The entry of WIZARD brings another first-to-finish contender to the race, with a proven boat (winner of the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race as Franck Cammas’s Groupama 4), proven team (winners of the 2019 Transatlantic and Rolex Fastnet Races), and determined drive to set a new monohull course record.
Peter Askew and his brother David have been long-term racers, both offshore and inshore, on a wide variety of boat types over the years. Their last Pacific race was winning the first-to-finish Barn Door Trophy in the 2015 LA-Honolulu Transpac on their last WIZARD, a Reichel/Pugh 74.
“I like ocean racing, and the 600-mile races [eg, Fastnet, Newport-Bermuda, Middle Sea Race, Caribbean 600, etc] are great, but a race like the Transpac Tahiti is a lifetime opportunity to stretch out on a true oceanic race,” said Askew. “As an amateur, there are few opportunities where I can race across the equator like the pros do on the Volvo Ocean race, Transat Jacques Vabre or others.
“And to have a rival like Pyewacket will be great to push us both in a match race towards the monohull race record.”