Stan Honey Injured in Transatlantic Race

Although yet to be officially ratified, during the final days of the 5,800-mile Transatlantic Race Jim and Kristy Clark’s 100-ft supermaxi Comanche laid claim to being the world’s fastest monohull, having clocked more than 618 miles in 24 hours. If she hadn’t had to battle light winds early on, she might have set a new course record (currently 6d, 22h, 8m, set by Rambler 100 in 2011). Dampening the crew’s excitement, however, was the fact that renowned Bay Area navigator Stan Honey fell and hit his head while belowdecks during the end of that record run.

Skipper Kenny Read explains, "He showed immediate concussion symptoms, but was never unconscious. He was monitored not only by our on-board medics, but also by doctors off the boat, just to make sure that everything was done correctly." After confinement to his bunk for at least six hours, Honey continued his duties at the nav station. Shortly after the finish, he disembarked at Falmouth, where he will undergo a concussion protocol at the local hospital. Honey was slated to rush back to L.A. to navigate Wild Oats XI in the Transpac (she starts Saturday). 

Many other recent finishers made the most of strong southwesterlies during recent days, including Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70 Phaedo3, recording more than 610 miles in four days, and at one point hitting 41.2 knots with navigator Miles Seddon at the helm. Thornburg explains: "The sea opened up before him. It was the biggest wave you have ever seen and we were pointing down it!" Despite such glory, she corrected out second in Open Class behind Peter Aschenbrenner’s Irens 63 tri Paradox. Thornburg will now jet home to skipper his Gunboat 66 Phaedo in the Transpac (Saturday start).

On Friday, the R-P 62 Lucky took line honors, having passed previous fleet leaders during the final days. Among these was the spectacular schooner Mariette of 1915 (previously owned by San Francisco’s Tom Perkins). She took third in line honors, first in IRC Class 4 and in Classics. The Bay Area favorite, Dorade, which won the Tranatlantic in 1931 overall, placed second in IRC Class 4 and in Classics. 

Check the website for much more on this thrilling race, and look for our recap report in the August issue of Latitude 38.