SAILING : Transpacific Race Gets Underway

The wind died off Point Fermin five minutes before the scheduled start for the first 11 boats in the 37th biennial Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii on Wednesday, but all crossed the starting line, although two were considerably late--Richard Rosic’s Ariel from Dana Point by a half-hour and Michael Cooper’s ketch HMCS Oriole from Canada by 1 1/2 hours.

The larger classes will start over the next three days until all 42 vessels are on their way.