Transpac Race - Reichel/Pugh yachts take top spots

by Transpac media on 24 Jul 2013 Congratulations to all the owners and crews of Reichel/Pugh yachts racing in the 2013 Transpac Race. David and Peter Askew’s 74’ Reichel/Pugh designed and New England Boatworks built Mini-Maxi wizard (formerly Bella Mente), finishes ‘first’ in the 2013 Transpac Race winning the unique Transpacific Yacht Club’s Perpetual Trophy a 3.5’ x 4’ plaque of hand carved Hawaiian Koa Wood - better known as the ‘Barn Door,’ traditionally awarded to the fixed keel mono-hull employing no stored energy with the fastest elapsed time.

Wizard’s elapsed time was seven days, seven hours, 53 minutes, 46 seconds, which was 12 hours and 13 minutes slower than Bella Mente’s Barn Door record run of six days 19 hours 39 minutes 28 seconds set in 2011.

Reichel/Pugh designs have set new Transpac course records four times since 1999, winning the barn door trophy six times

Frank Slootman’s R/P 63 Mini Maxi Invisible Hand (formerly Limit, built by Hart Marine) took first place in Division 1 with the Wizard taking second place on corrected time.

Invisible Hand is the sister- ship to 'Loki' who won the 2011 Sydney-Hobart race and took second place in 2012.

Thomas Akin’s R/P designed 52 Meanie (formerly Vela Veloce) took first place in Division 2. 'Vincitore', Ricardo Brockmann’s R/P 52 took third place in Division 2 for the second Transpac in a row. 'Vela Veloce' and 'Vincitore', launched in 2008, were built as racer/cruisers out of the same mold by Davie Norris in New Zealand. 'Vincitore' won the Rolex U.S. IRC National Championship in 2009, the and took first place in IRC A Class of the 2009 Big Boat Series and 'Vela Veloce' was the Rolex U.S. IRC National Champion in 2010 and winner of the 2010 US IRC Gulf Stream Series.

Perennial winner Chip Megeath’s R/P 45 'Criminal Mischief', built by Hakes Marine and originally launched in early 2007 as Beau Geste, took first place in Division 4. In 2011 the 45’ 'Criminal Mischief' took second place in Division 2 when mixed in with the 52’s and first in class in the 2009 Transpac. In 2010 the Criminals won their class in the 'Pacific Cup' taking second overall in fleet. 'Beau Geste' in 2007 was the overall IRC winner of the Sydney Southport offshore classic.

Sjambok 45 built from the same mold as the 'Criminal Mischief' has its own winning record, setting an elapsed time record in the 2012 Annapolis – Bermuda race and was the overall winner in the Annapolis- Newport races in 2007 and 2011. 'Sjambok' won Class honors in the 2007 Pineapple Cup to Montego Bay and was winner of the Gulf Stream Series of that year.

Highlights of reichel/pugh transpac history

RP Maxis have held the Transpac Course Record Since 1999 (Roy Disney’s 75’ Pyewacket Maxi Sled).

The record has been broken four times since 1999 always by Reichel/Pugh designed yachts.

RP Yachts have won the Barn Door Trophy on seven out of eight editions of the race since 1999.

2011 'bella mente' - Hap Fauth’s 74’ Mini Maxi sets a new fixed keel course record of 6 days 19 hours 39 minutes 28 seconds with an average speed of 13.6 knots.

2011 'patches' – Jorge Ripsteins TP52 designed by R/P won Division two followed by R/P designs 'criminal mischief 45’ and vincitore 52’.

2011 'grand illusion' – Ed and James McDowell’s Santa Cruz 70 featuring Reichel/Pugh designed appendages took one-one as in first in division and first in fleet overall on corrected time.

2009 100’ 'alfa romeo' – first to Finish (current record holder five days 14 hours 36m 20s) (Moveable Ballast and Powered Winches Course Record) – N. Crichton

2005 86’ 'morning glorly' – first to Finish (set new record) (Moveable Ballast Course Record) – H. Plattner

2005 52’ 'rosebud' – first Class and first Fleet Corrected Overall – R. Sturgeon

2003 77’ 'pegasus' – first to Finish Barn Door Trophy Winner – P.Khan

2001 75’ 'pegasus' – first to Finish Barn Door Trophy Winner, second Fleet Overall Corrected– P. Khan

1999 75’ 'pyewacket' – first to Finish Barn Door Trophy Winner (set new record) (Fixed Ballast Course Record) second Fleet Overall Corrected– R. Disney

1995 66’ 'exile' – first Place Class Winner – J. Warwick Miller

1989 70’ 'taxi dancer' – first Place Class Winner (19 Sleds competing), second Place Fleet Overall – M. Rousse