The Swan 45 SWAZIK finished at the top of an impressive fleet in the 2012 Pacific Cup, racing against Medusa, Double Trouble, Hanna Ho, and the Perry 66 Icon. Icon was technically first to finish in division E, but was displaced – “corrected out” – to last in the division according to handicapping rules set for the racing of dissimilar vessels. Although Icon will take home the “Fastest Passage” honor, she needed to finish approximately two days ahead of all opponents in order to win other trophies.
The top three ranked vessels in the division finished in just under nine days, corrected within five hours of each other. SWAZIK, ranked lowest, finished in eight days and 22 hours. Hanna Ho, a Santa Cruz 50, sailed into second with a faster time than SWAZIK, but limiting handicap. Placing third was the Santa Cruz 52 Medusa. Double Trouble was penalized for using forbidden tracker information and fell from a front-running position, to the regret of her captain and crew. Since division E was fastest overall, SWAZIK will take the Pacific Cup.
In division D, the Synergy 1000 Sapphire took first over the Antrim 27 E.T. and the Olson 40 Spellbound; by 46 and 40 minutes, respectively. Division C saw the Express 37 Elan achieve top honors, above the Farr 1220 Kotuku and the Swan 59 Andromeda. Andromeda will serve an honorable absence from Friday’s award ceremonies – due to “a spousal edict that ‘If you race again, you have to take me cruising.’”
Fittingly, division B was taken by Lightspeed, a custom Wylie 39. Lightspeed proved to supporters of its build that it indeed had the ideal structure for the race. Second place was awarded to the Beneteau 10R Split Water; third to the J35c Brainwaves (*skippered by Jim Brainard). Of special note was the fourth place finisher Tiki J, a J/42, who – with family on board – finished only 16 minutes outside trophy range.
Surprising even her skipper Paul Eliott, the Pacific Seacraft 44 communications vessel VALIS finished first in her division. Handling tasks such as safety, emergency traffic, and even radio net commitments, she caught a helpful wind that pushed her past Cassiopeia, and Islander 36, and the Newport 30 Lil’ Angel (which was formerly sailed to first place by Bob Nance in 1998).
Doublehanders – boats with only two aboard – were split into two divisions. Winning DH2 was Moonshine, the Dogpatch 26, trailed by Express 27 Magic, and Doug Dubois’ Relentless. DH1 was taken by the Naos 30 Beneteau First; with Cal 40 Nozomi and Olson 911 Plus Sixteen following in that order.
The awards banquet will include the additional honors of Navigator Award, Yacht Club team trophy, Family Award, Best Prepared and myriad individual prizes. Visit this link for the official standings of the 2012 Pacific Cup.
