Division Splits Announced for Pacific Cup

Pt. Richmond, CA (June 14, 2016) – The Pacific Cup Yacht Club (PCYC) has published the division assignments and start times for the 2016 Pacific Cup race from San Francisco, CA to Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii.

With 67 boats currently entered in the 19th edition of the “FUN race to Hawaii”, entrants will sail the 2070 nm course in one of seven racing divisions or the cruising division. With staggered starts, the slowest racers and the cruisers will start on Monday, July 11, followed by the faster PHRF and ORR boats on July 12, 14, and 15.

From the super maxi Rio 100, to the doublehanded Moore 24s, this year’s diverse fleet is highly competitive. Within divisions, boats will be scored entirely under either ORR or Northern California DW-PHRF. However, the overall Pacific Cup Trophy (1st place on corrected time) will be awarded to the fastest boat based on their Certified DW-PHRF rating. Certified ratings are issued to boats that have been measured by a licensed measurer. Rating allowances will be calculated as time-on-distance, based on a nominal course of 2,070 miles.

Honu Division (DW-PHRF A) – Monday, July 11, 10:00 PDT Start
Honu, also known as the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, symbolizes good luck, endurance and long life. They are also known to be incredible navigators. The boats in this division may be the slowest of the 2016 Pac Cup racers, and all but one skipper is a first-timer, but excellent sailing and navigation skills will keep them in the running for the Pacific Cup. The boats racing in this division are: Ardea (Tartan 37), Cassiopeia (Islander 36), Nicole (Orion 35), Psyche (Cal 40), Redhead (Cal 40), Serenity (Islander 36), Shadowside (Allied Mistress MKIII) and Windswept Lady (X-362 Classic).

Kolea Division, Double Handed 1 (DW-PHRF) – Monday, July 11, 10:15 PDT Start
Kolea is the Hawaiian name for the Pacific Golden Plover, a small but mighty bird that migrates over 3,000 miles between Hawaii and Alaska without stopping to rest or feed. Like the Kolea, the well-sailed boats in this division are tenacious and are likely be serious contenders for the Pacific Cup. At the short end of the spectrum two Moore 24s, Evermore and Mas! are joined by Alchimiste (Archambault A27), Alternate Reality (Express 27) and Zipper (Santa Cruz 27). Their larger competitors include Dart (Peterson 34), Nozomi (Cal 40) and Sanguine (Tartan 3800).

Latitude 38 Cruising Division – Monday, July 11, 10:30 PDT Start
The 13 yachts in this year’s Latitude 38 Cruising Division represent a more than two-fold increase in cruisers from the 2014 race. Developed to enable those who are interested in the voyage to Hawaii but not competitive racing, yachts in the Latitude 38 Cruising Division may use their engines and any sail configuration, but must meet the same safety, inspection and communications requirements as those in the racing divisions.

Weems & Plath Division (DW-PHRF B) – Tuesday, July 12, 11:00 PDT Start
To facilitate closer competition within divisions, the split between the Weems & Plath and Alaska Airlines Divisions was determined based on displacement-to-length ratio within their DW-PHRF range. The Weems & Plath division comprises the heavier displacement-to-length boats and includes returning Pac Cup veterans Avion (Bianca 414), Encore (Sydney 36 CR), Ohana (Beneteau 45F5), and Tiki J (J/42) as well as first-timers Chance (Wauquiez Centurion 42), RV Aloha (J/109), Shearwater (J/35) and Velocity (J/42).

Alaska Airlines Division (DW-PHRF C) – Tuesday, July 12, 11:15 PDT Start
The Alaska Airlines Division comprises the lighter displacement-to-length boats and includes four Express 37s, Bullet, Elan, Limitless and One Eyed Jack that will also be competing with other Carl Schumacher designed boats for the coveted Schumacher Trophy. Rounding out this division are the Pac Cup veterans Aero (Hobie 33), Nota Bene (Beneteau 411), Sweet Okole (Farr 36), Tiki Blue (Beneteau 423) and first-timer Mirthmaker (Archambault A-35).

North Sails Division, Double Handed 2 (DW-PHRF) – Tuesday, July 12, 11:30 PDT Start
The fastest of the double handers will be racing in the North Sails Division. This diverse group of boats, with many returning racers, includes California Condor (Antrim Class 40), Mirador (Antrim 27), Wolfpack (MORC 30), Spadefoot (Schumacher 28), Sailing for ALS (Beneteau First 30) and Double Expresso (Olson 30).

Pasha Hawaii Division (ORR D) – Thursday, July 14 Start, 13:00 PDT Start
The Pasha Hawaii Division should also see some close competition with four Santa Cruz 50s, Adrenalin, Chasch Mer, J World’s Hula Girl and Oaxaca racing not only for the Pacific Cup but also for the new Bill Lee “Wizard” Trophy. They will be joined by Albion (J/124), Riva (J/46), Elusive (Club Swan 42), Surprise (Schumacher 46) and Rufless (Melges 32).

BMW of San Rafael Division (ORR E) – Friday, July 15, 14:00 PDT Start
This year’s fastest entries will be sailing in the BMW of San Rafael Division. Topping the division is Rio 100, Manouch Moshayedi’s 98-foot Super Maxi. She won Transpac’s Barn Door Trophy in 2015 and set the mono hull course record for the 2016 Vallarta race. Competition should be close among the three 70-foot sleds in the race: Roy P. Disney’s Andrews 70 Pyewacket, Hector Velarde’s Andrews 70 Runaway and Edward Marez’ Santa Cruz 70 Buona Sera. Rounding out the division is Jens Kellinghusen’s Varuna VI, a brand new custom offshore Ker 56 from Germany.
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The race begins from the starting line at or near the St. Francis Yacht Club. Viewing opportunities for the starts include the StFYC race deck, Crissy Field, the Golden Gate Bridge, and on the water. Richmond Yacht Club volunteers will be organizing “Aloha Boats” to take competitor family and friends out on the Bay to cheer the sailors on to Hawaii.

Event details – Division splits – Facebook

Background: The Pacific Cup Yacht Club is responsible for organizing the biennial Pacific Cup, dubbed the “FUN race to Hawaii.” Since 1980, the Pacific Cup has been sailed from San Francisco Bay to Hawaii every other year, and since 1988 the finish has been at the warm and welcoming Kaneohe Yacht Club on the island of Oahu. With an emphasis on pre-race preparation for the 2070 nm race, PCYC’s volunteer membership has helped to ensure that thousands of racers have been delighted with their Pacific Cup experience.

Source: Pacific Cup Yacht Club