That’s what happens when a yacht earns near-mythical status—part racing machine, part living history. And now, after a long hiatus and a major glow-up, she’s back where she belongs: the Transpacific Yacht Race.
Yes, that Ragtime is returning to the 2025 edition of the storied Transpac. Sleek, black-hulled, low-slung, and now bristling with modern upgrades, the boat once considered the original ultralight displacement boat (ULDB) is ready to race again. And her current steward, Tina Roberts, is determined to make this more than just a nostalgic cameo.
“This race is about fun and creating lasting memories,” Roberts says. “And for Ragtime, Transpac is home. There are so many memories tied to this boat and this race—I feel a real dedication to bring her back.”
History at Hull Speed
To truly appreciate this comeback story, you have to rewind to the early 1960s. Ragtime was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1963, a radical design from the mind of John Spencer. Back then, she went by Infidel, and from the moment her plywood hull touched the water, she stirred controversy. She was so lightweight—almost laughably so by the standards of the day—that she was banned from the Sydney Hobart. Officials couldn’t believe she was up to the task of offshore racing.
She proved them wrong.
After arriving in California in 1969 and getting rechristened Ragtime, she hit her stride. By 1973, she was not just turning heads—she was winning races. That year, she stunned the sailing world by claiming Transpac’s prestigious Barn Door trophy, edging out the heavily favored Windward Passage by a mere 4 minutes and 31 seconds. A half-century ago, in 1975, she beat Passage again. These were not just wins; they were statements. The age of the downwind sled had arrived.
“She was a boat ahead of her time,” Roberts says. “The Santa Cruz 50s, the ULDBs that came after—all of them trace back to Ragtime.”
A Legendary Revival
Ragtime’s history is a winding one. After decades of racing under different owners, she found herself languishing in a Southern California boatyard in the early 2000s, weathered and forgotten. That’s when Chris Welsh, along with a small syndicate, stepped in and snapped her up at a county auction for $125,000. It was a steal, but also a rescue mission.
Welsh poured energy and love into the boat, reviving her in time for the 2005 Transpac and racing her across the Pacific and beyond. Ragtime racked up an impressive string of finishes in events like the Rolex Big Boat Series, the LA-Tahiti Transpac, and the Rolex Sydney Hobart. The legend was alive again.
But after Welsh’s unexpected passing in 2021, the boat sat once more. That’s when his partner Roberts stepped in—not just picking up where they left off, but with a commitment to preserving and propelling Ragtime’s legacy.
“I tell people I own her, and they’re like, ‘Wait, you mean the Ragtime?!’” she says with a laugh. “It never gets old.”
Back in Black—and Better Than Ever
Reviving a 62-year-old racing yacht isn’t for the faint of heart. The boat had been out of the water since 2018, and it would take a major refit to make her race-ready again. But Roberts didn’t just want Ragtime to look good—she wanted her to compete.
So the team went big.
By the time Ragtime relaunched in October 2024, she was packing a carbon rig, state-of-the-art electronics, fresh sails, new chainplates, and a reinforced hull—three layers of carbon fiber laid over the original plywood. The design that changed the game in the ‘60s now has the tools to hang with modern raceboats.
Still, the lines are unmistakable. That low-slung black hull? Pure Ragtime. Some things you just don’t mess with.
The Crew That Laughs Together…
With the boat back in action, Roberts turned her focus to what matters most in any ocean race: the crew.
“This is about having fun and creating memories,” she says. “So it’s really important to build a team that works well together—and that means good sailors who get along.”
For the 2025 Transpac, that team includes veteran ocean racers like Doug McLean as captain and Ernie Richau as navigator. The rest of the roster? A who’s-who of experienced bluewater sailors, collectively boasting more than half a million miles offshore. And yet, Roberts isn’t done recruiting. There are still spots open for anyone who feels called to join the legend.
“It’s an open invitation,” she says. “If someone out there has always dreamed of sailing Ragtime—now’s your chance.”
Training for the Main Event
With Transpac on the horizon, Roberts and her team are hitting the water hard. Ragtime’s recent transformation means she’s practically a new boat, and the crew is using a five-regatta schedule to dial everything in: sails, rig tuning, onboard systems, and teamwork.
“It’s all about getting used to the feel of the boat again,” says Roberts. “She’s fast. She’s responsive. But she’s got her quirks too. We’re getting to know her, just like you would with any high-performance machine.”
One of the most exciting elements of this year’s Transpac is the return of Merlin, the infamous Bill Lee design built specifically to beat Ragtime. The two icons will square off once again, just as they did in the glory days. It’s a race-within-a-race—history playing out in real time.
“It’s super exciting to be facing off against Merlin again,” Roberts says. “These boats were rivals back then, and now they’re back, both modernized, both gunning for the Pacific.”
Passing the Torch
For Roberts, Ragtime is more than just a boat. It’s a connection—to history, to Welsh, and to the generations of sailors who came before her. It’s also a way to inspire the next wave.
“We want to bring the boat back to the race so that young sailors can be inspired, and more experienced sailors can relive the memories,” she says.
And if Ragtime happens to put a few modern carbon rockets in their place along the way? All the better.
Because some legends never fade—they just need a fresh coat of carbon, a committed crew, and a little push toward Hawaii.
