Notice of Race published for 50th Transpacific Yacht Race

Transpacific Yacht Race © Transpacific Yacht Club

The Notice of Race for Transpac 50 is now published and entries are open. With the first of at least three separate starts scheduled for July 10, 2019, this will be the 50th edition of the crossing from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Point Fermin to Diamond Head, 2,225 miles.

Transpac 50 will feature separate divisions for monohulls and multihulls, also an "Aloha Class" of boats that are heavier and more traditional than the contemporary downwind flyers designed for this classic course. It's the preponderance of downwind sailing, with the water growing bluer day by day, and the air growing warmer, that define the magic of the Transpac race.

The 2017 edition set records. The 100-foot, all-carbon and all-out Comanche set the monohull time at 5 days 01:55:26. The ORMA 60 trimaran, Mighty Merloe, lived up to her name with a blazing time of 4 days 06:32:30. And yes, that's a bit different from 1906, when the wooden-hulled first finisher was the 86-foot schooner, Lurline, in 12 days, 10 hours.

Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC) is the organizing authority for the race, which was inaugurated in 1906. TPYC Commodore Tom Hogan said, "We are excited about the 50th. There is nothing better than sailing and surfing downwind to Hawaii with a competitive fleet, warm weather, a full moon and an "Aloha Reception"!

The 2019 Notice of Race addresses qualifications for boat and crew, equipment, experience and the ways in which TPYC can assist in race planning. Entry forms and much more are available on the event website, including an Entry Process Guide.

To date, 1,980 boats have raced the Transpac race. Who will be entry #2000? Who can break the course records and who can have more fun in Transpac 50?