Southland Sailing : Yachtsmen Get a Second Race to Hawaii--the Pacific Cup

Yachtsmen who hanker for a race to Hawaii every year, instead of the biennial Transpac from Los Angeles to Honolulu, now have a chance to challenge the Pacific tradewinds in even-numbered years.

The event, scheduled to start off San Francisco on July 4, is the Pacific Cup and is expected to draw more than 75 entries. The race will be sailed every two years, alternating with the Los Angeles-to-Honolulu race sailed in odd-numbered years.

Unlike the Transpac, however, which allows only International Offshore Rule (IOR) entries, the Pacific Cup will have four divisions: IOR, Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF), a double-handed division and a special “maxi” division.

“This broadens the appeal of the race to different types of boats and crews,” said Ingrid Haubrich, Pacific Cup administrator.

The Pacific Cup is not totally new. It began in 1980 as the Kauai Transpac and has been held every two years under the co-sponsorship of the Ballena Bay Yacht Club and the Nawiliwili Yacht Club, attracting yachting enthusiasts primarily from the Bay Area.

It is the only Trans-Pacific race originating in San Francisco. An award for first to finish is given as well as awards for winners in each class.

Forty-six yachts raced in the Pacific Cup in 1980. The winner was the 67-foot Merlin. In 1982, the winner was Temptress, skippered by Jim Walton. Merlin was first to finish in 1984 with an elapsed time of 9 days 7 hours 48 seconds for the 2,250-mile crossing.

In 1984 a new element was introduced, a specially cast cup for any boat that breaks the San Francisco-to-Hawaii speed record. According to sailing archives, the record passage is 6 days 17 hours, set by the clipper ship William G. Irwin in 1881.