Sailing in the LatePac

With just over a month to go before the start of the Singlehanded TransPac, a handful of entrants have yet to complete their qualifier sail. The bienniel race from San Francisco Bay to Kauai, sponsored by the Singlehanded Sailing Society, runs every other year, and is preceeded by the LongPac race — which is held in the intervening year — to serve as the qualifying sail for prospective racers. Solo TransPac’ers who don’t compete in the LongPac are on their own in regards to their qualifier, so a handful decided to sail under the Gate together this weekend to complete their entry requirements.

Three ‘LatePac’ sailors — along with a couple other racers — met Friday afternoon at Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito to check out each others’ boats, swap stories, and discuss plans for the sail. The evening ended early so the sailors could get some rest before the 4 a.m. cast-off. Unfortunately, the weather was less than cooperative, offering only light winds on the ocean all weekend.  Even so, Ronnie Simpson aboard Warriors Wish was able to complete his qualifier today in upward of 30 knots of breeze. Hopefully the freshening wind will allow the others to finish as well.