The Skippers' Meeting in the Long Beach Aquarium brought skippers and navigators up to speed on the latest developments, including meteorologist Lee Chesneau's upbeat assessment of a favorable weather pattern developing in the Eastern Pacific. Compared to the outlook a week ago, it was happy news. (Very happy news.) Chesneau said something about winds to 20 knots out on the ocean, coming down the coast and bending toward the islands.
After Transpacific Yacht Club Commodore Bill Lee and PRO Dave Cort dismissed the Skippers' Meeting, all repaired to Gladstone's for what was surely the best Transpac sendoff party in 46 tries. It kicked off with Mayor Bob Foster's Reception in a private room.
Oracle Racing's Tom Ehman (the hardest working man in America's Cup show business) came down from San Francisco to spread a little America's Cup religion in the spot that has the best seabreeze in Southern California. Say, John Sangmeister, AC veteran, do you think Long Beach would make a dandy spot for AC45s on the World Series Tour?
Just a thought . . .
Lori Rudiger spoke about Transpac's new Navigator's Trophy, a vintage sextant donated by Board member Stan Honey in memory of her late husband, Mark.
The more stylish among us displayed the latest in official Transpac finery.
Inevitably, there was music and dance.
And I have it on good authority that this little picture says ALOHA!
All photos by Kimball Livingston.
The words too, especially the ones that are spelled right.
Starts - Point Fermin, 1 p.m., July 4 and July 8. Keep Catalina to port.