For Immediate Release
Pacific Cup Race Tracker - Going Live Today
Kaneohe Bay, HI, July 17, 2014 – It’s the moment many have been waiting for: the first of Pacific Cup’s 55-boat fleet, Venture (a Jenneau 49 in Cruising Division) is expected to cross the magical line, 200 nautical miles from Hawaii late this afternoon, and you will be able to follow the race online, in real time, on the Pacific Cup website. Until then, position data, which is transmitted via satellite by the Yellowbrick devices, is being delayed by six hours to prevent, to some degree, a racing boat’s ability to view what its competitors are doing at the moment. Prior to the implementation of tracking systems, the only information racers, friends and family received about other boats was at the daily morning check-in, a once-a-day snapshot of competitors’ positions. Trackers have proven to be a game-changer especially for the shore-based crowd who can now follow the race in detail throughout the day. As Blade Runner’s blog warned, “Try it, pretty addictive.”
The past 24 hours have produced numerous lead changes and some unintended drama. Steve Stroub’s Santa Cruz 37, Tiburon, reported losing its rudder yesterday afternoon. Cayenne, a Passport 40 and one of the communications boats, skippered by Michael Moradzadeh, suspended racing and provided extra water and their emergency rudder. Tiburon is in the process of finalizing their alternative method of steering. They anticipate continuing to sail under a double headsail rig with the their alternative steering system. Morale on-board is reported to be good, there are no injuries, and they have adequate food and water for their remaining passage. The Yellowbrick tracking data suggests that Tiburon can now hold a course in the direction of Hawaii.
Many of those who drove north of the rhumb line have now gybed over onto port and are close to their heading for the finish. The fleet is now spread out over 450nm from north to south and the leaderboard has once again seen some changes.
Snafu in the ‘Iwi Division appears to have a firm hold on the lead with only Blade Runner and Green Buffalo in striking distance. Wolfpack has a similar grip in the Kolea Division, again posting a remarkable 219nm day. Thirsty is the only other boat in this division with a shot.
California Girl has wrestled the lead away from sister-ship Azure by a slim margin – watch for these two to swap the lead all the way to the finish. Both of these boats trail Green Buffalo for the Cal 40 One-Design trophy, and collectively they are currently in 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions in the PHRF Rating Division.
Sweet Okole continues to lead the Weems & Plath Division, and Free Bowl of Soup will need magic to catch them. Time is running out for Encore to overtake Por Favor in the Matson Division and the rest of the group is not a threat.
Hamachi has solidified her lead in the competitive Sonnen BMW Division, moving into 4th in the ORR Rating Group and 7th overall. Swazik and Surprise are pressing hard but may not have enough time to reel Hamachi in before the finish.
In the Latitude 38 Division, Scarlett Runner has a bowsprit-length lead over Pyewacket, but this race is far from over – both are extremely well sailed boats, so watch for many lead changes here. Invisible Handwill likely be first to finish, overtaking Venture in the last 200nm.
Access to the tracker is provided on www.pacificcup.org. You can also check the Daily Standings and Position log, which shows rankings based on the mandatory morning check-in, data from the a boat’s last two days of progress and the official Pacific Cup algorithm. If you’d rather watch the race on your mobile device, download Yellowbrick’s free app and buy the race data for $3.
For more information, please contact:
Karin Knowles
(510) 232-8420
media@pacificcup.org
or
Mele Pochereva
(808)286-8830
media@pacificcup.org
High resolution images are available from Pacific Cup photographer, Leslie Richter, contact:leslie@rockskipper.com, 415-509-1777 www.rockskipper.com
About Pacific Cup Yacht Club – 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 Oahu. With an emphasis on pre-race preparation for the 2070-mile race, PCYC’s volunteer membership has helped to ensure that thousands of racers have been delighted with their Pacific Cup experience. For more information about the Pacific Cup, visit http://dev.paccup.org
About Richmond Yacht Club – Since 1932 RYC has been dedicated to serious sailing while at the same time having tremendous fun. The club's Point Richmond location and excellent harbor facilities make it easy to hold both small boat and big boat regattas, and RYC has a proud tradition of hosting world class championships as well as many regattas for Bay Area racers, junior and youth boaters, and its own members. A significant percentage of Pacific Cup competitors have always come from RYC, so it's not surprising that the two clubs joined in partnership to establish RYC as the Start Line headquarters for this year's race. For more information about Richmond Yacht Club, www.richmondyc.org
About Kaneohe Yacht Club – Established in 1924, Kaneohe Yacht Club is dedicated to promoting an appreciation of sailing and boating, and has proudly hosted the Pacific Cup finish line since 1988. KYC is located on beautiful Kaneohe Bay, on the island of Oahu’s windward coast, and is home to a full spectrum of competitive and non-competitive racing events that appeal to serious sailors and fun-loving boaters alike, from youth to the young-at-heart. With the magnificent Ko‘olau Mountains as a backdrop, the protected waters of the bay, together with Hawaii’s renowned trade winds, provide a world-class venue for year-round sailing. Each year the club hosts two of the state’s most prestigious sailing events – the IRF Summer Circuit and the Kalakaua Cup – and five state championship regattas, and it has staged national and international regattas, including the 2013 Moth Worlds and the 2013 El Toro Nationals. For more information visit www.kaneoheyachtclub.com
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