Transpac begins

The 49th running of the classic Transpacific Race kicked off with Aloha sendoff events rocking Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach 1 and 2 July and the first yachts starting Monday 3 July 2017.

Photography by Transpacific Race

05 July 2017

Boats will be arriving off the Diamond Head finish line as soon as 10 July, with the legendary Aloha welcome parties in Ala Wai Yacht Basin all that weekend and on into the next week.

17 yachts in three divisions set off in the first wave of three starts to the 49th edition of the 2017 biennial Transpac Race.

Under sunny skies and light winds the fleet left the start area promptly at the start signal of 1:00 PM local time to head west towards the finish at Diamond Head in Honolulu 2225 miles away.

This was both an end and a beginning for these teams: an end of months and even years of preparation and planning, and likely a welcome relief after this arduous task, especially those doing the race for the first time.

Finally setting out to sea will be a break from all the endless checklists that go along with planning a race of this length and endurance.

And of course the race is also the beginning of an adventure of many days and even weeks of sailing ahead, where crew camaraderie, seamanship, navigation and strategy and other skills will be tested.

The best in each division will be rewarded with trophies and prizes at the end of the race, but even those who do not fare well will be rewarded with the satisfaction of having completed one of the world’s oldest and greatest ocean races.

https://2017.transpacyc.com

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