu. There are 16 boats starting on Tuesday: 9 teams are competing in Boatswains Locker Division 7, and 7 teams racing in smithREgroup Division 8.

Cal Maritime: From Tragedy to Support Within the Transpac Community

On Thursday, June 8th, the support trailer for the Cal Maritime’s Andrews 77 entry of the same name in the 2023 Transpac was reported stolen to the Port of Los Angeles police. In this trailer were the sails for the boat and other valuable equipment, undoubtedly of no use whatsoever to the thieves. This immediately put the team of 13 cadets, alumni cadets and coaches at jeopardy of not participating in the race.