14th Biennial
West Marine Pacific Cup
WEST MARINE PACIFIC CUP FIRST TO ARRIVE AT KANEOHE BAY -- THE CONTESSA OR LIGHTNING?
July 14, 2006
Honolulu -- If estimations are to be believed, The Contessa, a 52.5 foot Swede 55 sloop may be the first to arrive from San Francisco. It's being sailed doublehanded -- just two on board, Shawn Throwe and Neil Weinberg. The yacht is home ported in Alameda, California. They could be in as early as 11:52 tomorrow morning. Also due to arrive on Saturday is the fleet and Division E leader on handicap, Lightning with an estimated arrival time of 10:58 Saturday evening.
The Contessa has a strong lead in the doublehanded division. Plus Sixteen is second and Slim is shown as third.
Millionth Mile trophy winner, California Girl, the pride of the Lessley family out of Richmond Yacht Club leads Division A. Green Buffalo is second and Hooligan third. Cirrus, Bill Myers Standfast 40 and flying the Kaneohe yacht Club burgee is fourth.
The Division B yachts are led by Tutto Bene but Locomotion is within striking distance as they get closer to Kaneohe. Irish Lady is a bit further back to mount a challenge as they are in third position.
With a 202 mile run yesterday, Basic Instinct has taken the Division C lead away from ET. Sweet Okole remains in third place.
Recidivist, the Sequoia yacht Club entry also had a 201 mile run, putting more distance between themselves and Synge who is in second place. Sapphire moved up to third. Kaneohe Yacht Club entry, 2 Guys on the Edge has moved back to seventh place.
Thomas Akin's Santa Cruz 52, Lightning, managed to crank out a 242 mile day to solidify his fleet and Division E position.
Morpheus is 110 miles behind in second place but also second in fleet. Elyxir, another Santa Cruz 52 is in Division E's third place.
As the yachts near Hawaii many of the crews are getting a little giddy and inventing all sorts of distractions. With July 14, also being Bastille Day, Cayenne, the communications boat determined that as much French as could be spoken would be spoken. They even renamed the divisions with new descriptions. Double handers became "Deux Hommes."Division A became "Alphonse." B morphed into "Beret." Division C was "Champs-Elysees." D turned into "Danielle." And E was Esprit de Corps." To which we say, Mon Diu!
The roll call was done with phony French accents by those who could not speak the language. Apparently everyone thought they sounded like either Maurice Chevalier or Inspector Clouseau -- some sounded like both!
Cayenne also reported "Moonbows." For those who haven't seen them, they are a treat when a light mist creates a ghostly night time rainbow.
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Contact: Ray Sweeney
(808) 533-0033
(808) 382-0735 (cell)