5/6 - Race Finishes! Rage finished the race Sunday evening, see below for finish standings.

Tahiti Finish Standings, 5/7

Click here for Daily Standings Report 5/6

Click here for Daily Standings Report 5/5

Beau Geste finishing the 2012 Tahiti race (click to view larger image)

After a few days of very light winds and slow sailing, Beau Geste got the bone back in her teeth and finished the Tahiti race in style. They finished in 14 days, 5 hours, 9 minutes, 22 seconds.

There was a fine dock welcome for Beau Geste yesterday, with the Transpacific Yacht Club Commodore Dave Cort and his wife Carol Armitage waiting to finish Beau Geste, along with Stephanie and others of the YCT. The crew was welcomed with some tasty Tuamotu white wine and cold Hinanos with snacks on the dock when they arrived. One bit of quirky bad luck; there was no hard liquor or cocktails on the island at arrival time because of the election (France)!

Beau Geste finished “on time” yesterday meaning during the daylight hours. This allowed the first Tahiti Race finish pictures ever taken; all previous finishes had been in the dark.  Link below from a news show has the finish at the very end with other exciting Tahiti events.

http://www.tntvreplay.com/Le-journal-du-vendredi-4-mai-2012_v2645.html (in French)

TPYC Commodore Cort (center) awarded "Line Honours" trophy to skipper Karl Kwok.(left) There was a good crowd on the dock last night.  Beau Geste was wedged in between two cruise ships on the downtown quai in Papeete; the feeling was that Beau Geste got a better show than the cruise ship passengers. Cruise ship passengers kept strolling through the welcome party listening to music, watching dancers. Crew was dancing too.

Congratulation to Beau Geste, skipper Karl Kwok, and her entire crew.

Meanwhile, “Rage” continues in to Papeete, and if she can keep in the winds and maintain boat speed, is currently projected to arrive on Sunday night. She maintained over 10 knots of boat in speed in her last 24 hour run, and her crew is chasing the clock in hopes of “correcting out” over Beau Geste in final corrected elapsed time.

"Big Mike" Howard was given a last minute opportunity to sail to Tahiti on Beau Geste.  He reports as the boat approaches the Equator and the Kingdom of Neptune.

With 300 miles to go to the equator there are seven Pollywogs who are nervous aboard the good Yacht Beau Geste.  Not knowing what the King of all the Ocean has in store for them and the grievous sins they have committed among his realm over the past 8 days out here on the Pacific.  We who have paid the dear price crossing over the spot where he dwells along the Equator know how mighty and vindictive he can be along with his Queen Cod Fish.
There is a bit of trepidation among the Pollywogs wondering what mood the mighty King of the Sea will be in.

While we continue to venture toward his Empire at 20 knots all is well here on board.  Having done a few miles on the ocean as well as Transpacs, I must admit this sprint to Tahiti is like no other sailing. 1900 miles down wind on port jibe in 20 -25 knots of trade winds with the bow pointing toward the Southern Cross standing out brilliantly in the Southern Sky.  The temperature outside is a pleasant but warm shirt sleeve condition.  With the exception of the occasional flying fish hitting you at night in the side of the head, nothing could compare.  It's a shame more of us who have sailed to Hawaii have not taken this opportunity provided by Transpac Yacht Club to visit another Paradise. 
Having just returned from the Cabo Race and bringing Pendragon 6 back to Marina Del Rey I arrived home to an email from Gavin Brady asking of my availability.  My first reaction being I cannot.  My second packing my sea bag and jumping at the opportunity.  Thank you Gavin and Karl Kwok for providing me with this wonderful opportunity to share this adventure with the Beau Geste Racing Team.  A wonderful group of sailors not to mention human beings.  And thank you Erin for being such a great understanding mate.

For those of you following the race get up from your computer and start planning for the next edition of the Transpac Tahiti race.  You will not regret it for a second. I must admit I have not.

Beau Geste, all I can say is one awesome yacht.  Having crossed three oceans in three years, North Atlantic, South Atlantic and now North to South Pacific on the way to New Zealand is a tribute to Karl Kwok, Gavin Brady and team Beau Geste.  An accomplishment not shared by many yachts.  Hopefully we will see the team back for another Transpac sooner than later

Time for Happy Hour on the aft deck.  Last time for the seven Pollywogs before they enter the lair of King Neptune.

Fair Winds to all.  G'day to our mates on Rage.  We here on Beau Geste wish you all the best.  Great you have taken on the challenge. Thank you Transpac Yacht Club.

Big Mikey Howard, Out.