Mari Cha on record form

News from the West Marine Pacific Cup

The 140 foot, Mari Cha IV is on a  record pace that includes 21 knot runs toward Kaneohe in an effort to break the 1998 Pyewacket San Francisco-Kaneohe record of 6 days 14 hours, 22 minutes and 20 seconds. On day 9 of the West Marine Pacific Cup, Bob Miller's purpose-built juggernaut has traveled over 400 miles with 577, yet to the finish line off Kaneohe Marine Base.

Mari Cha IV was built with one specific goal - to be the fastest offshore monohull racing yacht. If she flys past the Kaneohe finish line at the estimated time of arrival, Wednesday, 7 July, 4:30pm, the record will be broken by over one day.

While this spectacular event within the race is going on, another 50 yachts of varying sizes are putting the same effort to reach Kaneohe and the usual sailor celebrations that follow.   

The overall race lead, on corrected time is still in the hands of the West Coast downwinders in Division E. Winnetou, Morpheus and Natazak have been contesting their division and remain in their current ranking. Nearly all of the Division E competitors are expected to finish within hours of one another on Saturday.
           
The doublehanded race has been dominated by Eyrie, Pole Cat and Salty Hotel. Sleep is on short supply for doublehanders. Two weeks of concentration and deck activity is reliant on extra doses of adrenalin and an equal amount of gusto as they head for the halfway mark of the race.

FirstLight, Ghost and Cayenne have not seen each other for most of the race but will be within hailing distance at the finish of the race. They have been 1, 2, 3 throughout much of the contest in Division A. Second place boat, Ghost is skippered by Pacific Cup veteran and Kaneohe Yacht Club member, Lou Ickler who has been a division winner with a penchant for finding the quickest way home.  

California Girl, Ikaika and Tutu Bene  continue the lead in Division B.  Ikaika from Hawaii Yacht Club. Fourth place boat Cirrus is from Kaneohe Yacht Club Inspired Environments is the Divison C, leader while Punahele has moved into second place with Lightwave falling to third. Despite her Hawaiian name which translates to 'the favourite', Punahele sails out of Richmond Yacht Club and is skippered by Mike Caplan.

Surprise, also flying the Richmond Yacht Club burgee is skippered by Kaneohe resident Steve Chamberlin and now leads Division D.  Sensation is second and yesterday's leader, Andiamo is now third in the division. Local entries Kaimiloa and Niele are seventh and eighth.

The Division F, maxis are still led by Braveheart on corrected time. On the same basis, Magnitude 80, also in contention for a record breaking run is second in that division with Mari Cha IV scored as third.

A weather report from The Steeves: Moderate for several days with seas at 3-5 feet, wind      8-12k, waves 1-2 with occasional sets of 5-8.

This race has been remarkable for the minimally reported equipment bothers. Today we heard that Mirage Express reports a broken main halyard. A temporary main is being used but they have to sail with a reefed main.

Tango blew out a spinnaker yesterday and has some rigging damage.

We have a request from Ellen Hoke from Grand Prix Sailing Academy to correct the crew listing for Sensation. The navigator's name is Nedko Vassilev, crew members are Rodney Hagebois, Mario Yovkov and Carlos Badell.

From the The Steeves, a twenty pound Mahi Mahi was caught and they were counting on it for the halfway celebration last night. Realising that a 20 pound Mahi does not deliver 20 pounds of edibles - unless there are some aboard that feed on innards, brain and other head stuff plus soup du tail - the 20 officers and Sea Scouts would be looking among one another for anyone who figured the loaves and fishes concept. Perhaps enough potatoes and rice filled things out...
             
July 6, standings
Division 1, Double Handed (start: June 29 @ 09:55:00 HST):

Boat Lat Lon Dayrun @ MadeGood togo Divn Oa

Eyrie 30-26N 139-25W 168.2 224 157.1 1124.0 1* 17
PoleCat 29-55N 139-33W 156.5 251 156.3 1105.2 2 32
SaltyHotel 30-54N 140-03W 177.9 266 167.2 1106.4 3 35
Moonshine 29-41N 138-45W 158.3 235 154.0 1138.5 4 41
Nina 28-36N 139-10W 161.1 236 156.0 1095.8 5 44
MirageBlSo 30-26N 138-40W 166.4 269 156.8 1159.5 6 45
MirageExpr 29-31N 137-29W 128.4 254 128.3 1197.2 7 49
Diane Retired


Division A (start: June 28 @ 08:45:00 HST):

Boat Lat Lon Dayrun @ MadeGood togo Divn Oa

FirstLight 28-52N 140-58W 159.9 243 159.3 1012.6 1* 36
Ghost 31-05N 142-19W 167.5 236 167.2 1009.4 2 37
Cayenne 29-02N 141-18W 160.8 250 160.6 1000.3 3 39
Bravo 28-30N 140-43W 162.3 228 151.9 1016.9 4 40
IslandTime 30-26N 140-24W 149.9 261 144.9 1077.8 5 46
Ketch 22 30-22N 140-47W 150.1 234 148.0 1058.3 6 47
Victoria DNS


Division B (start: June 28 @ 09:00:00 HST):

Boat Lat Lon Dayrun @ MadeGood togo Divn Oa

CalifGirl 27-58N 143-07W 182.8 241 181.6 887.2 1* 21
Ikaika 28-04N 142-40W 183.0 243 182.3 911.5 2 24
TuttoBene 27-13N 142-00W 179.2 246 178.2 927.0 3 26
Cirrus 28-41N 142-06W 170.9 241 170.1 953.4 4 31
MarCaballo 28-04N 141-54W 173.0 255 172.4 949.2 5 33
Tango 29-17N 141-52W 145.9 240 145.1 979.3 6 42
Acacia 29-04N 141-26W 150.4 245 150.3 994.7 7 43
Chimaera DNS


Division C (start: June 29 @ 10:10:00 HST):

Boat Lat Lon Dayrun @ MadeGood togo Divn Oa

InsprdEnvr 30-43N 143-49W 195.4 233 194.8 932.3 1* 19
Punahele 29-49N 142-22W 201.6 233 198.8 970.0 2 23
Lightwave 29-27N 141-12W 176.1 233 172.0 1015.2 3 25
Auspice 28-46N 140-29W 168.8 248 168.8 1034.1 4 27
Predator 29-47N 141-00W 167.6 229 161.1 1033.0 5 29
Bodacious 28-50N 140-33W 169.9 241 168.4 1032.2 6 30
WhiteFang 28-23N 140-51W 179.2 240 176.8 1007.8 7 34
Sea Peace 31-04N 141-21W 180.1 263 169.9 1051.9 8 38


Division D (start: June 30 @ 10:55:00 HST):

Boat Lat Lon Dayrun @ MadeGood togo Divn Oa

Surprise 29-11N 143-38W 221.7 237 220.7 893.8 1* 6
Sensation 30-57N 143-01W 210.2 240 210.1 974.6 2 9
Andiamo 28-51N 141-18W 199.9 231 192.4 996.1 3 10
BtweenShts 29-05N 140-38W 184.6 242 183.4 1033.8 4 13
Synge 30-17N 141-24W 176.3 246 176.1 1027.5 5 16
Scorpio 29-13N 140-04W 182.9 255 182.1 1064.3 6 18
Kaimiloa 28-35N 139-48W 184.8 233 176.7 1064.0 7 20
Niele 30-34N 140-29W 201.8 266 190.3 1077.5 8 28
Promotion 29-16N 136-41W 134.9 239 131.1 1232.2 9 48


Division E (start: July 1 @ 11:45:00 HST):

Boat Lat Lon Dayrun @ MadeGood togo Divn Oa

Winnetou 29-56N 143-07W 241.0 244 240.8 939.0 1* 1*
Morpheus 32-22N 142-55W 231.0 265 205.5 1026.4 2 2
Natazak 29-44N 142-21W 227.0 239 226.5 968.5 3 3
Lightning 30-17N 141-30W 215.2 237 214.1 1022.9 4 4
Kyrnos 30-04N 140-52W 212.0 238 210.6 1046.5 5 7
WhiteCaps 30-53N 141-03W 204.4 239 204.1 1060.2 6 8
ChcknLttle 28-34N 139-15W 204.7 233 195.6 1091.0 7 11
C squared 28-34N 140-28W 218.4 238 213.9 1030.6 8 22


Division F (start: July 2 @ 12:35:00 HST):

Boat Lat Lon Dayrun @ MadeGood togo Divn Oa

Braveheart 31-31N 140-56W 276.2 261 264.2 1083.8 1* 5
Magnitude80 28-30N 146-34W 361.0 229 357.2 739.8 2 12
MariChaIV 27-38N 149-37W 401.7 232 401.5 577.6 3 14
Icon 29-07N 138-04W 218.2 236 211.2 1160.5 4 15