The Story of the 1973 Transpacific Yacht Race

The 1973 running of the great Transpacific Yacht Club Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu will be remembered for what old salts agree was the most exciting elapsed time finish since the races started in 1906.

RAGTIME, a 62-foot sloop with six co-skippers aboard, nosed out record-holder WINDWARD PASSAGE by a mere 4 minutes and 31 seconds at the Diamond Head finish line. The “nosed out” phrase applies because Mark Johnson’s 73-foot ketch WINDWARD PASSAGE had been the front-runner in daily reports virtually from the excellent start by 60 yachts at Point Fermin, mid-day on July 4. her position in relation to Class A challenger BlACKFIN made news until RAGTIME took over the lead on July 13. RAGTIME lengthened the lead, then barely hung onto it dramatically for first-to-finish honors.

Meanwhile, the overall first place competition, to be decided on corrected time, mostly narrowed down to Class D boats.

First place had changed hands many times in the race, but it was the boldly named ChUTZPAH, which grabbed the lead and held on in the final days, which counted. She crossed the line early on July 17, just behind ARIANA, but with a corrected time of 8 days, 21 hours, 21 minutes and 50 seconds — good enough to push ARIANA into second overall.

Although no records were broken, the 27th running of the 2,225 mile grandaddy of all blue water races had excitement and colorful angles galore.

It even had a boat sink, but it happened after EAGLE had crossed the finish line. The 33-foot sloop, skippered by Larry K. Shorett of Seattle, made a midnight finish, but struck a reef and sank off Waikiki Beach. All hands were safe.

The only other major mishaps were reported by DEFIANT, a 36-foot sloop who lost a rudder and had to withdraw, but nevertheless continued on toward Honolulu, and VICARIOUS, a Cal 33, who stayed in the race despite a broken mast.

No injuries were reported, but one boat did lose its hi-fi set to flames. There were bad jokes about hot music.

Because WINDWARD PASSAGE set a new course record of 9 days, 9 hours, 6 minutes and 48 seconds in the 1971 race — and also won overall handicap honors, which is unusual for a big Class A boat — much attention was directed her way. And toward Ken DeMeuse’s former record holder, the 75-foot sloop BlACKFIN, which again trailed WINDWARD PASSAGE across the line.

The difference this time was that the first time entry, RAGTIME, flying the burgee of the Long Beach Yacht Club, was ahead of both of them. Of controversial design and bearing handicap ratings to show for it, RAGTIME was an acknowledged first-to-finish threat. But she certainly showed a dramatic flair in arriving first! The owner-skipper syndicate which entered her includes Bill Dalessi, Barney Flam, Dr. Mort Haskell, Stan Miller, Chuck Kober and Jack Queen. Her elapsed time was 10 days, 14 hours and 40 seconds.

ChUTZPAH is a local yacht which made good. Owner-skipper was Stuart M. Cowan, who flew the colors of the Waikiki Yacht Club. Pre-race critiques noted that ChUTZPAH’s design made her a threat for corrected time honors, but in a field of 60 boats, including so many proven championship contenders, her name was not stressed as a favorite. ChUTZPAH also was first in Class D.

Charles B. Boothe, Commodore of the sponsoring Transpacific Yacht Club, expressed his thanks to the scores of committee chairmen and members and participants who made the 1973 “Aloha” race to Honolulu a success. Race Chairman for the biennial event was Charles W. Smith.

“It was a fine race with a large and representative fleet of topnotch contenders,” said Commodore Boothe.

Although analysis of sailing strategy and wind conditions will go on for months, the race apparently was run without any major periods of doldrums — and without bad storms or hurricane threats, as in the 1971 race when hurricane Denise hovered near the course for a period.

Virtually all Class A entries crossed the finish line (elapsed time) ahead of the smaller boats, which was not unexpected. WARRIOR, Al Cassel’s 50-foot cutter from the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Newport Beach, was first in Class A by corrected time. However, most of the big boats placed well down in the overall (corrected time) list. Class B winner was IMPROBABLE, which also placed third in fleet. Class C winner was BlUE STREAK.