Game time for 2022 Pacific Cup

From a high point of 90 boats plus a waiting list, natural attrition, plus a few pandemic-driven issues, have pared the entry list to 63 for the 2022 Pacific Cup.

“It’s around what we expected,” says PCYC Commodore Jim Quanci. “Things happen in life and on the water. Low 60s makes for a nice comfortable crowd at both ends of the race.”

Staggered starts will be held on July 4, 5, 7, and 8 for the 2070 nm course from San Francisco, California to Kaneohe, Hawaii.

“Nice and comfortable” likely does not describe many of our participants’ preparations, as a flurry of last minute supplying and installations are taking place around the bay. Food and water (minimum ten gallons plus an emergency eleventh gallon), communications and navigation gear, and the all-important safety items must be aboard and in many cases inspected before the start.

The weather for the first week underway looks to include some interesting challenges. Areas of low wind to the north and south of the path to Hawaii may encourage entrants to thread a rather narrow path, hoping to avoid the “I wish we had gone the other way” phase of drifting and waiting for wind.

After about the 11th of July, however, the wind is expected to fill in, and even get a bit interesting as the remnants of a tropical depression rounding Baja California make themselves felt across the Pacific. Current charts suggest what ace sailor (and 2022 Newport Bermuda winning co-skipper) Sally Honey calls a “fairly benign crossing.”

Ten boats have declared for the “Fastest Family Afloat” trophy, which requires a degree of familial relationships on board. Generally this makes for a rich bonding experience. Other times, it just makes for an experience.

The family boats are Alternate Reality, Circe, City Lights, CruzSea Baby, Free Bowl of Soup, Rägeboge, Raku, Rufless, Sacagawea, and Vera Cruz.

Race details – Entry list – Tracker

This is the 21st edition of the Pacific Cup after the biennial race was cancelled in 2020.