Schooner Martha in the 2015 Transpac Race

Here is a little video of the 1907 (yes, she’s 108 years old) schooner MARTHA in the 2015 TransPac Race. She was the oldest boat in the race (perhaps ever over the long history of the TransPac) with the youngest crew member Mary D’Arcy (12). She was also one of only two wooden boats (I believe) and the only schooner.

Due to high and dangerous surf along that side of the island, MARTHA was actually the last boat allowed into the yacht harbor until the next day. MARTHA finished down in the standings (they sailed more conservatively than other boats — she has a long way to get home, and a “day job”) but my God, look at her go!

If you want more on her history (and yes, she’s been rebuilt, but with a lot of the original materials and hardware remaining) you can check out her website www.schoonermartha.org.

Next she’ll be sailing back to the PNW, attending the Victoria Classics Show in British Columbia, then back to Port Townsend (her home port) for their classic boat show, the Wooden Boat Festival. Then she will go back to her “day job” which is sail training.

You can leave a comment or question for OCH and members below. Here are the comments so far…

9 Responses So Far to “Schooner Martha in the 2015 Transpac Race”

steve johnson says:

So Good !! Beautifully filmed.. full of sprite ! Thank you !

Edwin Spears says:

Loved it! Will see her at the WBF- PT

Ginny Jones says:

I’d forgotten how much fun this movie is, or how the crew enjoyed the sail to Hawaii. I’d also forgotten how different the water looks closer to the Equator in the Pacific rather than up in the Pacific North West where MARTHA normally sails!

William Hammond says:

Makes the sea legs wobble with anticipation!! Great Voyage!! Great People!! Great opportunity!! Thanks for making us all enviable!! Hope to get out from the Great Lakes to Port Townsend one of these days!!