TRANSPAC: With a few boats still on the course, most racers switch to party mode after ARGO, COMANCH

HONOLULU (#1176) – While a handful of boats are still sailing into the finish off Diamond Head, the bulk of the 50th Transpac fleet has finished the 2,225 nautical miles from Los Angeles and their crews are enjoying the party scene at the Waikiki and Hawaii Yacht Clubs.

Race organizers said some 70 percent of the 82 boats finished between noon Saturday and noon Monday, the result of mostly favorable weather conditions and the staggered starts. Officials said 75 percent of the entries were newcomers to the classic race.

The first to finish was Jason Carroll’s (USA) trimaran ARGO, while Jim Cooney (AUS) and Samantha Grant’s (AUS) 100-footer, COMANCHE, won the coveted Barn Door Trophy as the first monohull to finish.

The race was marred when OEX, the Santa Cruz 70 owned and skippered by FOSI John Sangmeister (USA) suffered rudder damage and sank some 200 off the California coast. The crew was rescued by Roy Pat Disney’s (USA) PYEWACKET. Sangmeister has nominated Disney and his crew for US Sailing's Hanson Award, which recognizes significant accomplishments in seamanship and valor.

Here are the results of the 50th Transpac:

First to Finish, Rudy Choy Trophy: ARGO, MOD 70, Jason Carroll

Barn Door Trophy (First monohull): COMANCHE, Verdier/VPLP 100, Jim Cooney & Samantha Grant

Merlin Trophy: RIO100, Bakewell/White 100, Manouch Moshayedi

Storm Trysail Team Trophy: TBD (NAUGHTY BLUE TEQUILA leader as of 7/22/19)

1st Overall ORR: HAMACHI, J/125, Shawn Doughery & Jason Andrews

1st DIV 1: BADPAK, Pac52, Tom Holthus

1st DIV 2: TAXI DANCER, RP70, Yabsley / Compton

1st DIV 3: HAMACHI, J/125, Shawn Doughery & Jason Andrews

1st DIV 4: OAXACA, Santa Cruz 50, Michael Moradzadeh

1st DIV 5: TBD (GOOD CALL current leader)

1st DIv 6: BLUEFLASH, J/121, Scott Grealish

1st DIV 7: CHUBASCO, S&S Yawl, Akin / Baker / Carpenter / Durant

1st DIV 8: SWEET OKOLE, Farr 36, Dean Treadway

1st DIV 9: NADELOS, Wasa 55, Ian Ferguson

1st DIV 10: TBD

Nice appearance at the end of the video (above) for FOSI and co-founder of Sailing Illustrated Max Moosmann, who was sailing with the CAL MARITIME team aboard their Andrews 77 along with two other FOSIs, program director Tyler Wolk and Greg "Father" Newman, aka adult supervision. Congrats to this educational effort.