Ragtime: Back where she belongs

Over the years, the Transpac Race has drawn many legends of yacht racing, with the 2025 edition attracting one one such legend that returns after years away.

Recently relaunched and sporting significant upgrades, the 65-foot Ragtime’s signature black hull and sleek low profile will still be recognizable to longtime fans of what’s considered to be the original ultra light displacement boat (ULDB).

It’s Ragtime’s first Transpac since 2009, but this legendary race boat is no stranger to this legendary race. Ragtime has competed in several Transpacs—the first in 1973 when she won the prestigious “Barn Door” trophy, beating favored-to-win Windward Passage by 4 minutes and 31 seconds.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of her next first-place finish, when she defeated Windward Passage again. Though many of Ragtime’s past rivals haven’t survived into the modern era, one boat that was specifically built to beat her is also racing in Transpac 2025—Bill Lee’s Merlin.

“It’s super exciting to be facing off against Merlin this year,” said owner and skipper Tina Roberts. “As a sailor, my goal is to provide stewardship for Ragtime. There are so many memories of this boat and this race, and I feel a dedication to bring her to Transpac.”

Designed by John Spencer and built in Auckland, New Zealand in 1963, Ragtime launched under the name Infidel and almost instantly started making headlines. Early racing years were marked by controversy; she was barred from the Sydney Hobart Race because of the relative thinness of her plywood hull, considered “unserious construction” for an ocean-going racer.

She proved to be strong in hull, fierce in competition and an icon in the making—the Santa Cruz 50s, 70s, and other downwind sleds are based on her design. In 1969, she was brought to the United States, rechristened Ragtime and sailed for decades under various owners and with varying levels of care.

By 2003, she was languishing in Southern California and put up for sale at a county auction. Chris Welsh, Jon Richards, Alan Peterson and Scott Zimmer were among the few bidders and won Ragtime for $125,000. The group fixed up the boat in time for the 2005 Transpac, after which Welsh took sole ownership, racing her for several years, often to first place and podium finishes in Transpac, the LA-Tahiti Transpac, Rolex Sydney Hobart, Rolex Big Boat Series, and many other races on the West Coast circuit.

The fame of her boat is not lost on Roberts. “When I tell people I own her, I often get the response ‘you mean THE Ragtime?!’”

Roberts took ownership following the unexpected passing of Welsh, her partner, in 2021. Ragtime had been on the hard since 2018 and relaunched in October of 2024 following an extensive refit to modernize the boat’s systems, while preserving some of her most important historical features.

Overall, the goal of the refit was to enhance the design elements that made Ragtime a trendsetter 62 years ago, but include key performance enhancements to make her competitive against newer models and designs out on the racecourse today.

When it comes to preparing for the race, Roberts says that putting together a crew that gets along and works well together is crucial. “This race is about fun and creating lasting memories, so it’s really important to build a team that is going out with a smile on our face.”

Experienced ocean racers Doug McLean and Ernie Richau will serve as captain and navigator, respectively. Other sailors on the crew have logged over half a million miles of ocean racing experience, however, there is still space to join the team—and Roberts invites anyone who is interested in sailing with them to get in touch!

Practice is the other major preparation for the Ragtime crew. The boat’s recent refurbishment essentially transformed her into a new vessel. Roberts and her team are entering five regattas in the lead up to Transpac to acclimate to the new sails, rigging and systems.

Roberts hopes that her and the crew’s commitment to Transpac and what it represents shines through. “We want to bring the boat back to the race for young sailors to be inspired, and for more experienced sailors to relive memories of seeing Ragtime in past races.”

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