Peligroso Racing Team

Transpac '15: Peligroso RT // MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 08:42:00 +0000

A few reflections by Captain Peligroso after a few days to relax in Hawaii and an unspecified number of well deserved Gyn&Tonics:

Last Sunday at 8:12PM Peligroso crossed the finish line at Diamond Head, after experiencing going through the wonderful Molokai Channel. In just a few words I would describe this as very emotional, with a mix of tears, laughs, and lots of yelling: "We did it! Once again, we did it!"

Unexpectedly, due to extremely high surf, and after more than eight days at sea, upon arrival we were informed that our harbor was closed and we needed to stay all night waiting out at sea. Fortunately after several communications we were allowed to dock in an alternative federal, commercial and military harbor.

It is impossible to describe the feeling of having my whole family (including Ro, my wife, my brother with his family, our children with their partners and specially all our grandchildren Emma, Loren, Carlota, and Nina (in person) plus Constanza* and Jorge* (in their respective mother's wombs) all dressed with the Hawaiian shirts, waving, screaming and welcoming us at the dock.

*Names to be confirmed

"Aloha Abo!" my grandchildren yelled excitedly despite the late hour! "Peligroso! Peligroso!" They chanted!

Every regatta brings new things and this was not the exception: weather conditions were completely atypical due to Dolores and Enrique storms and "el Nino" effect for this year, so instead of sailing to the south after passing Catalina Island we all had to go north of the rhumb line and instead of beating for 2-3 days before flying a spinnaker we hoisted the spinnaker within a few minutes after starting the race. At the finish, we found less wind than what is usual at the Molokai Channel.

We learned many things when we faced technical problems during the race, like how important it is to communicate to the race committee certain problems while you still have the means to communicate. We also learned about economics as we rationalized drinking water and energy consumption, 900 NM before the finish line.

I personally learned how important it is to select crew members with different sets of skills, besides experience and passion for sailing. I also learned how powerful it is to know that your family and friends are there for whether it is physically at the start and finish or in essence through their generous prayers. I learned that "it is all about the journey" and not necessarily about winning, there is profound satisfaction in knowing that you have done your absolute best with the hand you were dealt and the conditions that we faced.

I had the opportunity during this trip to discover a personal side of my crew members and get a glimpse of their dreams as we shared things such as who we admire most and how we hoped to be remembered.

Once we were all on land, we learned that around ten boats had been protested for different reasons and we were among them, so instead of just laying back and enjoying the beautiful beach in Kailua we had to attend the hearing, it was an honor to win the protest and to hear from the jury that Peligroso presented an "Outstanding Testimony".

I personally want to thank all the people involved in this race, starting with my crew Alex, Mitre, Fede, Clark, Alex Berho, Chris, James, Jorge, Steve and Diego who did an incredible job, our supportive land crew, special thanks to Dani and Santiago for sharing our stories with our fans, thanks to our friends and families following every moment of the race, huge thanks to Annie our host in Waikiki who threw an unforgettable and very unique welcoming party for Peligroso. Thank you to the organizing team for Transpac, Muchas gracias Peligroso, our racing machine who, believe me, has a soul of its own and protects us in every trip. Last, but certainly not least, thanks to God who blesses us with health and allows us to coincide in this part of the universe racing such a wonderful regatta in the middle of the most spectacular ocean.

I also want to recognize our competitors for making us better sailors every time and congratulate Destroyer and Patches (the other Mexican boats) for doing an incredible job in this regatta.

With this third Transpac, and a number of regattas during the last five years, including three PV (San Diego- Puerto Vallarta), the Rolex Big Boat Series in San Francisco, three Mexorcs in Puerto Vallarta, a full year racing cycle in Acapulco, races in San Diego, Newport, Long Beach, Ensenada, and their respective deliveries, Peligroso has accomplished a total distance of 26,000NM, the equivalent of a going all around the World, while winning important trophies and breaking a few records.

A most special mention and admiration to my son Diego who has modestly been the true leader of the Peligroso project with all his heart and passion for sailing and the conviction of inspiring others to make a difference as a key element of this program.

In the last five years, close to 400 people have been onboard Peligroso, particularly many young Mexican sailors, among which there are recent world champions in other classes. Peligroso continues! And this program will remain encouraging values that foster positive social change. Aloha!

Capitan Peligroso

P.S. Attached are the video of the news report that came out in Mexico about the Transpac and a few images of our arrival in Honolulu.

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What is Peligroso?

Peligroso is a mexican racing machine designed for extreme sailing.

One of the main goals is to select and promote Mexican young sailors into Maxi Yatch Regattas and help support them getting to the Olympics and world wide competitions.

Peligroso project will encourage values that will foster Positive Social change.

Transpac'15: Peligroso RT // FINISHED! (Sort of)

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 08:38:00 +0000

Peligroso has finished the race stopping the official clock at 20:12'19'' Hawaii time! (Add 3 hours if you are in LA or 5 if in Mexico City. Official results are yet to be released but most likely they will be finishing in fourth place in Division 2. Bolt will be the winner and what's really remarkable is that the boats in second (Destroyer), and third (Patches) place are also Mexican! Congrats Mexico!

The very unexpected and surprising news is that the Aloha party will have to wait. The welcome committee was left "vestidos y alborotados" with matching shirts at the Waikiki Yacht Club... It turns out that an unprecedented tide and surf at the Molokai Channel made authorities close the entrance to land.

But as you may have expected Peligroso will stop at nothing, especially being so close!!! Don't ask the how, but Peligroso is docking as I write these lines at the Honolulu Marina. In a few minutes the drinking will begin (we just need to find a venue given the improvised arrival).

We will send you more info and photos tomorrow! In the meantime here's the welcome committee...

Peligroso Report

At 2:30pm we notified the Race Committee that we had 100 Nautical Miles to cross the finish line. As we approach the finsh line we had an Estimated Time Of Arrival (ETA) of 2100 Hawaii Time.
Here are our thoughts at this final stage of the race. Our division is made up of 7 great racing boats and here are the last standings we have: the boats are listed fastest to slowest:
1) Wizard (USA) - Finished at 05:38 PDT, if we are able to finish at our ETA we should be able to beat them. Wizard won 1st to finish in Transpac 2011

2) Bad Pak (USA) - to leeward and in front of us about 10.5NM to finish, they will finish before we do but we have seen that their progress is not as fast and we estimate to beat them too. Bad Pak won Transpac 2009

3) Zephyrus (USA) - currently in 3rd place and to leeward and slightly
in front of us with only 95NM to finish, the competition against them will depend on our performance in this last miles an it will be very close. In PV 2010, a 1000 NM regatta from SD to Vallarta, she arrived second just 11 minutes behind PELIGROSO.

4) Peligroso (MEX) currently in 4th place with 155NM to finish.

5) Patches (MEX) - to leeward from us 173NM to finish, they are a fast
boat that has won this race in the past. Eduardo Porter must be having fun with the young crew.

6) Destroyer (MEX)- in 2nd place with 155NM to finish, she is doing a great regatta and the Saenz family must be happy to finish their first long distance regatta.

7) Bolt (USA)- leading the race with 167NM to finish, she stands to
leeward from us and we know that this conditions will favour their
performance.

Due to the handicap format, we will only be able to tell you the final
results, once everyone finished. We will keep you posted.

In this last email before the finish, we wish to thank Alex Camet for his
commitment, responsibility and hard work for the team. He has been in
charge of Peligroso since 2009 and for this race he made sure everything was ready to be able to be as safe and competitive as possible. This work is not limited to the jobs directly on the boat but also crew, logistics, shifts and even meals. All on board are very thankful of his job.

Peligroso Racing Team was envisioned in 2010 with a 5 year program to participate in International Ocean Racing encouraging positive values and the participation of young mexican sailors to increase their exposure to competitive racing. So far we have had a major regatta every year with at least 15 young sailors onboard.

Transpac'15: Peligroso RT // DAY 7&8

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 08:36:00 +0000

Please excuse the wait. I am at a layover in LA on my way to Honolulu to greet my Dad, brother and the rest of the crew!
I wish I had more time to add more color to what's been going on but traveling with two kids is very time consuming. All I can tell you is that they are all doing fine but unfortunately they experienced a few setbacks that have affected their overall position... Here are the two most recent reports from Peligroso with all the detail:

Peligroso Report

TROPICAL WEATHER

This day has been a blast, the strong winds have kept us all busy, we had to lower the spinnaker 4 times to make adjustments and a staysail was even destroyed because we took it to the limit!

The tropical weather is feeling really strong now, even the flying fish are jumping out of water and onto our deck!

We had an encounter with 2 fishing boats at 900NM out from Hawaii, we communicated with them to ask for their course and we told them ours to avoid a collision.

HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

Getting Peligroso ready for Transpac requires at least 6 months of preparation, buying new sails, servicing engines, navigation and communication equipment, dissemble and re/assemble the boat doing full rigging maintenance as well as acquiring all the new safety equipment in order to be ready for the safety and qualification inspection.

Transpac '15: Peligroso RT // DAY 6

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 05:28:00 +0000

More than six full days out at sea! Can you imagine what that must feel like? We actually found an old video that will give you a pretty good sense of what life aboard Peligroso is like. You can download and watch the video using this link:

http://we.tl/2WnxTjUS5w

Enjoy!

The crew is getting closer and closer to the finish line. Our calculations tell us that there are about 560NM of deep blue between Peligroso and the finish line. Assuming that the boat will average a speed of 14kn for the rest of the regatta, we should be celebrating in just 40 more hours!

Schedule "Celebrate major life achievement of [INSERT NAME OF LOVED ONE(S)]" in your Sunday agenda. ETA will be around 11:30AM (Hawaii time); 14:30PM (PDT); and 16:30 (Mexico City time).

Sadly, no report from Peligroso yet, but as soon as it comes in, we'll blast it out! In the meantime, here's an image of where they are in the World and the path they've followed during the last six-and-a-half days. (Peligroso is the southmost blue boat)

Buenas noches!

Transpac '15: Peligroso RT // DAY 5 (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 13:27:00 +0000

The report (and photos) has arrived. Have a great day amigos...

Peligroso Day Four Report:

Fast Boat, Happy boat

As we approach the last third of the race, gradient winds and squalls are playing a key role and making us all work harder than before. Especially after moonset, squalls require full attention of the crew in order to keep boat-speed and reduce the possibility of a broach that wakes everybody up, reduces speed and can harm the boat.

The two crew members onboard that have been racing on Peligroso are Chris Doolittle and Jorge Murrieta. Chris is a passionate professional sailor with a great crewmanship attitude and has always great tales of fishing and motorbiking. Jorge comes from a family sailing background that has grown in him to win PanAm games and sail from offshore racing to dinghies and bouy racing, clearly one of the most competitive sailors onboard.

Federico and James are at the bow and they are getting wet as we write this. Fede replaced Andres Akle at the bow and comes from Puerto Vallarta, where his initial sailing background is windsurfing, but today he has taken on as tactician in important races such as the J70 Worlds. James has been sailing on Peligroso consistently on ocean races and in buoy racing in Acapulco. He did a tremendous job prior to the race to have all the rigging
ready for Transpac 2015 departure and is consistently supporting the team from cooking and fixing mechanical difficulties to bow activities during difficult maneuvers.

During the course of the race, we have encountered much debris that ranges from
small plastic pieces and fishing nets from fishing boats to larger pieces that could be debris from the Tsunami in Japan. Yesterday we had to back down and take out pieces that had been stuck to the bottom of the keel for a while. Although the maneuver is simple; drop the spinnaker, turn up to wind and hoist the spinnaker back. The maneuver unfortunately
takes valuable time and we need to be as quick as possible to be back on track.

Transpac '15: Peligroso RT // DAY 5

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 05:13:00 +0000

Great news to end the day, Peligroso is back in the game and soaring! Since last night they have regained third place in Division 2 and continue gaining distance on the two leaders: Bolt and Destroyer. In the last 24 hours their average velocity was 13kn and they covered a distance comparable to driving from Los Angeles to San Francisco (except Peligroso did it without burning any fossil fuels, 100% wind powered)!

Peligroso is now closer to Hawaii than to California. We can safely begin speculating their exact finish time. According to my interpretation of the technology available, Peligroso is likely to finish anytime between 7AM on Sunday 24th and 7AM on Monday 25th (DST local time). Care to take a guess? Whoever gets the closest will earn a special surprise...

Unfortunately, we have not yet received today's report with stories/photos of what's been happening onboard Peligroso. Hopefully it will arrive soon so we can share it with you. Don't worry, they are probably so focused on kicking Bolt and Destroyer's rear-ends that they forgot to write. Lets be glad that they have their priorities straight.

It's getting late here, so good night everyone!

Transpac'15: Peligroso RT // Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 05:02:00 +0000

My apologies to those still awake and waiting for this email. Peligroso is clearly at a more distant time zone because their reports are coming in quite late. But it is always worth the wait, no doubt.

Spoiler alert: you must read and see (photos attached) what Captain Peligroso did today!

Since last night, Peligroso has gotten 220NM closer to the finish line at an average speed of 9.2kn. They will very soon be halfway to Hawaii. Easier said than done.

Last night Peligroso was sailing faster than its competition and was situated in third place. Unfortunately, that was not the case during today. Even though Peligroso's velocity has not decreased, it appears that the winds have been blowing stronger in the northern part of the track where the current leaders are.

Peligroso currently holds the fifth position. However, the race remains tight with projected results varying all the time. In some instances, the difference between boats is just a matter of minutes, so it is still anyone's game.

Lets wait to see what happens tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed. We can all be sure that the team is one-hundred percent concentrated in making the correct decisions to regain leadership and executing each change of sails and each jibe like the pros that they are.

Peligroso Day Four Report:

Almost Midway

Days are warm and sunny with just a scatter of clouds. However, some squalls at night brought intense rain on-deck refreshing the nightshift a little bit. There is a promise of gradient winds and better weather ahead as we consolidate our route towards Honolulu.

Outside communication onboard race-boats is limited to IRIDIUM and Inmarsat Satellite services, the latter being much faster. We use Inmarsat to establish communication with the Race Committee and download GRIB weather files to compute our optimum course. This morning, the Inmarsat service did not work due to an administrative mistake by the provider. This had us anxious since we have a mandatory roll-call where we also get the most updated information of our competitors' position and speed. Luckily, after several hours the communication was reestablished and
our equipment is now working fine.

Andres Akle, one of our bowmen, was a member of our crew for this Transpac, however he had to cancel last minute. Although we miss him, somebody had to replace him as we needed to climb up the 25m (80ft) mast to check the shrouds. This time it was no other than Captain Peligroso who went up for the first (and probably last) time. His attitude clearly inspires our team.

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Good night Peligroso! Rock on!

Transpac'15: Peligroso RT // DAY 3

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 03:10:00 +0000

Good night amigos of Peligroso! In the past 24 hours, while most of us have done scarcely anything productive, our beloved sailors covered a total distance of approximately 230NM at an average speed of almost 10 knots. Conditions were generally tougher today but Peligroso managed to slip back into third place and is in the middle of a tete-a-tete for second place against Destroyer, a fellow Mexican boat.

The attached picture shows the paths (tracked via GPS) taken by the seven boats in Division 2, with Peligroso marked in blue, just north of the rhumb line (in red), which indicates a straight line between LA and Honolulu.

I encourage everyone to continue sending out great vibes and prayers. They still have a long way to go and they are counting on our moral support.

We have received a new report from the Peligrosos. Fortunately, this time, we have not been informed of any primary necessities. You may read safely, the enemas must have worked.

Peligroso Day Three Report:

A Cloudiest Day

This night and day were not as beautiful this time. Most of the day and night where covered with heavy clouds. Steering at night, while trying to read the instruments created a vertigo effect to some. This feeling is common and the shifts at the helm must be shortened. Although we could not see the stars, the fluorescence in the ocean was amazing, the waves generated this effect from the displacement of the boat illuminating the whole cast and the water surrounding of the boat.

Strategic navigation is clearly a passion amongst the sailors onboard Peligroso. Much of the time, the team is gathering information about the weather and positioning in relation to the other boats of our division in order to make the best decisions and have better chances of winning. The wind has been more consistent with the forecasts, therefore, the crew has clear instructions; do whatever it takes to sail as fast as possible! The general instruction is to constantly change sails, gybe when necessary, move the heavy stack of sails forward, aft, below deck and above once again and steering to the optimum boat speed, accurately.

In addition to the regular cleaning of the kitchen, Fede and Alex Berho took a role of boat housekeeping. This includes, amongst others, ventilation, indoor floor and surface cleaning. This is an important task to keep the crew with a positive attitude heading north of rhumb line.

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Transpac'15: Peligroso RT // DAY 2

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 02:23:00 +0000

Hello everyone. The latest results on Yellowbrick show Peligroso a bit behind on fourth place of Division 2, trailing (by little) Bolt, Destroyer and Zephyrus. They have already covered almost 600NM with a little over 1,800NM ahead. Peligroso has been speeding at an average of close to 11 knots, but have reported reaching 20 knots at some points.

Peligroso Day Two Report:

Racer´s Intuition vs. Computer Weather Forecast

The weakening chubascos Enrique and Dolores have disrupted most of the weather forecasts available, which suggested sailing very far north of the "rhumb line" (a direct path LA-Honolulu). Most ocean racing boats, like us, use sophisticated software in order to calculate the best possible route inputting variables such as each boat's performance characteristics and the weather forecast for the next couple of days. That and his own intuition has the sleepless Professor Rossi, Peligroso's navigator, banging his head constantly against the Navstation table. But rest assured, we have a very strong strategy that suggests great results (we just can't give it away)!

Most of the crew is slowly but surely getting used to the routine onboard Peligroso. The pattern is not that hard; sail four hours, rest four hours, eat occasionally, and repeat three times a day. James has taken the leadership in cooking warm breakfasts (aka burritos), and hot dinners, so far just pasta and chicken. Lorenzo and Clark, on the other hand, prepare the gourmet daily lunch sandwiches. Right after the cooking crew is done and we're all properly fed, the cleaning crew comes in with probably the toughest chore aboard Peligroso, leaving our kitchen clean.

On a side note (warning: you may want to skip this paragraph), you can stop worrying, bowel regularity among the crew members has been established, except for Jorge, Diego, and Mitre. In case there is no good news by tomorrow, the crew is considering an enema to be the end-game solution. (Don't blame the messenger you were properly warned)

Nights on the Pacific are very beautiful - the second night in gave us a growing moon with a couple of shooting stars, brisk wind and fast sailing. After moonset, steering becomes hard as the pitch-dark part of the night begins.

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For all the new people on the mailing list: Make sure to like PeligrosoRT on Facebook for pictures, news and updates. And read the PeligrosoRT Blog for previous posts.

If you are interested in following Peligroso's progress as live as possible (data has a six-hour delay), we recommend downloading the Yellowbrick app on your mobile or using the following links:

Yellowbrick

Transpac offical website

TRANSPAC'15: Peligroso RT // DAY 1

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 21:22:00 +0000

Yesterday marked the start of yet another Peligroso Transpac adventure. At 13:00 hours PST, the seven boats competing in Division 2, set sail from Long Beach, CA in a race that will take them across half of the Pacific to Honolulu, HI.

Before departing, Captain Lorenzo shared his dedicatory words and set a nostalgic and exciting mood. During the next few days, the crew will share their feelings, stories, and progress so that all of us waiting on land can be part of this magnificent adventure. Aboard Peligroso, the young team of courageous individuals is formed by: Lorenzo, Diego Berho , Sebastian Mitre, Fede Vivas, Alex Berho Jr , Alex Camet, Jorge Murrieta, Steve, Clark, James, and Chris.

To recap, Transpac is a downwind race from Rainbow Harbour, Long Beach, to Diamond's Head Lighthouse, Honolulu. The total straight-line distance of the race is 2,225NM or 4,112Km.

Peligroso Day One Report:

A tale of two Federicos (instead of one)

Two Federicos showed up at the dock on Saturday, ready to board Peligroso. We were only expecting one. Apparently, a mistaken email with an invitation and full instructions on how to participate in the Transpac 2015 was sent to Federico "Vega" instead of Federico "Vivas" who is part of the crew. A disappointed Fede Vega, had to stay on land after he learned that for safety reasons and food-stock we couldn't bring him along. The passionate young sailor from Merida demonstrated extraordinary commitment and earned his spot aboard Peligroso for future regattas.

Chubasco "Dolores" messes with TransPac racers
Before the start, the Captain of Peligroso welcomed everybody onboard and led the first briefing, which included safety procedures, competitive goals, all-hands-on-deck roles and watch schedules for the crew in the following days.

2015, was a very atypical beginning for the Transpac. Usually the race begins as a cold upwind course and you don't get to set the downwind kites (spinnakers) until after two or three days. In this case kites came out after only two or three hours! Speeding up the transit from shore winds to trade winds. Every weather station said that we would encounter really calm weather, however, we had just the opposite; after 2 hours of sailing with the jib, we had to change sails (plenty of times) and begin sailing with spinnakers and with the wind on our backs.

It is remarkable that the first day of the race, marked a new rainfall record for California. Considering the awful drought, we are happy to be wet!

The first night onboard included sail changes of most of the inventory and a nice comfortable temperature. There haven't been any setbacks. One of the sail changes was due to a very small hole in one of the spinnakers, which was immediately fixed.

After a wonderful night, we learned that PELIGROSO is in second place in our Division, but it is still too early to predict the final results.

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Make sure to like PeligrosoRT on Facebook for pictures, news and updates.

If you are interested in following Peligroso's progress as live as possible (data has a six-hour delay), we recommend downloading the Yellowbrick app on your mobile or using the following links:

Yellowbrick

PeligrosoRT Blog

Transpac offical website

TRANSPAC'15: Peligroso RT // A MESSAGE FROM THE CAPTAIN

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 16:37:00 +0000

In a few hours Peligroso will set sail. But before we do, I would like to to dedicate this regatta to a few special people in my life:

Cucu, my mother and the most loving person in the World. Cucu has trusted me, inspired me and taught me since I was born, that life is the most valuable gift that God has given us. Cucu turns 80 in October, and I want her to be the first on my list.

Paola, my younger sister who occupies a very important part in my life and heart as she turns 40 next August.

To my crew, in and out of the boat, I have had the privilege of being surrounded by amazing crews throughout life:

My Peligroso crew, wonderful sportsmen and women with such a passion for sailing that they would give their lives for others and work with full commitment at all times. Sailing with you, I have learned that life is the sum of adventures and wonderful moments that sometimes we forget to go for. I have seen your hard work preparing our boat often leaving your personal commitments aside, so I want to thank you by dedicating this regatta to all of you.

My Vesta crew, incredible partners with whom I have been able to share my professional life. Without the support of this team I would have never been able to start this sailing program. As our slogan says, you are all truly "Beyond a Real Estate Team".

My life crew, the friends that life has put on my path, who in different times have inspired me and through the different chapters have shared my ups and downs. To all my good friends from childhood to adulthood, this regatta is a tribute to you.

My support crew, silent contributors who have facilitated my life and procured the wellbeing of my family. Thank you for your invaluable help and prayers.

My wonderful family crew, I am so blessed to have you. I acknowledge, respect, and admire each one of you. The following days will probably be some of the best sailing in my life, and I will take the opportunity to dedicate them to you.

And specially to my immediate loving crew, my wife Ro. You are the best crew I could have ever dreamed of. Together, we have partnered through life and navigated through all kinds of storms, sharing life as the miracle it is. Your love and support have always been a part of me. Just as you have done in all my previous adventures, I know that you will be with me at the start line, praying for us during the race, and waiting at the finish line.

GENERATION NEXT
I dedicated the 2013 Transpac to Emma our first and only grandchild at that time. Emma is now 2, and wakes us up every morning with new experiences. Since 2013, God has blessed us with three new grandchildren, Loren, an energetic, sporty creature just 1.5 years old, Carlota a funny, spontaneous and sweet baby girl who recently took her first steps, and Nina, the smiliest redhead, just 6 months old. In addition, we recently learned that there are two more little sailors on the way, a boy (maybe Jorge) and a girl (maybe Constanza). The 2013 Transpac will be particularly special because for the first time, the entire family will be at the finish line in Hawaii.

From the very deepest part of my heart, this regatta is for you. You are the future and our legacy. I know that one day soon, we will all be sailing together.

Thank you all, for being part of my life! Transpac 2015 here we go........

-Lorenzo Berho

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // FULFILLMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 10:32:00 +0000

Peligroso has crossed the finish line!!

Peligroso stopped the clock at approximately 08 days, 06 hours, 30 minutes. We will have to wait until tomorrow for the corrected time and to know the official results of the race, but at this point that is quite secondary, it is now time for epic celebration!

Congrats to Lorenzo, Yon, Diego, Danel, Yon Jr., Miguel, Eduardo, Steven, Brian, Gregg, Thomas, John, and James! We hope that you realize the immensity of your accomplishment and wish we were there at the docks to welcome you back to land and share with you this well earned moment of pride and fulfillment!

Party hard tonight, and enjoy doing absolutely nothing, tomorrow in Hawaii. Aloha!

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Here are few thoughts from Lorenzo Berho, "Captain Peligroso" as he was about to finish his third Transpac race earlier today:

"I would like to share that during this great adventure, there are many life lessons to be learned. Among these, the insignificance of man in proportion to the Universe, the value of coexisting with a great team in a space that is reduced in size yet big in potential, the importance of packing light, using only what is strictly necessary, not wasting any resources, having respect for each member of the crew and admire them for what they are, sharing a goal and a common vision, that values are the foundation of a fantastic crew, and being thankful everyday for being alive and healthy.

I want to thank everyone that has been supporting us with their emails, time, and prayers. I also want to thank our very dear land crew, who shape and inspire us, and help communicate this great experience with our friends. Thanks to our sponsors, for aligning their objectives with ours, thanks to our yacht club, "Marina Izar" it has been our pleasure to represent you for the second time in this important, historic, and traditional regatta, with six members on board. To our technicians, mechanics, and suppliers of equipment, sails, food, etc. Thanks for taking care of each little logistical detail. Thanks to our beloved boat PELIGROSO, for protecting and taking us, once again, safely across an ocean. Thanks to my family for allowing me to wake up every morning knowing that I am surrounded by the love of each one of them. I have to thank my crew for giving their best at each nautical mile along the way, and for their commitment at all times. Special thanks to Diego for his contagious passion for life, and for teaching me something, in each new project. And last but not least, thanks to Emma and my future grandchildren to whom I dedicated this regatta. Thanks for being a new source of inspiration and for making me so happy. May God bless us with plenty of life so that we can navigate across many seas together."

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // FRUSTRATION

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 00:52:00 +0000

Peligroso is now less than 100NM from Hawaii and can begin to see land in the distance. The last hours have been very frustrating as the wind has not cooperated. Last night, they had a loose spinnaker and this morning a shackle that holds the spinnaker slipped off and had to be replaced. Sailing without instruments makes these maneuvers a lot harder. The team is doing everything in their power to make it to the top 3 positions in division 1, however under the current conditions it looks complicated. Even though it's been a tough finish, the crew is determined and will work relentlessly until the very end.

With the information available, it looks like Peligroso will have a late Sunday night arrival in Honolulu (local time), which will work out perfectly for the all-night-long celebrations! We will keep you posted!

Apology. It looks like yesterday's images were sent out wrong, please find them attached hereto.

"I've never actually lost a regatta, it's just that sometimes I happen to run out of time"

- Lorenzo Berho, captain Peligroso

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // ANXIETY

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 03:28:00 +0000

A full week of navigation has gone by. As the excitement of seeing land for the first time builds up, so does the anxiety of not being there yet. By now the crew is really missing their loved ones, but mostly, a bed that is not moving, a long hot shower, and a big juicy steak!

Peligroso is sailing fast and focused. The official results as of this morning have Peligroso standing in fourth place, and the difference with the second place is less than 40 minutes. By surfing the big waves, Peligroso has been advancing even faster. For those constrained inside the cockpit, the feeling is similar to being locked inside a speeding bobsled. But if this continues, with some extra luck, Peligroso could regain more positions and make it back to the podium as it did in 2011. There is one setback though, the instruments that measure true and apparent wind have stopped working. This is definitely not ideal but it is also not worrisome. The crew still has a simple speedometer and a traditional compass, both of which are clearly more reliable than modern technologies. Our sailors will just need to be extra careful for the last miles, especially tonight.

In the last hours Peligroso covered a remarkable distance of close to 350NM at an average speed of 14.2kn. They are about 300NM miles from completing the 2,225NM voyage. The bigger and faster boats from Division 1 have begun to arrive in Hawaii. With friends and family already in Honolulu, everything is ready for Peligroso's welcoming party! I predict that their arrival time will be at 12:00PM local time. Add three hours if you are in LA and five if you are in Mexico City. Or just google it if you are anywhere else.

Last night, Steve sent us some great photos from the anxious and courageous crew. Hope you will enjoy them.

"The sooner we learn to be jointly responsible, the easier the sailing will be."
- Ella Maillart, Swiss sailing olympian, adventurer, travel writer, and photographer.

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // PERSEVERANCE

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 02:06:00 +0000

Peligroso spent many hours diligently looking for the famous, yet erratic trade winds. Since last night's email, the wind blew modestly at an average of 11kn while Peligroso headed south in search for stronger impulse. As life has often taught us, good things come to those who persevere - after the long search, our sailors have finally found the 20kn+ winds they had been anxiously looking for!

This morning, Peligroso took-off and began to soar. After a strategic gybe to point straight to the finish line, the boat was reached by two squalls. Squalls are localized rain showers that pop up and create stronger wind in front of them. Steering Peligroso with the wind blowing that strong, while riding enormous waves allows the skipper to feel the power of nature and connect with Earth in an almost romantic way. The experience of taming these wild forces using nothing but the steering wheel is exhilarating and makes the captain and crew forget whatever troubles and hazards were required to get there. At such speeds, everything and everyone on board gets soaked. But no one minds, sailing under these conditions is exactly what the Peligrosos had been waiting for. From here on, it is nothing but an exciting rush to Diamond's Head and the islanders' welcoming Mai Tai's.

Peligroso still has a little more than 600NM to go. According to my rough estimates, they should be stopping the clock in about 42 hours, or on Sunday at about 3PM MEX / 1PM LA / 10AM HNL. Tonight, the same crescent moon that we see outside our windows will be watching over our sailors as they prepare for the final approach. In the next hours, she will continue growing until it reaches its full potential. Peligroso will be doing the same until she crosses the ever-approaching finish line.

"There are many lessons in sailing. Not just about competition, but the importance of teamwork, good communication, reliance in self, trust in others, and what the sea teaches us all about patience, perseverance, and just plain luck."

-Roy E. Disney, American businessman, avid sailor, and recurrent Transpac participant

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // ELATION

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 06:31:00 +0000

The Transpac Race would not be an extraordinary life experience if it wasn't also fun. Since my last email the crew had quite a blast. It all started with a literally "cleansing" ritual. The captain ordered everyone to take a much needed bath before leading them in meditation. I am not kidding, the crew took a few minutes to celebrate being at one of Earth's most distant points to shore, an achievement that less than ten thousand people in history can add to their resume. The Peligrosos collectively thanked God for their lives, their good health, and their loved ones far across the Pacific, in preparation for the second half of the race.

Once clean (inside and out), the crew got a kick out of showing off their awesome uniforms and gear sponsored by Edox, during a professional photo shoot. To end the halfway celebrations, Brian and Diego prepared dinner for everyone - a delicious ground beef spaghetti "al dente" spiced with Cholula sauce. Apparently Cholula is the preferred ingredient onboard - that morning's Burritos and afternoon's sandwiches were also prepared "a la Cholula". Legal disclosure: Cholula sauce is not (yet) an official sponsor of Peligroso.

That night turned out to be the windiest yet, with wind speeds reaching 20kn. The night shift was also surprised by thousands of playful flying fish. Two of them actually tried to hitch a ride to Hawaii. The first one fell on top of Yon and bounced back into the water. The second, hit James on the neck making everyone burst out in laughter. As you can tell, the crew is extremely happy.

As for the race, weather-wise the days have finally turned warm and sunny. According to official results, our sailors are on sixth place. However, the race is quite tight with a difference of only 6 hours (corrected for handicap) between Peligroso and the second place. If the strategy is right, the next days should boost Peligroso into the top spots. Since my last email, the boat advanced about 340NM at an average speed of 10kn. The distance to Diamond's Head is currently less than 830NM and their last recorded speed was 12.6kn.

The friendly match race with Beecom continued for a second consecutive day. That particular regatta was so much fun that before gybing away from each other, both captains, as a sign of sportsmanship, agreed to exchange their most valuable treasures at the finish line: Peligroso's Tequila for Beecom's Sake. Cheers guys!

In other news, the first boat to cross the finish line is expected at any moment. Trition Lending Club, a beautiful multihull trimaran, has averaged a speed of more than 17kn throughout the course and is looking to break the current Transpac record of 5 days, 14 hours, 36 minutes, 20 seconds. It looks hard, but not impossible. We will soon find out.

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came"
- John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // ENDURANCE

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 20:29:00 +0000

Plenty of news for all of you comfortably on land. Peligroso enjoyed a fantastic day yesterday. During the last 16 hours, the boat sped at an average of 9.5 kn and covered 152NM. Our sailors are now closer to Hawaii than to mainland USA. Official results from this morning show they moved up one spot in the leader-board and are now in fourth place.

Despite being right in the middle of the ocean, the crew is not alone anymore. The loneliest pelican in the World, living in a piece of tsunami debris, was delighted to see them and has been circling around Peligroso from above; also a friendly school of dolphins has been doing the same from underneath. Wildlife aside, if you have been tracking Peligroso online you may have noticed a boat fairly close to them. That is Beecom, a Japanese boat with an all Volvo-Race crew. Although Beecom competes in a different division, the two boats have engaged in a tête-à-tête match race for almost a complete day.

According to captain Peligroso, the wind has been blowing between 10 and 15kn, but its angle has been changing to the north. Peligroso had to decide whether or not to gybe south to stay the course, and after long analysis, they did. At the same time Beecom gybed south as well, providing relief to the navigator - two boats cannot make the same wrong decision at the same time (lets hope). Going forward, the need to gybe will depend on changes in the wind's angle, but with some luck they could maintain the last gybe for 900NM until they get closer to Molokai.

After four complete days at sea, the race is still far from over. The excitement continues, but as the hours go by, fatigue starts to kick-in. The pressure to remain focused with limited sleep reminds the crew that in the Transpac, endurance is the name of the game.

Today's minor setbacks began with a 12-foot line ("rope" if you are new to sailing) getting stuck on the keel. The crew was able to cut the line using a kelp-cutter and release it from the keel without taking down the sails, just using the main to back-up a little in reverse. Then, something really bad happened. Who doesn't love the smell of popcorn right? That was the noble intention of Eduardo "el destroyer", except he forgot that onboard Peligroso everything is way more powerful, even the microwave oven. After cooking them for four minutes, the smell of (scorched) popcorn has strongly impregnated the cockpit.

"It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean."

-John Locke, English philospher

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // AWARENESS

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 04:11:00 +0000

Another 24 hours of sailing have elapsed. The crew has now accumulated close to 80 hours of constant sailing. According to Yellowbrick, six hours ago, Peligroso was 1,378NM from the finish line which means they covered around 295NM since my last email at an average speed of 11.8kn. At some point tomorrow afternoon, Peligroso will reach the point of no return and be halfway to Diamond's Head.

Most boats, including Peligroso, have been reporting debris lying in the ocean from the tsunami that occurred two years ago in Japan. A telephone pole, wooden blocks, plywood, and logs are just a few examples. Peligroso will need to be aware during the days and lucky during the nights as this represents a real hazard for all the boats out there.

Looking at the unofficial standings, Peligroso is currently at the sixth position in Division 1. At first glance, that is not the most soothing news, but we must trust that the chosen strategy will yield great results in the coming days, plus it is important to consider that the race is very tight and the leader-board positions are changing all the time.

Unfortunately for purposes of these email accounts, we have not received news from the crew since yesterday. What I can tell you is that the 2011 Peligrosos have been missing Chris Doolittle a lot. Apparently he used to voluntarily cook for everyone and this year there is no such kind-hearted volunteer onboard. This year, when it comes to eating, the rule is: help yourself. Lets hope they won't starve.

I apologise for not having more stories to share, but trust that the attached illustration of Peligroso's off-shifts will compensate.

"If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable:"

- Seneca, Roman philosopher, statesman, and dramatist.

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // MOTIVATION

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 03:38:00 +0000

Just minutes ago, we received the first email communication from the captain. In case you are tired and wish to stop reading now, they are all OK.

The Peligrosos were super motivated yesterday morning when they received the official roll call and found out they were leading the fleet. After following the northern route for almost one full day at an optimal pressure of 1020MB, Peligroso changed course and headed the furthest south compared to its fleet. This will imply extra distance in exchange for hopefully stronger winds in the next two days. This will also temporarily cost Peligroso a few positions in the leader-board. According to the live tracking application, six hours ago, Peligroso was 1,673NM away from the finish line, which means they have already covered more than one fourth of the total distance at an average speed of 11.3kn. However, the last recorded speed was much faster than that: 14kn.

As expected, this year's regatta would not be complete without the clogging of the only toilet. I guess it's true what they say, people don't change! Fortunately the little incident was quickly resolved with a Coke and the story of our sailors will not end up being a remake of "Twelve Angry Men". Onboard, everyone is staying healthy and strong with one minor exception - the Captain had a mild case of Moctezuma's revenge, but is now better. The good news is there is one suspect less for the clogging incident trial.

In other exciting events, today, one of the jib's battens was about to fall off, but luckily Brian was able to climb the mast and fix it. In terms of entertainment, during shifts off, the crew tries to relax watching Diego's TV series: Suits and Californication. Unfortunately for some, it is impossible to relax when Yon is in the next bunk bed snoring like a dinosaur. I am sure Eliane (his wife) is catching up on her sleep this week.

Some background on the crew. This year's demographics are very similar to those of California: 46% white American and 54% Mexican. The thirteen sailors onboard bring a good mix of youth, experience, energy, and wisdom. The average age is close to 39 years with a wide range; the youngest sailor is Danel (19) and the most experienced (to be politically correct) is the navigator, Steven "il Professore" Rossi (63). Peligroso has always been envisioned as a boat that combines high performance competition and family values. This year, there are two families of seasoned sailors on board: Captain Berho, and his youngest son Diego; and Yon Belausteguigoitia with two of his kids, Yon and Danel. The rest of the crew may have boarded Peligroso as lone sailors, but they will have gained a dozen new brothers by the time they reach the Molokai Channel.

Finally for today, unrelated to Peligroso, one of two catamarans competing in Division 0 was dismasted while sailing at 16kn with an A4 spinnaker. Fortunately, everyone onboard is fine and they are now motoring back to Los Angeles. So, if you thought I was exaggerating before, when I said the winds along the Transpac were forceful, think again.

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."

―André Guide, French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1947

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // ACQUAINTANCE

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 01:39:00 +0000

Peligroso started the first day of the race inspired. Results as of this morning have them in first place of Division 1! Official results are announced once a day, early in the morning and you can check them using this link.

So far, we have not been able to talk to anyone onboard, but needn't worry we have been obsessively tracking them online and they are doing great. Our guess is that they are probably too focused to call. The first two days of the Transpac present the roughest conditions - upwind sailing translates to a heeled boat, frequent tacking, cool weather, and the worst is, most people get wet (actually everyone except for the Captain).

At this point, Peligroso has lost sight of land and most likely of other boats as well. Around them there is nothing but 360º of blue (ocean and skies). During the first 24 hours of competition Peligroso advanced 220NM at an average speed of 9.4 knots (or nautical miles per hour). The crew is now starting to get acquainted with the boat, their tasks, and their shifts. I'm not sure that they have learned each other's names though. But there will be plenty of time for that later, when the downwind days begin and everyone is more relaxed.

Attached are some great pictures from the crew at the start of the race. Thanks Paulina for sharing them.

To reach a port we must set sail –

Sail, not tie at anchor
Sail, not drift."

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // ADRENALINE

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 04:38:00 +0000

Today was a warm and memorable day in LA. At exactly 13:00 hours PST, Long Beach witnessed the exciting departure of the seven boats competing in Division 1. Among them, the sexiest as always was Peligroso. Dressed in matching blue and white outfits sponsored by Edox Swiss Watches, the crew could not hide the flood of adrenaline and anticipation for the days to come. The start of the Transpac combines the nostalgia of saying goodbye with the excitement of the challenge in a way that is too hard to describe with words. Feel it for yourselves by watching the video on this link. Lorenzo's contagious energy spread among the crew and as they waved goodbye, and switched to racing mode, one could only get a feeling of accomplishment.

For those of us that do not know (or have forgotten) what the Transpac is, it is essentially a downwind race from Rainbow Harbour, Long Beach, to Diamond's Head Lighthouse, Honolulu. The total straight-line distance of the race is 2,225NM or 4,112Km. Nevertheless, the best route is rarely a straight line, instead most boats start by sailing south to avoid a region of high pressure and light winds. Then, after a couple days of sailing against the wind, the boats find the warm trade winds and follow them west. Spinnakers come up, shirts come off, and sailors enjoy a faster and more pleasant ride the rest of the way. In this year's race a total of 58 boats will compete across eight different divisions (determined by the size of the boats). This will be Captain Lorenzo's third Transpac, and his second aboard Peligroso. Bon Voyage!

We will keep everyone informed as more news arrive. In the meantime, if you wish to follow Peligroso in real time, we recommend downloading the Yellowbrick app on your mobile or using the following links:

Yellowbrick

PeligrosoRT on Facebook

PeligrosoRT Blog

Transpac offical website

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

Transpac'13: Peligroso RT // INSPIRATION.

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 17:50:00 +0000

It is only a few hours before Peligroso sets sail, once again, from Long Beach, California and into the vast Pacific Ocean in search for a tiny set of faraway islands well-known as Hawaii.

The voyage itself deserves absolute appreciation. The distance to be covered is approximately ten percent of the Earth's Equator. The tides are mighty and the winds are forceful. The views are endless and the sunsets are only matched by the sunrises. Albeit, this adventure is much more than the long distance, the rough conditions and the overwhelming beauty of nature, it is most importantly a challenging race against the best sailors and the most sophisticated boats in the World. Two years ago, Peligroso finished second place in Division 1, but this time, Peligroso is stronger and better than ever, with only one goal in mind: victory!

If asked what they are currently doing, the crew might say they are physically and mentally preparing for the adventure of a lifetime. What they do not know is that they have actually been preparing for this race their entire lives. As they study the wind forecast and weather conditions, walk along the piers of Long Beach, and prepare their good-bye's, they will be reminiscing on life experiences and finding inspiration in the valuable lessons learned in trust, teamwork, focus, intelligence, and boldness. Such inspiration will be crucial to the success of Peligroso in this year's Transpac Race.

Lets all take a moment to acknowledge the bravery of our sailors about to cross the ocean and pray for their well-being. Lorenzo, Yon, Diego, Danel, Yon Jr., Miguel, Eduardo, Steven, Brian, Gregg, Thomas, John, and James; may God keep you safe, sane, focused, strong, positive, and also entertained for the next eight days. We cannot wait to see your unshaved grins, and exhausted selves in Honolulu.

"Borders I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people."
-Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian explorer who crossed the Pacific onboard the Kon-Tiki in 1947

Some pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 17:48:00 +0000

J/24- For Sale/ Fast Track-GQ-Peligroso

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:14:00 +0000

Siempre en los mejores lugares incluyendo nacionales e internacionales
Ubicación: Valle de Bravo
Contacto: Diego Berho - dberho@me.com

Número de Vela: 4691
Incluye tráiler
Motor Fuera de borda 5 hp Mercury (2007)
Velas:

2 Mayores North Sails West Coast
2 Genovesas North Sails West Coast
2 Spinnakers North Sails
1 Foque (north sails)

Spars:

Mástil Nuevo 2008
Tangón Hall Spars Fibra de Carbono

Poleas y winches completos Harken listo para competir
Running Rigging/Escotas: Samson y similares/ Race ready
Standing Rigging/Drisas: Samson y similares/Ultra high performance Light
Ancla con linea
Cuerdas de Amarre

noreply@blogger.com (Peligroso Racing Team) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:46:00 +0000