500 days until the Pacific Cup

February 13, 12:29 PMSF Sailing ExaminerEdward Killeen

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A sample of sailing in the Pacific

Every two years, the world's greatest sailboat race leaves San Francisco for the 2070 mile trip to Kaneohe, Hawaii.  The race attracts 70+ boats ranging from 24 to 140 feet.  Some of the fastest boats in the world participate (Mari Cha IV in 2004 owns the monohull record).  Though it is a race, it is billed as "the fun race to Hawaii", seemingly to differentiate it from those boring races to Hawaii.

It seems a little early to be preparing for a race that starts on July 5, 2010 but it isn't an easy trip to get ready for.  For the boat owner, there are stringent off-shore safety requirements, about an extra 500 pounds of equipment for the boat, and making sure that you have a committed crew.  For the crew, there's the task of finding a boat, making sure you are compatible with the owner and crew, and honing your offshore sailing skills.

And, there's the training.  You are planning on spending two to three weeks in a small enclosed space with five or more other people.  You need to know the boat backwards and forwards and be able to find anything on the boat in complete darkness.  You have to know how the boat sails in a variety of conditions that don't exist on the San Francisco Bay.  You need to be able to know and trust what every other sailor on the boat can and will do in all conditions.

But mostly, you need time to really appreciate what you are about to do.  Sailing is an inherently romantic activity and sailing to Hawaii is the absolute best example of that romance.  Warm weather getting warmer every day, beautiful sunsets, amazing rainbows, perfect downwind sailing conditions: sailing to Hawaii has everything.  The anticipation builds and builds and then is amazingly surpassed by the experience.  I have never met anyone who sailed to Hawaii who would not do it again.

To start this incredible journey, the first step has to be taken.  If you have a boat, decide to enter.  If you want to crew, start preparing your pitch to potential boat owners.  The race is only 500 days away, the preparation is beginning.