Sleigh ride to Hawaii

A report from the Pacific Cup

Winnetou, a Santa Cruz 52 edged out Morpheus at the 3 July roll call on day six of the West Marine Pacific Cup to be credited with both overall and division (E) honours. 

The first six yachts in Division E are also the first six in the overall ranking for the race.  Winnetou is skippered by Martin Brauns and flies the burgee of San Francisco Yacht Club. Count on a close finish as the Division E sleds arrive at Kaneohe Bay next weekend.

The ladies of Eyrie continue to dominate the doublehanded fleet. Sylvia Seaberg and Synthia Petroka have held the lead since they left San Francisco on 29 June.  Pole Cat, the Wylie 30 with Tom Danford and Ryan Floyd is still second in the doublehanders.

First Light continues in the lead of the Division A boats running considerably south of Ghost which is second in the A fleet.  Ghost appears to be running straight down the rhumb line to Kaneohe.  First Light skipper Charles Shank and Lou Ickler's Ghost both fly the burgee of the host club, KaneoheYacht Club.

Cal 40, California Girl, completely operated by the Richmond Yacht Club Lessley family, holds the lead in Division B.  Ikaika, Hawaii Yacht Club's entry is second.  Ikaika is skippered by Tony Miller and navigated by Skip Winterbottom.

Inspired Environments and Bodacious continue as first and second in Division C.  Division D saw Surprise and Andiamo switching positions. Now first in the division, Andiamo, skippered by Robert Pace out of Oceanside Yacht Club in Southern California is a J/46, second in division today, Surprise is a Schumacher 46.

The maxis in Division E roared out of the Golden Gate on Friday at 12:35pm Hawaii Standard Time.  Braveheart was leading under handicap, but Magnitude 80 a sloop rigged Maxi Sled 80 and Mari Cha IV, Robert Miller's ketch rigged 140ft flyer, had travelled 240.4 and 280.8 miles respectively by the 6:00am HST roll call and are intentionally cranking up to break Pyewacket's record of 6 days, 14 hours, 22 minutes and change recorded in the 1998 race. While everyone involved with West Marine Pacific Cup revels in the accomplishments of all competitors, all eyes are on these two ocean racing speedsters.  

The Steeves Sea Scout communications boat reports their position as 29.47N 135.15W and that all is well with the crew who are "constantly hungry." 

A final report on Dianne, the doublehander that returned to port earlier in the week.  They are in and cozy, let us know that they fell into a weather hole and found themselves 60 miles behind their race with no hope of recovery. This caused their return but they're already working on their 2006 strategy.

Ghost reports appreciation to the fleet for radioed congratulations to owners Kim and Lou Ickler's fifteenth wedding anniversary. They also mentioned snagging some 20ft of rotten fishing net on the rudder. All is well as they unsnagged the net without further incident.

Cirrus, who not only saw an aircraft carrier early in the race but gained warning about possible target practice,  hasn't seen any other boats in a couple of days. Despite their placing, it's not without some struggles to keep a 9 knot pace.

Now that crews are settled into their routines and chatty, a few more stories are coming our way. One of the best is from Island Time's report of a stowaway. It was described as a little hairy being, discovered attacking a freshly caught fish. It was dispatched into a blender, they said. We might keep a wary eye on Island Girl.
           
On other food news from the fleet, Cayenne reports an over abundance of sausage and bean soup, inviting one and all to possibly trade cuisine.  California Girl reportedly made a request for reservations for six at the Salty Hotel for hot dogs and cold beer. They are getting a bit giddy out there.

3 July standings

Doublehanded  
Eyrie
PoleCat
Salty Hotel
Nina    
Mirage BS
Mooneshine
Mirage EX       

Division A        
First Light                                                        
Ghost
Cayenne                                                          
Bravo                                                              
Island Time                                                      
Ketch 22                                                          
Victoria

Division B        
California Girl
Ikaika
Tutto Bene
Cirrus  
MarCaballo
Tango
Acacia

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

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

Division F        
Braveheart
Mari Cha IV
Magnitude 80
Icon

Thanks to Richard Spindler of Latitude 38 for these pics.