Four Boats Sail the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s 2026 LongPac

Every other year, in the even years, opposite the Singlehanded Transpacific Race, the Singlehanded Sailing Society (SSS) puts on the Great Pacific Longitude Race, aka LongPac.

This year we had five boats sign up for the challenge: Uno, a Wyliecat 30, JouJou, a Capo 30, Galaxsea, a Nauticat 44, Minami Kazi, a Beneteau 361 and Rainbow, a Crowther 10m catamaran.

Due to predicted light conditions outside the Gate, the racers opted to postpone their June 20, 0900, start time until the next ebb — starting at 1900 hours. All boats except Uno, who opted out with too long of a to-do list, checked in between 1830 and 1855. Minami Kazi almost didn’t make it as he couldn’t hear the race committee with the squelch on the VHF turned up too high. At 1855 the first warning was announced and the countdown began.

JouJou nailed the start, followed by Galaxsea, Rainbow and Minami Kazi. With 18–20 knots of breeze in the Slot, the racers made quick progress toward the Gate.

The race committee, who had set up on the seawall in front of Golden Gate Yacht Club, packed up and headed to dinner. Jim Q., the SSS commodore, hosted Greg A., Jackie P. and David H. for dinner at StFYC. Thank you, Jim.

From there we dispersed to watch the tracker on Jibeset Race TV and monitor check-ins. JouJou headed back around 0400 and Minami Kazi around 0630 Sunday morning. JouJou reported batteries discharging too rapidly and not wanting to get into a low-/no-power situation. Minami Kazi decided to return when wind threatened to increase to 25+ and seas along with it. Nothing wrong with being prudent. Good seamanship all around.

The LongPac is a 400-mile sail out to longitude 126°40′ and back. Completing it qualifies you and your boat to participate in the Singlehanded Transpacific Yacht Race. Veteran sailors describe it as starting a Hawaii race, sailing the worst part of it, then turning around and sailing right back through it! I can attest to it! You and your boat are thoroughly tested. Routing, sailing, rigging, eating, hydration, rest, you name it.

Rainbow and Galaxsea, both multiple veterans of this race, pressed on, checking in as required. Galaxsea did mention it was rough. Coming from him that means something! Both boats made the waypoint at 126°40’W and headed back to the Golden Gate. Rainbow crossed first and finished off Harding Rock Tuesday at 13:50:06 with an elapsed time of 2:18:50:06. Galaxsea faced some lighter wind getting in past the Lightship and finished Tuesday night at 23:22:20, elapsed time 3:04:22:20. Rainbow corrected to win by just four minutes.