Earlier this month, many UK Sailmakers customers embarked on the 2024 Pacific Cup Race, setting sail from San Francisco to the Kaneohe Yacht Club in Oahu. Competitors crossed under the iconic Golden Gate Bridge with three start dates, (July 15th, 17th, and 18th) staggered to allow the slower boats to start first. The Monday starters struggled to escape the light air that kept them stationary for 24 hours, while the Wednesday and Thursday starters found favorable breezes right outside the Gate. Most boats have now shifted from reaching to running in warmer air, working the angles, managing sails, and charting the quickest course to Kaneohe Bay.
Day One: A Slow Start
The first day of the 2024 Pacific Cup was marked by a lack of coastal winds, resulting in a slow start for the initial group of competitors. This group, which included four divisions and 32 boats, faced light air for the first 24 hours. The divisions were:
- Double Handed 1: 7 boats
- Double Handed 2: 9 boats
- PHRF 1: 9 boats
- PHRF 2: 7 boats
Despite the challenging conditions, these sailors persevered, hoping for better winds as they ventured further from the coast.
Day Two: Clear Skies and Steady Winds
The second day of starts saw 26 more boats on their way to Hawaii. These faster divisions enjoyed clear skies and 10-15 knots of wind from the usual westerly direction right out of the gate:
- PHRF 3: 10 boats
- PHRF 4: 9 boats
- ORR 1: 5 boats
- Multihull Division: 2 boats
Day Three: Strong Winds for the Final Starters
By the third and final day of starts, the winds had picked up, providing ideal sailing conditions with winds in the high teens to low 20 knot range. The only class to start this day was the ORR 2 division, consisting of six boats. The return of the usual coastal flow of northwesterly wind allowed this last group a quick exit through the gate and offshore.
UK Sailmakers Competitors
Several UK Sailmakers customers from the Los Angeles and San Francisco lofts joined the fleet for the Monday and Wednesday starts, including:
From the Pacific Northwest, two UK Sailmakers customers made the long journey to the San Francisco start line:
Challenges and Retirements
The race was not without its challenges. IMAGINE, Wyatt Jones’ Davidson 44, reported mechanical issues on the night of July 17th. They lost steering due to a pedestal failure but safely made their way to Santa Cruz using their autopilot and emergency rudder. They were entered in the NAOS Yachts PHRF 4 Division.
Chris Maher’s Olson 34, KEAKA, started on Monday, July 15th, but had to turn back two days later due to rudder issues. Skipper Chris Maher decided to retire out of an abundance of caution, docking safely in Ventura. They were entered in the Goslings PHRF 2 Division.
A Steady Progress to Kaneohe
Overall, the fleet is steadily making its way to Kaneohe, now experiencing near-classic wind conditions. All three starting groups have mostly caught up to each other and remain fairly tightly grouped, with frequent sightings of one another reported. With even wind across most of the race course, competitors have the flexibility to choose whether to sail the rhumb line or attempt to leverage an alternative strategy. The earliest finishers are expected by Friday, July 26th.
Wishing all UK Sailmakers customers a fantastic Pacific Cup! As competitors navigate their way to Kaneohe Bay, we hope for a safe passage and fair winds to all participants. Race tracker available here.
