Sailing

Leaders in the 36th biennial Transpac race to Hawaii found the northwesterly tradewinds a day or two earlier than usual and were on an early pace to beat the record of 8 days 11 hours 1 minute and 45 seconds set by Merlin in 1979.

Bob McNulty’s Santa Cruz 70 Chance, the overall leader, was averaging 11.7 knots and was among three boats that hedged the usual strategy of sailing far south of the direct line to pick up the trades. They stayed north of their fleets and were leading by handicap time Monday.