Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, June 30, 1997

Boats suffer gear failure
in Transpac race

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Two of the seven cruising class boats, battling winds of 20-to-25 knots and seas of 6-to-10 feet, apparently have dropped out of the 39th Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii after less than one day of sailing.

Sea Dancer, an Ericson 35 owned by Al Wheatman of the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey, notified mainland race headquarters at the Long Beach Yacht Club yesterday morning that it was withdrawing because of gear failure, but "with no major problem."

Radio operators also received a report relayed from the lead boat, Fred Frye's Salsipuedes from San Diego, that Edward J. Soellner's Hylas 47 Seaz the Moment, Sausalito, Calif., was pulling out, also because of gear failure.

No distress calls were heard, and neither boat seemed to be in danger.

The cruising class was introduced this year into the West Coast's premier sailing event to encourage participation by sailors who balance comforts with competition. More serious racers will start in progressively faster classes Wednesday, Saturday and next Monday.

"I'm sorry to hear (about the dropouts) so early in the race, but I gather that the weather is heavy duty and it can be a little overwhelming," said Gil Jones, commodore of the Transpacific Yacht Club, which runs the 2,225-nautical mile race every two years. "It makes good sense to turn around before they get too far out."

At yesterday's morning roll call, Salsipuedes was about 150 miles out from the Point Fermin starting point with a five-mile lead over Eleanor Clitheroe's C&C 40 Endeavor III from Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

Next in order were John Black's Nordic 37 Inquisitor from Newport Beach, Calif.; Richard Sherlock's Catalina 36 Surprise from Ventura, Calif., and George Killam's Morgan 38.3 Kaula Lani from San Francisco.

MAUNA KEA PRO-AM: The 24th annual Mauna Kea Pro-am golf tournament, featuring 34 of the PGA's top club professionals and 100 amateurs from around the country, started today at the Mauna Kea course.

Defending champion Bobby Phillips from the Bel-Air (Calif.) Golf Club returns. His amateur partners are Link Howe, Pat Ray and Frank Mahar.

MARATHON SPECIAL: The Honolulu Marathon has an early entry $2 special for Hawaii residents and active-duty military stationed in Hawaii through July 12.

The first 4,000 who register before July 12 at the Running Room store (737-2422), receive a free Honolulu Marathon event T-shirt.

For information, call 734-7200.

OUTDOORS CLASSES OFFERED: The State Department of Land & Natural Resources is offering free hunter education classes July 18, 5:45 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., and July 19, 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in room B-298 at the Nimitz Business Center.

Subjects covered include firearms and archery safety, survival and first aid, wildlife identification and conservation, rules and regulations, game care and outdoor responsibility.

The classes are open to anyone ages 10 and up. Attendance at both classes is required. For information, call 587-0200.

WAILEA INVITATIONAL SET: To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Wailea Golf Club is hosting the Wailea Invitational, Aug. 27-30.

The practice round is Aug. 27. The 54-hole event starts Aug. 28.

For fees and information on tournament packages, call 1-800-332-1614 or fax a message to 808-875-6949.