TRANSPAC RESCUE PROVES CAMARADERIE AT SEA
July 23, 2019
Last week, five boats from the Long Beach Yacht Club started the 50th Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu; part of the largest fleet in history, with 90 entries commencing the 2,225-mile race course in staggered starts July 10, 12 and 13.
In the early hours of 15 July, a distress call was sent from the Santa Cruz 70 Orient Express (OEX), which sails under the LBYC burgee. Owner and skipper John Sangmeister and crew reported an emergency issue with the rudder post, and that the boat was taking on water. Soon after the call went out, the Andrews 70 Pyewacket, skippered by Roy Pat Disney, immediately retired from the race in order to rendezvous with and render assistance to OEX – whose crew was forced to abandon ship and deploy into life rafts.
The Long Beach Yacht Club organization is pleased to report that thanks to the skillful action of both crews, the sailors on OEX were able to safely board Pyewacket and returned home to Southern California early this morning. “We are reminded that sailing across vast oceans is not without peril,” said LBYC Commodore Camille Daniels, who is also a Transpac race veteran. “The Pyewacket crew exemplify the true Corinthian spirit of the ocean racing community. On behalf of the Long Beach Yacht Club, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation to Roy Pat Disney and the crew onPyewacket for their swift response in coming to the aid of their fellow competitors.”
For more details on the incident, please visit www.transpacyc.com
