While the start of the 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race is imminent on June 21, another biennial race is now in the works as the 2025 Transpac Race draws participants for the 53rd edition of the 2,225-person ride from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
First entry honors go to Michael Marion’s Dufour 50 Insoumise. Marion competed the same boat in the 2023 Transpac, but was forced to retire early after suffering serious rudder failure on the first day while sailing upwind from the west end of Catalina.
“We had been smashing hard to windward for about eight hours, and were firmly holding second position in our class and moving ahead of the leader when our rudder showed clear signs of impending failure at about 2:45am,” Marion recounted. “The initial failure was a devastating blow and a mixed blessing. If it had happened days later in the race it would have been much worse!
“Having experienced an insurmountable rudder failure on the first Transpac long day of 2023, I was keen to start our early registration as soon as possible to show my commitment to my team and the Transpac boating community.”
A stronger reinforced rudder housing system has been his main focus as he prepares to compete in the 2025 Transpac and achieve his lifelong goal of sailing to Hawaii.
“Ever since I was a kid, I always thought about how cool it would be to cross the Pacific from Southern California to Hawaii. However, I never really thought this would happen. After enjoying my Dufour for the past six years and realizing that this boat would make the trip anywhere in the world, I began to think about the long-abandoned dream of sailing to Hawaii.
“Our goal is to achieve the best possible result. Winning our class is not out of the question and is well within our capabilities. However, I will not consider our efforts to fail if we do not win our class!
Greg Dorn’s Favonius performed very well in the last two Transpacs, winning its class in 2021 and finishing fourth in 2023, but for the 2025 race he swapped the Dehler 46 for a Transpac 52, named Favonius 2.
“I felt it was time to tackle a faster, purer racing boat platform. The TP52 we will be sailing has a strong pedigree and appears to have excellent potential,” she said, noting that she hopes to recreate on board the right culture that made her Dehler 46 so successful in previous Transpacs.
He will be campaigning Favonius 2 in several offshore races along the West Coast in the lead-up to 2025, including Newport to Ensenada and the SoCal 300. Transpac, however, is special. “It’s a fantastic test of physical and mental endurance,” he said. “The distance, navigational challenge and driving precision required to perform well create a race of infinite complexity and variety.”
Another early entry is Alli Bell’s Cal 40 Restless. Bell is the rear commodore of the Transpacific Yacht Club and has competed in four previous Transpacs, but this will be his first as skipper. He purchased Restless in 2019 and began restoring the San Diego-based classic, and began talking about Transpac racing, bringing many helpers to the forefront and turning the idea into reality.
“I’m excited to introduce a team of family and friends and look forward to making many memories!” she said. “From my perspective as a sailor, an early commitment shows my crew and the rest of the fleet that I am serious about racing.
“It also gives me deadlines to meet. As someone who is involved in organizing races, I always appreciate early registration – it makes planning so much easier! I guess I’m practicing what I preach.”
With legendary performance in downwind surfing, Cal 40s are common entries in Transpac and more than once in the race’s history have earned the distinction of being the largest one-design fleet to compete. Bell hopes more than a few will line up to compete against Restless.
Event information – Race announcement – Qualification system
Held every two years, the 53rd edition of the 2,225nm Transpac in 2025 has staggered starts on July 1, July 3 and July 5 off Point Fermin.
Source: TPYC
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