FINAL COUNTDOWN FOR TRANSPAC START

After months of preparation, the boats in Divisions 6 and 7 will parade away from Transpac Pier at Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach and head out for the first of three starts in the 45th running of the Transpacific Yacht Race, the most enduring and greatest yacht race in the world. The start will take place off of Point Fermin. Spectators will be able to watch from the water and from the bluffs of Point Fermin Park, the most southerly point in Los Angeles.

The start is scheduled for 1300 on Monday, June 29th. The traditional and spirited Aloha send-off begins when the tall ship, Lynx leaves the dock at 0900.
Boats in Division 6 are:

RELENTLESS (San Diego, CA), a Nelson Marek 35 skippered by Tim Fuller. NARROW ESCAPE (Nanaimo, Canada), Greg Constable's Fast 40. J World's J 120 (Honolulu, HI), skippered by Wayne Zittel. BLOODHOUND (Kaneohe, HI), Reed Bernhard's Hobie 33, the smallest boat in the fleet. ADDICTION (Honolulu, HI), Richard Blackburn's J 35, skippered by his stepdaughter, Lindsey Austin. CHARISMA, (Barcelona, Spain), a Sparkman & Stevens 57 owned by Alejandro Perez Calzada.

Boats in Division 7, the Aloha Division, are of many shapes and sizes and their crews know that they have a long trip ahead of them. Aloha Division boats include:

LYNX, a 78-foot square topsail schooner, designed by Melbourne Smith and launched in 2001. BETWEEN THE SHEETS (Marina del Rey, CA), a Jeanneau 50 skippered by Ross Pearlman. FAR NIENTE (Dana Point, CA), Patrick Hearne's Catalina 42. SILENT RUNNING (Santa Cruz, CA), a Jeanneau 42.5 owned by Bruce and Pam Orisek. HASSEL (Long Beach, CA), Larry Martinberg's Catalina 38. ALASKA EAGLE, (Newport Beach, CA) a Sparkman & Stephens 65, which also serves the communications vessel for the entire 48-boat fleet.

It is hoped that the entire Transpac fleet, including the boats that start on July 2nd and July 5th, will arrive in Hawaii at about the same time. That could be anytime between July 12 and July 15, depending on the weather conditions that the fleet encounters during the 2,225 nautical mile race.

- Follow the Transpac and play the Seahorse International Sailing & World Regattas Transpac Trivia on the official event site. Become a Transpac fan on Facebook.