#BestOf2023: Iron sharpens iron

For the fourth time in program history, Cal Maritime became the only college team to compete against a field comprised of the world's top professional teams when it participated in the 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race — a 2,225-mile adventure that starts in Southern California and ends in Honolulu.

As was the case in previous races, a group of cadet-athletes showed firsthand why Cal Maritime is one of the top college sailing programs in the nation, as you can read and watch below in this edition of the #BestOf2023.

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T/S Cal Maritime crew members crossed the finish line at Diamond Head buoy aboard an Andrews 77, a 77-foot boat used in the last two Transpac races and graciously reintroduced to the program during the early portion of the 2022-23 academic year through the California Maritime Academy Foundation Yacht Donation Program.

Founded in 1972 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CMAF supported California State University Maritime Academy throughout the last 50-plus years with charitable donations of sail and motor yachts, both for use and sale.

Yachts are accepted for the immediate use of the Cal Maritime sailing team and/or the instructional programs; vessels are also available to the public on a lease with option to purchase program.

Monthly lease income goes directly to the Foundation, as does the revenue when yachts are sold. Funds generated by this yacht donation program also underwrite a portion of the cadets' offshore sailing program, scholarships, and other campus needs.

Click for Additional Information Regarding the California Maritime Academy Foundation Yacht Donation Program

HONOLULU — Cal Maritime added another chapter to its storied sailing history when it arrived in Honolulu on July 10, nine days after taking off from San Pedro, California, as the only college team competing against the world's elite professional crews in the 2023 Transpacific Yacht Race.

In their fourth appearance in this world-renowned race, the Keelhaulers completed their journey in nine days, three hours, 44 minutes and 22 seconds.

A mix of current cadet-athletes, coaches and program alums represented CSUM in this biannual race and completed this 2,225-mile journey from Southern California to Hawai'i: Kerry Deaver (head coach), Mike Dybvik (assistant coach), Jacob Fisker-Anderson (program alum), Cyrus Khaleeli (Jr.), Ben Louttit (Fr.), Clay Myers (So.), captain Brock Paquin (Sr.), Spencer Powley (Sr.), Max Roth (Jr.), Cooper Smith (Jr.), Emi Stephanoff (program alum) and Nolan Van Dine (program alum).

"I can't say enough about how impressed I am with this group," said Deaver, who is also on the Board and serves as the Transpacific Yacht Club's chief safety inspector. "What they lacked in previous experience. they more than made up for it with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Within days, they were developing a competency in all positions on the boat, and if they generated ideas that I did not agree with, they respected my decisions without reservation and learned from this as well."

Shortly after arriving to the islands, crew members celebrated with family and friends of the program at Waikiki Yacht Club — a familiar location for one cadet-athlete who grew up in Honolulu and represented the WYC before continuing his racing career in Vallejo.

Said Roth, "I watched boats cross the finish and fantasized about the dream of doing Transpac myself. Diamond Head buoy became my training ground when I was racing lasers, I'm extremely excited to cross the finish line in my home waters."

In addition to the race itself, Cal Maritime faced a couple of unique challenges prior to its July 1 start that added additional layers to the crew's Transpac experience.

During CSUM's final days of training in Southern California, months of hard work, sacrifice and dedication were nearly erased when thieves stole a trailer that housed the team's valuable equipment, including its race-specific sails.

With their first Transpac appearance since 2019 in jeopardy, the sailing community rallied around the Keelhaulers by spreading word of this unforeseen situation around the world.

With help from George Hershman's Reichel/Pugh 63 GoodEnergy, Doug McCean, Alan Andrews and Reichel/Pugh office, a new set of sails that closely matched the Andrew 77's specifications were prepared for delivery to Cal Maritime's boat less than 48 hours after the team's original sails and equipment disappeared.

"We are stunned our community came together and within 48 hours provided us with this donation of sails," said Deaver. "I was in Alaska without phone contact … but monitored and helped through email and WhatsApp. The turnout and level of support was tremendous and allowed us to focus on other preparations we need to race to Hawai'i."

Unlike everyone else that comprised the 2023 Transpac field, numerous members of Cal Maritime's crew arrived in Southern California after making port in Oregon mere days before the start of the race, following the completion of the University's training cruise requirements aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear.

The TSGB is the primary training platform where CSUM cadets apply technological skills introduced in the classroom, leadership skills acquired from their work assignments and responsibilities with the Corps of Cadets in a real world setting. Each summer, cadets in their first and third years depart with licensed faculty officers for two months during this annual period at sea.

Cadets working toward a license can feel the responsibility of command, demonstrate their effectiveness as leaders, and refine their technical skills and leadership styles.

All students (regardless of status in CSUM's license programs) interact with other cultures, experience connections to the larger world and develop an understanding of how their selected vocations will function in the context of an international setting.

(Left): T/S Cal Maritime crew photo shot on July 1 in San Pedro, Calfornia before competition began...
(Right) ... and in Honolulu on Ju;y 10 shortly after the team crossed the finish line

 (L + R): A sizable contingent of family and friends of the program traveled to Honolulu to celebrate the arrival of the T/S Cal Maritime
(Photos courtesy of David C. Livingston)

 (L): Of all the partivipating teams, Transpac officials chose to feature Cal Maritime for the 2023 program's cover
(R): Representing #KeelhaulerPride in person while waiting for Cal Maritime to cross the finish line in Hawai'i

The 2023 Transpac marks Cal Maritime's fourth appearance in this biannual 2,225-mile race from San Pedro, California, to Honolulu

(L): Exterior shot of Cal Maritime's Andrews 77, the vessel that took Cal Maritime from Southern California to Honolulu
(R): Crew members will work on deck above and sleep in shifts, throughout the race, in these fold-out beds

 (L): Crew members need to pack all food and drinks consumed throughout the race; a cooking area is located in the left-hand side of this image
(R): Additional view of the crew's kitchen and sleeping area (same beds featured above, different angle)

(L): This area contains the vessel's navigation equipment
(R): On a racing boat 77 feet in length and just over five feet high throughout the living and working quarters, space is tight and items brought aboard
are strategically selected since everything contributes to the boat's overall race weight.