Record Breaker?
by Event Committee, October 4th, 2021
Courtesy of Transpac 2021 website; https://transpacyc.com/race-info/yacht-details/2021-race-info/peligroso
Peligroso skipper Doug Baker has to be one of the more loyal participants in Transpac Race history, having competed in 19 races as a skipper and twice as a crew. There will be few in the 2021 fleet that have that impressive level of long term dedication to this race.
In the 50th edition in 2019, Baker and many of his team members were part of the Chubasco crew that sailed the renovated 1939 S&S yawl to Diamond Head. This was a vessel very different from Baker’s usual preference for high speed sloops… he does after all hold the existing course record of 11 days 10 hours 13 minutes and 18 seconds in the Transpacific YC’s other classic ocean race: the LA – Tahiti Race. Baker’s Alan Andrews-designed Magnitude 80 set this goalpost in 2008, and being over a decade old now this record time is alluring for more modern designs to come have a try at breaking it, possibly in next year’s running of the race postponed from last year.
In 2019 Baker re-entered the world of fast monohull sailing by purchasing the 2005-built Kernan 68 Peligroso, and in July will start Transpac with a team of 12 that includes Baker, navigator Ernie Richau, and an impressive list of Pacific ocean racing talent: Keith Kilpatrick, Tim Kernan, Bill Durant, Dustin Durant, Jimmy Slaughter, Juggy Coulgher, Doug Mclean, Mike Pentecost, and Mike Van Dyke.
The team plans to race to Cabo San Lucas from Newport Beach in March as their qualifier, as well as the SoCal 300 in May, with the goal of being competitive and having solid results in all races.
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Featured Yacht Profile
Annie M (2022)
Type: Amel Mango 52Skipper: John McCarthy
Port: Santa Fe, NM
Blog: 1 articles posted
The Annie M crew has a wealth of experience to contribute to the Vic-Maui 2022 race. John McCarthy, the captain of Annie M, is a lifelong sailor with experience racing Snipes and J24s, as well as cruising on a Swan 47 and, of course, an Amel 52, the Annie M. His boat has been beautifully restored and named after his beloved wife of 60 years.
Steve McCarthy brings years of racing and cruising experiences from sailing many seas. He’s also a sailmaker and, since 2004, owner of Hogin Sails located in Alameda, CA. In addition to working with sail lofts from Seattle to Santa Cruz, he has raced on Moore 24s and J24s and cruised on a Swan 47 across Europe. Our sails are in good hands with Steve as a sailor since he was a wee one.
Steve Summers is an instructor at Seattle Sailing Club, an Outward Bound teacher, and a National Outdoor Leadership teacher with experience sailing long voyages requiring an excellent ability to handle a variety of conditions and personalities. He’s also a Wilderness First Responder and a well-respected navigator in the Pacific Northwest. A calm soul called to the wild, Steve seeks adventure, and Vic-Maui is one of the adventures he’s ready to tackle.
Callum Hally is focused on sailing when the opportunity arises. In the past five years, he’s sailed more than 500 hours on a variety of boats such as a Catalina 22, J35c and an Andrew 53 to name a few. Through his previous job with Seattle Sailing Club supporting the customer’s experience, he became passionate about being on the water. He’s an excellent crew member with an insatiable thirst for reading, which makes him a fascinating conversationalist, wise beyond his years.
Bill Busch participated as “old goat’ status for Mackinaw races. He’s had a 1st place PHRf overall, 1st place in j105 class, 1st place j120 class. He’s looking forward to sailing a long ocean passage. He recently completed his International Offshore Safety program at St. Petersburg Florida Yacht Club. Bill is known for his kindness and patience.
Sarah Mackay, a lifelong sailor who learned at a young age the art of not getting seasick and never getting bored. She’s a crew member, communicator and, on occasion, cracker of jokes at which she’s the only one laughing. She has raced on J24s and J30s, crossed the North Sea and cruised throughout Europe on a Swan 47, and explored the Pacific Northwest on an Amel 52 named Annie M.
We are busy preparing the boat (and ourselves) for this epic journey. This year, Annie M will be entered in the Pacific NW Offshore Yacht Race and the Swiftsure Yacht Race leading up to our start date of the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race in early July.
