Gilles Combrisson and ‘Lightspeed’ Prepare for the 2026 Pac Cup
With 2026 being a Pacific Cup year, Latitude 38 is working to highlight as many as we can of the sailors and teams racing to Hawaii in July. Today’s feature is on Gilles Combrisson and his Wylie 39 Lightspeed, sailing under the Richmond Yacht Club (RYC) burgee.
Latitude 38 (L38): What inspired you to sail the 2026 Pac Cup?
Gilles Combrisson (GC): I’ve raced in a lot of Pac Cups, but never on my own boat. Lightspeed fell into my lap. It’s a great boat, so here we are.
L38: Is this your first crossing? What’s your favorite Pac Cup or Transpac memory?
GC: Seven Pac Cups and three Transpacs, and one failed Transpac attempt. Sailing into the finish off Kaneohe at dawn on Jubilant was one of the most memorable arrivals; still get goosebumps from that one!
L38: What is your background as a sailor outside of ocean racing?
GC: I’m a newcomer to sailing. I fell in love with the sport in my late 20s, bought a boat, quit my job and became an apprentice, and later started my own rigging business.
L38: Who will you be racing to Hawaii with? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
GC: I’m sailing with a bunch of awesome friends and sailors. Ron Tostenson (Ron and family were the first people I ever raced with and are responsible for my addiction!), Mark Jordan, Andy Schwenk and Ken Haas. This will be Ken’s first Pac Cup, but he has sailed extensively offshore since he was a kid. Mark and Andy are industry pros with huge experience. Andy Schwenk is the prankster who said we fouled him on the radio in 2014 when we crossed paths in the middle of the night hundreds of miles offshore. He was, of course, joking, but in my stupor I took it seriously and chewed out poor Karl Robrock, who was driving at the time and had absolutely no idea wtf I was yelling about. We still laugh about it today.
L38: What are you most looking forward to in the crossing?
GC: Collecting the fruits of five years of work on Lightspeed, and the good times and camaraderie that will ensue.
L38: Anything else we should know?
GC: Andy Schwenk will be chained to the windward rail for the first three nights as payback for his prank.
We hope Andy manages to talk his way off the rail!