Invisible Hand is 1st Overall in Transpac 2017

Invisible Hand crossed the Diamond Head finish line on July 13, 2017, at 11:20:10 a.m. to become the overall 1st place winner in the Transpac 2017.

Invisible Hand nearing the Diamond Head buoy. PC: Sharon Green, Ultimate

Invisible Hand was skippered by Frank Slootman in his Pac 52 and was followed by the other new Pac 52, Tom Holthus’ Bad Pak which finished at 3:03 p.m.

The Transpac race is a 2,225-mile trek across the Pacfic Ocean from Pt. Fermin in Long Beach, CA to O‘ahu. Slootman was greeted at the Diamond Head buoy with the Kalakaua Cup.

All four class winners include: Multi-hull, Mighty Merloe, who broke the record by more than a day; Comanche the 100-footer that won the power-assisted monohull divisioin in a new Transpac record; Rio 100, a new non-power assisted monohull that won for the second time in a row the coveted Barn Door Trophy (fastest monohull in elapsed time) in a new Transpac record.

As of publishing there are 30 more boats to finish over the next several days, Hawai‘i sailors and affiliated boats are leading in some divisions.

Current Standings of Hawai‘i Sailors/Affiliated boats:

· 1st in Div. 2, Pyewacket, Roy Pat Disney Jr., sails out of Waikiki Yacht Club and will arrive mid-day today at Waikiki Yacht Club
· 3rd in Div. 2, Merlin, crew member Keahi Ho, from Maui, Mackenzie Cook, UH Sailor, Designed/Built/Skippered by very highly noted sailor for over 50 years, Bill Lee arrives mid-day today
· 4th in Div. 2, Grand Illusion, James McDowell, Waikiki Yacht Club, 3-Peat Winner of Transpac that will arrive later tonight
· 3rd in Div 1, Azshou, member of WYC, and half of the crew is from Hawai‘i, including North Sails of Hawai‘i owner and son Fuzz and Fizz Foster who finished last night
· 4th in Div 1, Medicine Man, sponsored by Pau Maui this year, finished earlier this morning

There are many Hawai‘i affiliated boats and sailors this year, including James McDowell and his yacht Grand Illusion from the Waikiki Yacht Club, the 2015 Transpac overall winner and a three-peat winner of this race; Pyewacket, skippered by Roy Pat Disney Jr., is also sailing under the Waikiki Yacht Club flag; Aszhou and its crew, including North Sails of Hawai‘i owner Fuzz Foster sailing with his son Fizz, all of which are locals from the islands; and Merlin, skippered by noted sailor and yacht designer, builder, skipper Bill, has Maui-native Keahi Ho on crew and UH Sailor Mackenzie Cook.

For more information on how to get involved, attend the functions surrounding the race and/or to track the race live (four-hour delay), visit the Transpac website.