Transpac 52s lead division II

by Rich Roberts on 22 Jul 2005 Division II has turned into a battle of Transpac 52s, with one veteran interloper: Bob Lane's veteran Andrews 61, Medicine Man.

Roger Sturgeon's Rosebud, Fred Detwiler's Trader and Medicine Man all closed on Philippe Kahn's more northerly but still frontrunning Pegasus 52 as all were to cross the midway point of the race Thursday.

On handicap time, Pegasus 52, Rosebud, the well-traveled Ragtime and Trader were running 1-2-3-4 among the 75 starters.

Bob and Rob Barton's Cipango from San Francisco took the overall Division III lead away from Craig Reynolds' Bolt, Newport Beach, although Tim Beatty's Stealth Chicken, Rancho Santa Fe, was five miles in front of Cipango, boat for boat, with 1,118 miles to go.

Tabasco, the Alamitos Bay Syndicate's 1D35, remained way in front in Division IV, while in Division V Scott Self and Nigel Brown's doublehanded Soap Opera cut the lead of Cliff Thompson's Super Gnat to seven miles to keep its overall handicap lead secure.

Among the Cal 40s, Sally Honey's all-woman Illusion made the only significant gain of 11 miles on Davis Pillsbury's Ralphie, which still had a 50-mile lead.

Odyssey remained ahead in Aloha A, while Larry Hillman's So Far was living up to its name in Aloha B---132 miles ahead of the next boat. Paul Edwards' Wind Dancer, incidentally, reported earlier as a dropout because of steering problems, was continuing to race without resorting to auto pilot.

The Communications vessel Alaska Eagle also reported: ‘Fishing poor.’ A full moon was due Thursday night.