Pacific Cup update

Magnitude80 also expected to break Pyewacket's record

Mari Cha IV blasted into the record books on Wednesday, 7 July,  with a San Francisco to Kaneohe sail of 5 days, 5 hours, 38 minutes and 10 seconds beating Roy Disney's 1998 record set aboard his sled Pyewacket with a time of 6 days, 14 hours, 22 minutes and 20 seconds. 

Owner/Skipper Robert Miller thanked his 23 member crew, crediting the success to teamwork. Their arduous record-seeking plans are extensive as the next effort will be the Sydney to Hobart race. Miller's major goal? "an attempt to become the first monohull to sail around the world in 80 days."
           
If their feat was not astounding enough, Magnitude80, Doug Baker's Maxi Sled 80 is expected to cross the Kaneohe Bay finish line shortly after 6pm. Baker and crew will add another feather in the West Marine Pacific Cup cap as their run will also eclipse the Pyewacket's record.

The balance of the fleet contests the ocean, winds and competition as Kaneohe draws closer. Downwind specialists in Division E are being credited with the corrected time fleet lead as well as their division. Winnetou, Morpheus and Natazak have held their lead for several days.

Eyrie, with Sylvia Seaberg and Synthia Petroka aboard maintain their several day dominance in the doublehanded division.  Salty Hotel has moved into second, Pole Cat fell back to third in today's position reports.

Kaneohe Yacht Club entry, Ghost has retaken the Division A, lead held several days ago. After working winds above the rhumbline (most direct to Kaneohe)  Kim Ickler's navigation and skipper Lou Ickler may have found the best place to mount a charge to the finish line.  First Light moved into second with Cayenne in third place. 

California Girl, Hawaii Yacht Club's Ikaika and Tutu Bene continue the lead in Division B. Bill Myers' Cirrus, another Kaneohe Yacht Club entry is in fourth place.

Inspired Environment, Punahele and Lightwave are leading Division C. Sensation has moved into the front of the Division D competition. 

Gary Fanger's ID35 flies the Golden Gate Yacht Club burgee. Surprise, is second and Andiamo, third. Hawaii entries Kaimiloa and Niele are seventh and eighth. West Marine's ProMotion is last in the division but as this report will later note, they're not in the least bit concerned.

The Division F, the maxis are still led by Braveheart on corrected time. Having finished, Mari Cha IV with no handicap is scored as second.

             
July 8, standings
Doublehanded   Eyrie
                        Salty Hotel
                        PoleCat
                        Moonshine
                        Nina    
                        Mirage BS
                        Mirage EX       

Division A         Ghost
                        First Light                    
                        Cayenne
                        Bravo
                        Island Time                                                      
                        Ketch 22                                                          
                       
Division B         California Girl
                        Ikaika
                        Tutto Bene
                        MarCaballo
                        Cirrus  
                        Tango
                        Acacia

Division C         Inspired Environments              
                        Punahele
                        Lightwave
                        Bodacious                    
                        Auspice                       
                        Predator                                                          
                        White Fang
                        Sea Peace
                                               
Division D         Sensation
                        Surprise                                                           
                        Andiamo
                        Synge
                        Between the Sheets
                        Scorpio
                        Kaimiloa
                        Niele                                                               
                        ProMotion

Division E         Winnetou  #1 in fleet
                        Morpheus #2 in fleet
                        Natazak    #3 in fleet
                        Lightning                      
                        WhiteCaps
                        Kyrnos
                        Chicken Little
                        CSquared

Division F         Braveheart
                        Mari Cha IV
                        Magnitude 80
                        Icon