PACIFIC CUP 2016 PREVIEW — W
hile some yacht races pride themselves on their exclusivity, the Pacific Cup has always extolled its inclusiveness and taken pride in calling itself "the fun race to Hawaii." Since the inaugural edition in 1980, Pac Cup organizers have always placed as much emphasis on including small ultralights crewed by a couple of amateurs as on professionally crewed maxis. Now celebrating its 19th edition, the Pacific Cup simply isn't like most other races. At Latitude 38, we take pride in being a little bit different, just like San Francisco itself, and have long found a kindred spirit in the unique phenomenon that is the Pacific Cup. Beginning in San Francisco in midJuly and ending 2,070 miles later in beautiful Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, the Pacific Cup is a race dominated from start to finish by one major meteorological feature: the northeast Pacific High. This normally stationary high is what creates the strong coastal breezes that blow down the California coast in the summer, and is also responsible for the warm and steady trade winds that blow competitors all the way to Hawaii and allow them a predictable return voyage home. Whether racing or cruising, sailing from the West Coast to Hawaii is one of the most statistically consistent and enjoyable long crossings that most mariners will ever undertake. After two consecutive years of strong El Niño occurrences and the wild, unpredictable weather that came with it, the 2016 edition of the Pacific Cup may well signal a return to normalcy. With the scientific community recently confirming that 2016 is officially a La Niña year, the race should, in theory, offer traditional strong and steady trade winds, average
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'Aero' at the finish of the 2014 Pacific Cup. Joe Wells' South Beach, San Francisco-based Hobie 33 will go again this year.
to below-average squall activity, and a reduced chance of tropical systems moving north across the race course. As with any offshore yacht race, however, we won't know how the weather will turn out until the last boat is tied up in Kaneohe. Between now and then, we can only watch with anticipation to see how this diverse fleet of 67 entries fares. From the diminutive and seemingly requisite doublehanded Moore 24s to the super-
She should certainly be the quickest boat to Hawaii and a serious threat to set a new race record. maxi Rio100 and everything in between — including a rapidly growing fleet of cruisers — the 2016 Pacific Cup fleet is the perfect embodiment of all that is right in yacht racing. Champagne sailing conditions, intense competition, adventure steeped in nature, a stunning destination and epic parties on both ends — this is the Pacific Cup. Let's take a look at the fleet, division by division: Honu Division, DW PHRF A Monday July 11 start — Named after Hawaii's green sea turtle, which symbolizes good luck, endurance and long life, the name Honu is especially fitting for this division as it comprises some of the slower entries in the race. Beginning off St. Francis YC on Monday, July 11, at 10 a.m., the Honu Division will be the first boats to cross the starting line and officially kick off the race. With eight heavier-displacement racer/ cruisers in the 35- to 40-ft range, Honu Division represents one of many bright spots in the 2016 Pacific Cup, with all but one entry being first-time Pac Cup participants. Containing two pairs of West Coast classics — Islander 36s and Cal 40s — as well as a smattering of other builds, Honu should offer exciting and close racing with any number of sur-
prises and may just inspire owners of similar boats to compete in the 2018 Pac Cup. Kolea Division Doublehanded 1 DW PHRF Monday, July 11 start — Pac Cup's Doublehanded Divisions are among our favorite aspects of the race. Composed of an extremely diverse group of boats whose sole commonality is their small two-person crew sizes, the DH divisions are especially subject to conditions. If it's a windy year, expect the small ultralights to take off and correct out very favorably. If it's relatively light, expect the larger boats to simply rumble down the course. Anyone who has ever sailed across an ocean solo or shorthanded surely has a few stories to tell, and with a group that includes four small Santa Cruz ultralights, an Archambault 27 and a quartet of heavierdisplacement cruisers, we can't wait to hear some of the stories from this fleet — and share them with you. Because the little Moore 24s, Express 27s and Santa Cruz 27s are low on waterline and displacement, yet high on fun and surfing abilities, they're some of our favorites to watch in any Hawaii race. Mark English and Ian Rogers on the Moore 24 ¡Mas! have been prepping for this race for years and have put in the time and effort, earned consecutive wins in the Coastal Cup, and gained valuable experience along the way to become a class favorite. These two young fathers are accustomed to operating on little-tono sleep, and ¡Mas! will surely be one to watch. Latitude 38 Cruising Division Monday July 11 start — With 13 entries in this year's Pac Cup, the onceinsignificant Cruising Division now comprises some 20% of this year's fleet, and that number is bound to go up in the years to come. Designed for sailors and cruisers who want the experience of crossing to Hawaii yet prefer to do it in a laid-back environment that offers the safety net of a group, the Latitude 38 Division could
