For Immediate Release:
Point Richmond, CA, July 5, 2016 – The Pacific Cup Village, a week of festivities, seminars, and logistic support before the 2016 Pacific Cup race, opens at Richmond Yacht Club on July 5 and runs through July 11. The Village, a partnership between the Pacific Yacht Club (PCYC) and the Richmond Yacht Club (RYC), was created to promote the friendly socializing for which the “Fun Race to Hawaii” is famous and to assist competitors with last minute preparations. Staffed by a village of volunteers, the event is open to the racers, their families, friends and the general public.
“The Pac Cup Village provides skippers and crew with a chance to socialize and size up the competition before the race,” says PCYC Commodore, Gary Troxel. “It’s also a great opportunity for sailing aficionados who aren’t competing to see the boats, meet the competitors and learn more about ocean racing."
Hospitality is a key component of the Village. Competitor boats, which began arriving from outside the Bay Area in late June are invited to berth at RYC, and support for these boats continues until July 15, the last race division’s start. Services include a concierge and a shuttle service with vehicles provided by BMW of San Rafael to transport people to local businesses for last minute equipment, supplies and provisioning. RYC’s Adopt-A-Boat program provides local housing for out-of-town competitors and their families, and Aloha Boats will take families out by the start line to see their loved ones off at the races. With more than a dozen RYC member boats participating in this year’s race, a substantial portion of the fleet will be docked at the RYC Village. “We provide a supportive, friendly atmosphere where the competitors can finish preparations for the race and have a little relaxing fun along the way,” says Troxel.
Parties at New RYC Clubhouse
The Village week includes a series of events featuring expert speakers, delicious food and festive entertainment at the newly renovated Richmond Yacht Club.
Tuesday, July 5, 5 p.m. – Pasha Hawaii Kickoff Party
Sailing legend Stan Honey, will be sharing insights on weather and navigation at the Pasha Hawaii Kickoff Party on Tuesday, July 5. The menu includes rock shrimp ceviche, antipasta platters, pulled pork sliders, and more.
Thursday, July 7, 5 p.m. – Alaska Airlines Seafood Buffet
Two highly regarded speakers, known for their Pacific Cup expertise, Scott Easom and Kame Richards, kick off the evening’s festivities, sharing insights that will improve everyone’s Pac Cup experience. Easom, a respected rigger and racer with 19 Hawaii races under his belt – he’ll hit 20 this Pac Cup sailing on Pyewacket – will give insights on some of the more personal and nontechnical aspects of the race in "Transpacific Wisdom." Richards, Pineapple Sails owner and 11-time Pacific Cup competitor, will provide his insights into the multifaceted topic of "Spinnaker Driving."
The seafood extravaganza that follows will feature Hog Island oysters, lobster, shrimp, smoked and roasted Alaskan salmon, and much more.
Saturday, July 9, 4 p.m. – BMW of San Rafael Bon Voyage Party
After the mandatory Skippers’ Meeting (1 p.m. - 3 p.m.) is the party many Pac Cup fans consider mandatory: the Hawaiian-themed Bon Voyage party sponsored by BMW of San Rafael. As in previous years, there will be a lavish spread of Hawaiian- and Tahitian-themed food, and a captivating dance performance by Siva Polynesia to entertain the entire family.
Racing Begins – July 11 – July 15
The first starts of the 2016 Pacific Cup race begin on Monday, July 11 and continue until Friday, July 15.
Pacific Cup Village at RYC promises to be a fun, informative and busy week. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For a complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets, go to pacificcup.org.
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Photo by Leslie Richter. 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 PacificCup.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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, and RYC is pleased to be the Bay Area host yacht club of the 2016 Pacific Cup race. For more information about RYC, visit richmondyc.org.