We're Planning for Fun and Adventure!

An ocean passage, or a big coastal one, is something to look forward to with great anticipation.  "You're doing WHAT?" non-sailing friends will ask.  And they follow up with questions:

"Where do you stop at night?" (Nowhere)

"Where do you anchor?"  (Again, nowhere; it's five miles deep)

"How long will it take?"  (Uh, that's what the race is about.  But somewhere around 9-12 days)

"What kind of watch system will you use?"  (Modified Swedish watch with an extra dog watch -- hey, wait a minute, you've done this too!)

Preparation Tools

Some of these questions are good to think about well in advance.  To help Pacific Cup racers and other passage-makers, we have assembled a dockload of helpful items, tools, and seminars:

• Pacific Offshore Academy This is a series of Half-Day seminars, with the first being July 10, 2011 at Berkeley Yacht Club.  See the Academy page for more information, and sign up.
• Knowledgebase.  A collection of articles and seminar materials. culled from our library going back a number of races.  This includes a preparation timeline, for example, as well as all of the materials for the July Seminar.
• Chuck Hawley has contributed an outstanding set of posts talking through some of the Offshore Special Regulations.
• An online Forum (kickoff question: Sat Phone or SSB)

Equipment Requirements Combined Document Now Available

The 2012 Pac Cup is governed by its NOR, and that, in turn, calls in the 2011 Offshore Special Regulations.  To make your planning more convenient, we have combined the OSR and NOR into one document.  You can download it from our Documents page.

Or, you can order a snazzy printed version.

For many, especially first-time Pac Cuppers, these may raise more questions, which is why we have our prep seminars and forums!  We encourage you to get familiar with race requirements and figure out how you're going to attack this!

Enter Now?  Early Program ends Midnight, May 31

Our entry list is shaping up nicely.  We're getting the sense of a full entry roster, which will support solid division breaks and some great racing competition

Before June 1, use our early-bird program.  Enter before June 1 for a $50 discount.  Plus a hat!  Let everyone know your plan.  You may either enter with your full entry fee or, if you prefer, just a $100 down payment.  Either way, you get the discount, the hat, and the adventure of a lifetime.

That's something that really should be on your list.

Entrants (skippers and crew) are authorized and encouraged to display the entrant badge (download or link at http://pacificcup.org/assets/pcycentrantbadge.png) on their websites, blogs, and Facebook pages, or anywhere else you want to brag!

But be prepared to answer questions....

All photos courtesy of Urban Renewal's 2008 Pacific Cup race.

Okay, current entry list below!

Updated May 26, 2011