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The 2024 Pacific Cup, the FUN race from San Francisco to Hawaii, starts the week of July 15. Because there is a wide range in rated boat performance, the boats’ race times are handicapped. The boats are sent off at different start dates over the week, with an expected set of arrival times around July 28.

“This year, we’ve mostly been able to group similarly-behaving boats together,” explains Principal Race Officer Michael Moradzadeh. “Some boats may have identical ratings, but one might be a small lightweight surfer while the other may be a large heavy cruiser. Those two boats respond very

Monday July 15 will be a big day for Pac Cup. In addition to starting our less speedy boats, ALL doublehanders will set out that day.

"It's a bit of a balancing act," explained PRO Michael Moradzadeh, "on the one hand, we want the boats to finish around the same day, but on the other hand, if they all start the same day, at least they have start-day weather in common."

Because of the range in rated speeds of the doublehanded fleet, we expect up to four days difference in finish times. Jim Antrim, yacht designer and participant on the doublehanded 'io, weighed in on the conversation, pointing out

With some resetting their sights on the 2026 cup, and a few new boats signing up, our entry list now stands at a bit over 70 boats. Recent interesting "conversions" substituting one boat for another include Cal Maritime's acquisition of Pac Cup veteran "Sweet Okole," a cold-molded beauty and perennial winner under Dean Treadway's stewardship. Cal Maritime had planned to race a TP52, but when the mandatory school cruise aboard T/S Golden Bear was rescheduled, half the crew became unavailable. The fortuitous availability of Okole rescued the program.

 

Each Labor Day weekend for nearly eighty years the legendary Lahaina Return race has run from Lahaina, Maui to Oahu with events all weekend at the Lahaina Yacht Club. This year, however, the town of Lahaina was tragically lost in the fires, and the Lahaina Yacht Club with it. But this infamous sailing event is being kept alive in spirit with the "Lahaina's Return Labor Day Weekend Fundraiser"!

It's over a year away, but it's a good idea to check out the PCER, out Pacific Cup Equipment Requirements for the 2024 race. Find them at this link.