Registration for the 2018 edition of the Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race opened in January, and so far 23 boats are signed up. The biennial race, which starts June 23 this year off the race deck of the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon, and finishes in Hanalei Bay, Kauai, HI, is the signature event of the Singlehanded Sailing Society of San Francisco, with a 40-year history.

The SHTP prides itself on a being a “race what you have” affair, and this year’s fleet is typical of the eclectic mix we usually see in this iconic event. The boats signed up range in size from the 32,000-lb. Garcia Passoa 47 Mouton Noir, helmed by six-time race veteran Michael Jefferson, to the 2,000-lb. Moore 24 Holokiki of first-timer Rusty Roy. John Colby’s Hylas 42 Iris will evidently be the first-ever Hylas to do this race. By contrast, Olson 30s, which may claim more past entries than any other make, are again well represented with four boats signed up so far: Double Espresso, Passages, Widmat and Concussion, helmed respectively by newcomers Philippe Jamotte, David Clark, Lilya Vorobey and Jason Seibert.

Sixteen of the skippers (including this writer) will be competing in the race to Hanalei Bay for the first time. The veterans, in addition to Jefferson, include Randy Leasure, looking to complete his third SHTP aboard his Westsail 32 Tortuga, Clifford Shaw returning from 2012 aboard the Crowther 10m catamaran Rainbow, and four who were first-timers in 2016 going for back-to-back finishes: Joe Barry, Express 37 Pakala; Mike Cunningham, Freedom 30 Jacqueline; Bill Meanley, Pacific Seacraft 37 Dolfin; and John Woodworth, Pacific Seacraft 37 Owl. In an interesting twist, the boat in which Jefferson did the race three times (1992, 1996 and 2000), the Yamaha 33 Foxxfyre, will be racing once again, with first-timer Doug Soderstrom at the helm.

The fleet has three women skippers signed up, and that will be a record for the event, says Race Chair Brian Boschma. The boats they will sail present yet another set of contrasts for the race: Lylia Vorobey’s Olson 30 Widmat, with a PHRF rating of 99, is among the fastest-rated boats; Sarah Sheretz’ Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 Daseins Den has one of the highest ratings in the fleet at 246; while Carliane Johnson’s Freedom 38 Kynntana carries a sporty 141 for what she describes as “a big, comfy” boat.

“It’s not too late to register,” says SSS Commodore David Herrigel, although the experience and safety equipment requirements are challenging. The race documents, including the Race Rules and Conditions and Safety Equipment Requirements, can be found on Jibeset.net. Herrigel notes that the mix of rookies to veterans is “about the right proportion” compared to prior years, and that the fleet includes “a solid set of folks.” He and Boschma expect most if not all of the boats registered will make it to the start line, and they think a few additional skippers are likely to sign up and go.

We hope that everyone who makes the start this year will be at the awards banquet at Nawiliwili Yacht Club on July 14, where, in addition to the various trophies to be handed out, the coveted SSS belt buckle will be presented to all finishers. The June edition of Latitude 38 will feature a preview of the race and profiles of the racers.