Cal Maritime Battles the Pros in Transpacific Yacht Race

A young, yet experienced crew will race against the world’s top professional teams when Cal Maritime competes in the Transpacific Yacht Race for the fifth time in program history, starting July 3. Cal Maritime is the only college team competing in this year’s edition of the biennial 2,225-mile offshore sailing competition (as was the case in 2019 and 2023), which commences in Southern California and ends off Diamond Head Lighthouse in Honolulu.

California State University Maritime Academy (CSUM) will compete aboard the TS Cal Maritime (formerly Oaxaca), an offshore race boat provided by the California Maritime Academy Foundation. Cal Maritime is a Bill Lee-designed Santa Cruz 50 that was one of the original “fast is fun” light, narrow and easy-to-sail off-the-wind designs. Since her launch in 1980, Oaxaca has spent quality time in the yard, and received new rigging and a high-aspect rudder.

Leading CSUM in this year’s race is a crew that includes recent graduates, a slew of first-time participants, sailing program head coach Kerry Deaver, and a pair of individuals who are fulfilling a dream by sailing home.

Providing valuable experience and hands-on knowledge gained from offshore competitions throughout their respective college careers are CSUM alums Max Roth (this year’s skipper), Cyrus Khaleeli (navigator), Jacob Fisker-Andersen and Django Knafo-Tomlinson. For the native Hawaiians, the  Transpac provides Roth and Knafo-Tomlinson an opportunity to return home. For Fisker-Andersen, this year marks his third appearance in this world-renowned race and his inaugural opportunity guiding Cal Maritime’s boat back to the mainland as its delivery skipper. All four of those individuals were part of the 2021 or 2022 John F. Kennedy Memorial Trophy-winning crews that helped Cal Maritime become just the sixth school in Kennedy Cup history to win the regatta in consecutive seasons.

Cal Maritime has also won the Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup, one of the premier collegiate offshore regattas in the nation, eight times in program history, with this quartet playing key roles in the team’s recent championship performances.

Not only is Cal Maritime the only college team competing in the Transpac, its crew is the youngest, with the rest of the team comprising recent graduate Etienne Quille, senior Logan Chapman, sophomores Julian Levash (offshore team captain) and Oscar Perry.

Sailing fans are encouraged to visit the sailing team’s Instagram feed or visit the Transpac’s official website before and throughout this year’s competition.