Pete sits down with Kelly Holthus, a junior at Tulane University, All-American sailor, and veteran of five Transpac races aboard BadPak, skippered by his father Tom Holthus. Kelly shares what it’s like growing up in a California sailing family, the lessons he’s taken from college racing, and how he helped organize a youth-driven crew for the 2023 Transpac.
From flying spinnakers just 31 hours into the race, to leading bow in the black of night, to pulling together a team of college-age sailors and their parents, Kelly reflects on preparation, decision-making, and the thrill of offshore racing. The conversation covers the unique energy of a younger crew, the grit required offshore, and the payoff of winning Division 1 as the fastest monohull under 60 feet. BadPak’s team were: Tom Holthus, Artie Means, Samantha Gardner (Tulane ’27), Hartwell Jordan, Jeffrey Peterson (Georgetown ’25), Jon Gardner, Matt Smith, Cooper Smith (Cal Maritime ’24), Kelly Holthus (Tulane ’27), Ryan Mazella
If you’re curious about what it takes to prepare for and succeed in one of the world’s great ocean races, this episode is full of insider stories and lessons for sailors of all levels.