cruising division at the start of the 2018 PacCup Race head for the Golden Gate and the open Pacific.
The first start for the 2022 Pacific Cup Race (Ocean Navigator is a race co-sponsor) is set for July 4th and the activity is picking up in anticipation of the opening gun. The race, sailed from San Francisco to Kaneohe Yacht Club in Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, was first run in 1980.
The number of race entries is set at 70, which is the official capacity for the field. According to Jim Quanci, Pacific Cup Yacht Club (PCYC) Commodore, the race committee had overbooked a few boats past 70, but that’s because some boats inevitably will have to pull out of the race. “We had overbooked a wee bit,” wrote Quanci in an email, “but life happens — boat grounding, illness, job change and the sort — taking us to right where we want to be with 70 starters.”
The majority of the boats have passed inspections and have submitted all their paperwork. The race committee will publish division breaks in the next week. And entrants from Southern California, the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes are starting to arrive in San Francisco. “Making for fun accidental meetings and race talk in local marinas and yacht clubs,” Quanci added.
In two weeks, racers will start loading their cruising and get-home gear into the container that is being shipped to Hawaii ahead of the race. This equipment includes delivery sails, anchors and chain, inflatable dinghies, outboard engines, and much more.
The skipper’s meeting will take place on July 2. Caitlin Gutekunst, a director at large of the PCYC, wrote: “Some of the content from the skippers meeting including weather briefing and interviews with race organizers and competitors will be streamed live. I’d like to invite everyone to tune into our social channels for exciting race coverage (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) starting with this event and ending with the awards dinner at Kaneohe yacht club on 7/22.”
And don’t forget the sendoff parties. “Party planning is just getting into full swing this week,” Quanci continued. “Last details are being nailed down and we will soon start selling tickets. First up is the Bon Voyage Party being held at Richmond Yacht Club on Saturday July 2. Will there be Hawaiian music and dancers at the Bon Voyage Party? Of course, there will!”