The crew aboard the Traveler, a 47-footer based out of Newport Harbor, cruised by yelling “Which way to Hawaii?”

A sign the crew held was shaped like a surfboard and read “Transpac 2007.”

I’m out here live at the 1 p.m. start of the Transpacific Yacht Race, watching as  sailboats depart on a 2,225-nautical mile journey from Point Fermin in San Pedro to Hawaii.

Seconds ago, the 23 boats racing during the first start of the Transpac race took off after the 9, 8, 7 … count down, along with a cannon fire to mark the start.

“Aloha, all clear. Have a great race you guys,” the annoucer said over the radio.

 Depsite the overcast skies, it’s a magnificant sight – with sharp sails cutting the sky, and dolphins putting on a show at the starting line. 

WATCH VIDEO 

One of our Orange County boats, Mystere, seems to be doing well, just behind the fastest crop of sailboats.  

Earlier this morning, I caught up with the crew - skippered by Laguna Niguel resident Jorge Morales - and watched as they made last-minute tweeks on their Swan 42.

“I’m tired of preparing, I just want to be sailing already,” he said about an hour before his boat departed. “I want to be on the other side of the start line.”

The Transpac, which started in 1906, is regarded as the West Coast’s premier ocean race. It’s among the oldest, and one of the longest races in the world.

The competition, held every other year, draws sailors from around the world who race across the Pacific Ocean to Ala Wai Harbor in Honolulu’s Waikiki tourist district. There are 74 boats competing, with 12 from Orange County.

A purple lei was placed on the bow of Morales’ boat for luck. It will hang there until the winds blow it away during the race. And when they get to Hawaii, they’ll be given another — which tradition says they must  throw back into the ocean  as an offering to the gods for a safe journey home.

“We need all the luck we can get,” he said. 

Today’s start included four boats from Orange County. This crop are the slower of the boats; the starts are staggered so boaters arrive in Hawaii about the same time.

The start for the medium boats will be Thursday; the larger boats depart on Sunday.

Morales hopes to make it in 12-days, but the weather isn’t looking very good, he said. The first week will be slow, with dark skies and choppy seas making for a tough ride.

Winds are about 7 knots, making for a lackluster kickoff to the race.

The Traveler will take a bit longer, as its skipper Mike Lawler of Newport Beach continues an around-the-world journey expected to last three years. 

About half an hour before the start, sailors took a moment to pay tribute to Wendy Siegal, a Transpac board member who was found floating next to her boat in Alamitos Bay. Boats all around scattered flowers and wreaths into the ocean, and in unison said “aloha Wendy.”

For more on the race, click here.  And check back on July 12 for a daily blog from one of the sailors.

– Laylan Connelly

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.