MARTHA is on the way to the start line off Point Fermin. The crew has worked its magic and we are as ready as we can be!
The division splits are in and the times are posted on the Transpac web site, in our division we will be head to head, boat for boat with MARJORIE. A Stephens Waring Design built by Brookline Boatyard in 2007, one hundred years after MARTHA.
The other boat to keep our eyes on is WESTWARD, a LAPWORTH 50 launched in 1962. Owned by the Bell family who as been with WESTWARD from the beginning and sails and maintains her very well. How’s that for maritime heritage! WESTWARD and DORADE battled each other in Transpac 2013 and I suspect they will keep their eyes on the prize.
This year the race handicap is Time on Time (TOT) rather than Time on Distance (TOD).
MARJORIE owes MARTHA a mere 2 seconds an hour, she fast and able.
MARTHA owes WESTWARD 4 minutes 46 seconds an hour.
This will be an epic race, as the three classics, two old, one new, battle their way across the Pacific in Transpac 2015.
We would like to again thank our friends and supporters who have helped to make all this happen and to mention San Rafael Grass Fed Beef and Catalina Off Shore Products for their gracious donations, the crew will indeed be well fed.
We received a wonderful phone call from Miles McCoy who related a fond Transpac Memory.
I believe he said it was 1947, he was crew onboard WESTWARD HO and the parents of Jack Helsell, the owner, sauntered down the dock with a crate of oranges to give the crew for the crossing.
Miles said they lashed the crate on deck and every time they strolled by they would have an orange. “Man that was great!” What a great memory to savor for 68 years. So he bought MARTHA a crate of oranges for our crossing, and we are grateful! Every time we have an orange we’ll think of Miles back home, and smile.
Wish you were racing with us Miles!
Every one from the community that keeps MARTHA vibrant and active is in our hearts as we embark on this journey. THANK YOU
