1998 Singlehanded TransPac Preview

The Singlehanded TransPac celebrates the spirit of adventure that is the common bond between all solo sailors. Now in it's 11th incarnation, a fleet of 12 dramatically different vessels is poised to set sail for Kauai on June 27. Some skippers, like millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, will be intent on breaking records, while others will simply be testing their mettle by undergoing a self-imposed right of passage.

There will be no cash prizes or grandiose trophies awaiting any of them at the Hanalei Bay finish line. But just arriving in one piece will be prize enough - an intangible badge of achievement they can wear on their chests forever.

Three of this year's competitors are veterans of previous races who will attempt to better past performances - one guy you'll meet in the following pages is putting himself to the test for the sixth time!

The stable of boats this year ranges from Fossett's purpose-built 60-ft trimaran to third-timer Greg Morris' 19-year-old Moore 24. But despite differences in each boat's waterline length, surfing ability and creature comforts, each skipper will suffer similar discomforts, will be solely responsible for navigation, sail handling, gear maintenance, fleet communications and cooking, and each will endeavor to make coherent decisions despite the unavoidable sleep deprivation that is inherent in solo voyaging.

Although improvements in nav gear, autopilots, windvane steering devices, solar panels and communications gadgetry has lightened the enormity of the task over the years, the 2,120-mile crossing still transits the same vast, unpredictable ocean. And the organization of the event is still essentially the same as always: totally unspon-sored and administered by an all-volunteer staff.

When the first race was run in '78, an army of cynics dubbed it "crazy" - some even said "suicidal". But dozens of proud sailors - both men and women - have completed it safely over the years, and dozens more dream of accepting the challenge. . . someday.

We urge you to rally 'round the starting line, at mid-day,  June 27, off the Corinthian Yacht Club, applaud the fearlessness of these 12 sailors, and let 'em know you hardily approve of their brand of 'crazy' behavior.

We bid good luck and fair winds to all fleet participants - and hope they manage to get a few hours of deep sleep somewhere along the way. Naturally, we'll have a complete report on this year's SSS TransPac in our August 1998 issue.