Transpac Commodore Al Garnier, a San Pedro resident, said, "It's a good feeling to bring together all of this seafaring history for today's sailors and the public to appreciate. The sailors will be able to hear the people cheering for their favorites."

Dair said, "That's really exciting. Of all the races I've done Transpac has always been the best to finish, and now the start will be special, too."

The change in location is expected to have little effect on strategy. The move lengthens the 2,225- nautical mile course by only nine-tenths of a mile and alters the compass heading toward the west end of Santa Catalina Island---the only mandatory mark of the course- --from 210 to 218 degrees, which in normal conditions would tighten the upwind beat slightly.

Early entry deadline March 9; Psyche leads the way

The boat that led Transpac's Cal 40 revolution in 1965 is at the head of the line for this year's race, too. Psyche, owned by Steve Calhoun of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., was the first of a current list of 20 official (i.e., paid) entries.

The early entry discount deadline is March 9. Also, a $50 discount will apply to the entry fee of an owner/charterer who is a current member of US Sailing.

Also entered are the unretired Roy E. Disney, chartering the maxZ86 Pyewacket that he donated to the Orange Coast College School of Sailing & Seamanship when he "retired" after the 2005 race, and the Transpac 52 Morning Light that will be sailed by the youthful crew Disney's team is training to sail this race as a film project.

Hasso Plattner's maxZ86 Morning Glory, which broke Disney's record with an elapsed time of 6 days 16 hours 4 minutes 11 seconds in 2005, also is expected to enter, setting up another battle for the Barn Door.

Psyche, then owned by Don Salisbury, stunned the ocean racing world 42 years ago not only by winning Class C but by correcting out on handicap time against such formidable giants as Jim Kilroy's Kialoa II, Bob Johnson's Ticonderoga and Cornelius Bruynzeel's Stormvogel for first place overall.

With Calhoun as skipper 40 years later in 2005, Psyche didn't do badly, either, finishing second boat for boat among 14 Cal 40s and third overall behind Ralphie and Sally Honey's Illusion.

This year's early birds also include five Santa Cruz 50s, two of whose owners---Gib Black of Honolulu and Steve Hastings of Corpus Christi, Tex.---noted on their entry forms under where they were built as "chicken coop," an accurate reference to designer Bill Lee's original factory in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Point Fermin Park and Lighthouse
San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Psyche first in '65 – and 2007

Official entries to date:


Adrenalin (Santa Cruz 50), David Clark, Newport Beach, Calif.

Al Garnier

(310) 600-0158

ENTRIES CHAIRMAN

Bill Lee

(831) 476-9639

PRESS OFFICER

Rich Roberts

(310) 835-2526