Late on Day 2 most of the boats set spinnakers and the wind settled down to around 20 knots and the positioning started. Some boats headed south looking for more wind and a few stayed high to the north banking on good wind and sailing a shorter distance. As the days went by it showed that the group that were more to the north were pulling on the boats to the south. In the last few days OEX went even further north and benefited the most with the best breeze over the last few days to take the 70 footer class. Peter Tong’s OEX used it’s Ullman Sails A-2 for a majority of the crossing with great results. Alchemy had a full inventory of Ullman Sails and being the only Andrews 70 came in 4th amongst the 70 footers.
The Santa Cruz 50 Horizon did just that as they added Transpac 2009 to their list of victories over the last few years. Jack Taylor and his crew have been a 100% Ullman Sails boat for years and have been the most successful Santa Cruz 50 as well. There are not many West Coast sailing races that they have not won.
There was very little damage and most boats finished this years Transpac with the help of the Molikai Channel being much tamer than average. The usual 35 knots plus was replaced by 18 to 20 knots to the disappointment of some and the relief of others.
For complete results go to Transpacrace.org
