Final heat of Transpac boats faces fickle winds

Light winds greeted the last and fastest of the Transpac boats yesterday as they joined the biennial race to Honolulu.

Pegasus 101, sailed by owner and part-time Honolulu resident Philippe Kahn, struggled to the rear of marquee boats Pyewacket and Magnitude 80.

Before the start, Kahn's race blog predicted a "game of chicken" as boats decide how to handle two tropical depressions in the eastern Pacific.

"Both of these systems are forecast to strengthen into tropical storms in the next 24 hours," the posting said. "So now, does anyone have the guts to go south and catch a little lift from the big ones?

"This is going to be an interesting race."

The winners are expected next weekend.