The Transpac begins its’ staggered start process today at 1pm when Division 6 and 7 get underway. Division 3,4 and 5 start on Thursday, July 2nd while Division 1 and 2 depart Long Beach on Sunday, July 5th. Division 6 and 7 consisting of 11 boats, includes the smallest boat in the fleet, a Hobie 33 as well as the Tall Ship Lynx. The lowest rated boat in Division 7 is an S&S 57 named, “Charisma”. The lowest rated boat in Division 6 is “Relentless”, a One-Design 35. Five SC50’s comprise Division 5 and four SC52’s make up half of division 4. Division 3 is quite an international group with two entries from Japan and one from Mexico. The lowest rated boat in the Division 3 is “Criminal Mischief”, an RP45. Division One and Two comprise 17 boats including Roy Disney on “Pyewacket”, sailing in his 18th Transpac. West Coast veterans include “Alchemy”, a Andrews 68 and “Ragtime”, a Spencer 65. The other six boats in Division 2 are all SC70 sleds. Division 1 features four TP52’s including the storied, “Samba Pa Ti’. The division also includes “Magnitude 80″, an Andrews 80 as well as “Akela”, an RP78

Much of the scuttlebut surrounding the race revolves around it’s lowest rated boat, “Alfa Romeo”, shown here. With a rating of -32.997, this RP100 is capable of taking the record for the race (6 days, 16 hours) as well as line honors despite leaving 6 days after the slower divisions. Owned by New Zealander, Neville Crichton and includes VOR experienced pro crew as well as Stan Honey, Transpac’s winningest navigator. 

Armchair racers can keep track of the progress as it unfolds, here.

The Channel Islands Harbor offers a free concert series at Peninsula Park. That’s also where the transient docks are on the main fairway, which you are welcome to tie up to for a couple hours. It’s a great way to end a day of sailing out in the Santa Barbara Channel or a simple and lazy excuse to get on the boat for a couple hours. The music runs from 4-6pm and you either listen to it on the boat or head to the grass in front of the bandstand.

There is a pump-out facility at the far NE end of the dock. So…you could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Use caution if the wind is blowing on the dock which it quite often does. It’s great practice at downwind docking and will require a spring line to spring off your bow or stern as you leave the dock.

Channel Islands Harbor Summer Concert 2009 Lineup

July 11 - Teresa Russel & Coco Billi - Rock/R&B

July 18 - The Folk Collection - 60’s folk

July 25 - Blue Cat Express - Jazz, Blues, Swing

August 1 - Randy Rich & the Ravens - R&B

August 8 - Acadiana - Cajun, Zydeco

Aug 15 - Rocket Scientists - Boomer Rock

Aug 22 - Cadillac Angels - Rockabilly, 50’s surf

Aug 29 - Kacey Cubero - Country Rock

Tags: channel islands harbor, concerts, Sailing, stormsail

Members, Mike and Deana Ruel, continue to prepare for their sailing circumnavigation of the world by using a SailTime Hunter 36 here to hone their skills. They haven’t chosen the boat yet to do it with but keep their eyes open to the myriad of possibilities for a suitable craft. SailTime lets them continue to gain confidence in all kinds of conditions without the hassle of owning their own boat right now. Recently they sailed up to San Miguel Island, about 60 miles away and about 25 miles off Point Conception, known as the Cape Horn of the West Coast. While anchored up there in Cuyler’s anchorage they spotted this UBO (unidentified boating object) and think it may have been inhabited by martians or some other creature.

It has a name of “Seven Sisters” and a hailing port of Newport Beach. If not an alien amphibian craft we are thinking that Mom said she did not like the way the ole power boat yawed at sea and then Pop’s got this great idea to save money on fuel…but forgot the boom and sail part of the equation. If you can shed light on the subject, we are all ears!

Tags: boat, cuyler, power, sail, san miguel, ubo