Transpac ‘voice’ dies

Grant Baldwin, a Balboa resident who was the radio voice of the Transpac Yacht Race since 1979, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.

Baldwin, a member of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, announced the last 14 Transpac races, over a 26-year span.

He announced on board the communications vessel Alaska Eagles at the end of last summer’s race that it was his final race as chief communications officer.

Every skipper and crew that sailed Transpac during his tenure as announcer heard him once or twice a day, providing race information or hosting evening social chat sessions among the boats.

Baldwin, born in Ann Arbor, Mich., sailed the first Transpac as a crew member on Ira Fulmor’s Staghound in 1951. He also was a certified international judge.

Badwin served as commodore of the 1989 Transpac race.

Baldwin is survived by his wife Jody, seven children and 10 grandchildren.

Arrangements for a memorial service are pending.