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| HORIZON Finishing 2021 Trans Pac Photos by Sharon Green | Ultimate Sailing Photography |
By LEN BOSE
I left you about a month ago rounding the west end of Catalina headed to Honolulu, Hawaii, in this year’s Transpac race aboard the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon. We talked about all the hardships of the race like living on a 20-degree angle for the first four days, serving food while getting bounced around the boat and gearing up for the first few cold nights. I ended that story with the question: What keeps us coming back?
“It’s a cool thing to do,” quoting Peter Eisler who is one of the world’s most sought-after navigators sailing aboard Roy Disney’s Pyewacket. Aboard Horizon, the race could not have gone any better. We had an intensely close race with Steve Sellinger’s Santa Cruz 52 Triumph, who had put together an exceedingly strong team with local sailors Justin Law and Brad Wheeler aboard, taking the lead from the start then holding that lead most of the way to Hawaii. At about 600 miles out from the finish line, Triumph had about a 15-mile lead on us. Horizon found a wind shift, then fell into favorable conditions which allowed us to take the lead at about 180 miles from the finish line. It was early morning when we crossed the finish line with Triumph only 22 minutes behind us after sailing about 2,300 miles. Horizon and Triumph had both beaten the course record for a Santa Cruz 50/52, which was set by the boat Allure in 1897 at 9 days, 6 minutes and 23 seconds. Triumph had sailed the course in 8 days, 23 hours and 46 minutes, Horizon at 8 days, 23 hours and 25 minutes. Sailing against strong competitors while making Transpac history is only part of the reason as to what keeps us coming back.
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| Notice Triumph spinnaker in background. |
Working through the mental and physical challenges can be wearing on the body. After being in the sun for close to nine days, then working on the boat for the next two, I was speaking in tongues, well the Mai Tais might have a little something to do with it also. I still need to apologize to Debi Springer, who I was talking to on my return home in front of Santa Monica Seafood, as I thought she was Terry Duffield. The pitch-black nights can also be very intimidating while racing. I had come on watch, walked back behind the wheel, turned around and there was nothing in front of us other than a black wall. James Malm and I were on the same watch together and after he came on deck, he just started laughing, “Hey Len, is that a black wall in front of us – are we going to SLAM right into it?” Malm asked. During these dark nights, while doing your trick at the wheel, you would get these large wind gusts of eight to 10 knots with the swell deciding to take another direction. Working your way through these conditions can really pucker you up. You can also get a little intimidated while waiting in the on-deck circle wondering if you can do this.
Sailing downwind for five days in the warm Pacific tradewinds will be a fond memory, sighting sea life, cloud formations, rainbows, moonbows, passing ships in the night – they will always be etched into our memories. While waking up for my watch, my nickname had changed from Lenny B to Lenny Beats because I left my funk playlist playing and the on-watch had been dancing the whole four hours. For some strange reason that made me feel good; music will break tension, gelling us more as a team while gaining on our opponents. I have been dancing across the Pacific while listening to Michael Jackson since my first Transpac in 1983.
My last three Transpacs have been day finishes which are always an added bonus. Hearing a crew member shout “Land Ho” is always refreshing along with a relief of tension that the water maker, refrigeration, battery charging system, head and electronics are all still working. When approaching the islands from a southerly route, you will first see parts of the Big Island, Maui, and then sail right next to Molokai before entering the Molokai Channel. This channel can quickly slap you upside the head because of the increased wind strength and sea conditions. I recall four times, over the years, when the channel has picked us up and laid us on our side while I was blowing bubbles in the cockpit. Being able to take on the Molokai Channel while keeping the boat in control and sailing at top performance will always make you want more. If the channel rubs your nose in it, then around a week after the finish you’ll start dreaming that you would like another chance.
The finish line is always exciting no matter what time of day it is. The wind always seems to be blowing in the mid-20s with the wind angle at a close reach, making it difficult to keep the boat in control with a spinnaker up. You have to finish the race with a spinnaker up, because that’s what’s in the race brochure. If you are lucky enough to finish in daylight, then the camera boats are all around you and there’s no pressure.
The greeting the Hawaii Yacht Club and the Transpac Yacht Club give you is most memorable with a big alooooooha, then a review of the crew roster welcoming you to the islands and of course, the Mai Tais. Blend this with loved ones waiting for you at the dock, while trying to obtain your land legs again which makes this all a “cool thing to do.” For me, I am considering hanging up my sea boots; Horizon has been placed on the market for sale, so this might be the perfect time to call it quits while on top of the Santa Cruz 50 fleet. With 14 Pacific crossings, going out with 1st place in a division and with a new course record for a Santa Cruz 50 feels right. Yes, I will miss Horizon, but I will never forget all the memories and my lifelong friends that sailed with me aboard her.
Sea ya.
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Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.
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