Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Sixty-three minutes was the difference after 2,225 miles of sailing. Pegasus fleet’s fleetest
From staff and wire reportsThe 75-foot ultralight sloop Pegasus crossed the finish line off Diamond Head yesterday to claim fastest elapsed time honors in the Transpacific Yacht Race.
Philippe Kahn, a French-born software developer from Santa Cruz, Calif., claimed the Barn Door Trophy on his second try. Pegasus finished in 8 days, 2 hours, 34 minutes and 3 seconds, an hour and three minutes ahead of Roy E. Disney's Pyewacket.
The time didn't approach Pyewacket's record of 7:11:41:27 set in the windier previous race in 1999, but it was well under Merlin's former record that stood for 20 years.
Chance, a boat similar to Pegasus, posted the race's third fastest elapsed time, about one hour behind Pyewacket. That's as far apart as the trio ever was since leaving California on July 1.
Pegasus is in the running to score an uncommon Transpac sweep: Best elapsed time, first in class and first overall on corrected time. That hasn't been done since 1993.
The strongest threat is Seth Radow's Bull, the Division III leader. If Bull can finish shortly after sunrise tomorrow, it will beat Pegasus on handicap time.
Transpac Web site