The Story of the 1969 Transpacific Yacht Race

Again the light breezes greeted the assembled Fleet for the race from Los Angeles to Honolulu on July 4,1969. The light winds at the start persisted throughout the day and until the Fleet was just beyond the west end of Catalina. The time of the arrival of the “Big Wind” varied with the rapidity with which the individual yachts crossed the Channel. Early in the evening of the first night a strong westerly greeted the Fleet, which buried rails, smashed gear, tore sails and even partially destroyed some of the yachts.

Thrashing with lee rails awash was a trying experience for many of the crews. seasick, wet, cold, attempting to cook while “standing on the ear,” and banging into big seas, was not the delightful experience which followed after the run in the Trades was established. This close reaching and hard driving into northerly winds of strong velocity continued for several days longer than the usual close reach.

Somewhere between the fourth and sixth day, depending upon the size of the vessel, the traditional run with full chutes, strong winds and big seas, started the group downhill to the “Islands of Endless Summer.” For the most part the race was characterized this year with the prolonged reach, no light airs and an extremely rapid sail for the yachts who were able to complete the race without major damage.