Choy Sets Elapsed-Time Sailing Record to Honolulu in Aikane X-5

Rudy Choy of Honolulu set an elapsed-time sailing record from Los Angeles to Honolulu Thursday in his 65-foot catamaran Aikane X-5.

The record of 6 days 22 hours 41 minutes 12 seconds was recorded when Aikane crossed the finish line off Diamond Head at 8:41:12 a.m. Honolulu time Thursday. The Long Beach Yacht Club gave Aikane a start at 1 p.m. (PDT) Aug. 17.

Aikane was racing against the clock in Choy’s fourth assault on the record of 7 days 7 hours 30 minutes, set by the 60-foot catamaran Double Bullet, sailed by Bob Hanel of Los Angeles in 1983.

Aikane was first to finish in the Newport-to-Ensenada race in 1988, but failed to break Double Bullet’s elapsed time of 10 hours 35 minutes.

It was Aikane’s fourth attempt in the last two years to set a new L.A.-to-Honolulu record. In the first attempt, she pulled the mainsail track out of the mast; the second time lost the headboard out of the mainsail, and the third lost the starboard chainplate that fastens the mast shrouds to the deck.

Members of Choy’s crew were his son, Barry; Gary Craft, Honolulu; John Conser, Honolulu; Mike Elias, Long Beach; Roy Seaman, Dana Point, and Neil Forn, Honolulu.