For Immediate Release:
Pt. Richmond, CA, June 2, 2016 – The Pacific Cup Yacht Club (PCYC) has published the Sailing Instructions for the 2016 Pacific Cup. The SIs cover many aspects of the race in ways specific to the Pac Cup, including checking in, communications, start procedures, outside assistance, restricted areas, and more. The SIs and new updates to the NORs are available at pacificcup.org.
Of particular note to returning participants is that the Kaneohe finish line has been moved slightly and a mark somewhat north of Mokumanu Island has been added to keep boats from sailing into two new potential hazards areas. The first is a field of unlit buoys in our former finish area that are part of a wave energy test site. The second is an expanded artillery range around Mokumanu. To avoid potential damage and to preserve fair sailing, the PCYC race organizers slightly modified the course to steer participants away from those hazards. As an added advantage, the new finish is also a bit farther from the reef.
Race Starts
With 68 boats currently entered in the 19th edition of the "FUN race to Hawaii", entrants will sail in one of seven racing divisions or the cruising division. Specific division breaks will be announced soon. 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.
Times listed are for Alert Signal Times, Pacific Daylight Time
Honu Division A (PHRF)................................................July 11, 10:00 a.m.
Kolea Double Handed Division 1...................................July 11, 10:15 a.m.
Latitude 38 Cruising Division.........................................July 11, 10:30 a.m.
Weems & Plath Division B (PHRF)................................July 12, 11:00 a.m.
Alaska Airlines Division C (PHRF).................................July 12, 11:15 a.m.
North Sails Double Handed Division 2...........................July 12, 11:30 a.m.
Pasha Hawaii Division D (ORR).....................................July 14, 1:00 p.m.
BMW of San Rafael Division E (ORR)............................July 15, 2:00 p.m.
Viewing opportunities for the starts include the StFYC race deck, Crissy Field, the Golden Gate Bridge, and on the water. Richmond Yacht Club volunteer will be organizing "Aloha Boats" to take competitor family and friends out on the Bay to cheer the sailors on to Hawaii.
###
Photo: Start of the Sonnen BMW Division in the 2014 Pacific Cup, copyright Leslie Richter / www.rockskipper.com. For additional images of Pacific Cup events and racing, contact Leslie@rockskipper.com.
For more information, please contact:
PCYC
Elisa Williams
(510) 205-1069
media@pacificcup.org
About PCYC
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-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, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.