The 2024 Pacific Cup, the FUN race from San Francisco to Hawaii, starts the week of July 15. Because there is a wide range in rated boat performance, the boats’ race times are handicapped. The boats are sent off at different start dates over the week, with an expected set of arrival times around July 28.
“This year, we’ve mostly been able to group similarly-behaving boats together,” explains Principal Race Officer Michael Moradzadeh. “Some boats may have identical ratings, but one might be a small lightweight surfer while the other may be a large heavy cruiser. Those two boats respond very differently to weather conditions, so a race between them would really be all about the luck of the weather.”
The 2024 Fleet ranges from very heavy traditional cruisers, expected to take 16 or 17 days to cross, to three modern racers at the top end of the fleet, who may be planning for a bit less than 8 days. To deal with this variation, as is customary, Pac Cup will stage three start days from Saint Francis Yacht Club:
Monday, July 15
Slower PHRF boats and all Double-handed boats start Monday. The double-handed fleets have long been treasured by the Pac Cup, and their number grows every year with 17 racing in 2024. The PHRF division starting Monday will be very competitive, including many race veterans.
Wednesday, July 17
On Wednesday, the faster PHRF 2 and 3 divisions will start. These tend to be the lighter, faster boats in the PHRF fleet. They’ll be followed by the PHRF 4 division, a group of heavy (non-surfing) but performance-oriented boats in the 40-50 foot range. Joining them will be the two Multihull boats. Wednesday will also see the start of six speedy ORR-rated boats.
Thursday, July 18
The last six boats, the ORR 2 division, start on Thursday. These are the fastest rated boats in the fleet and can expect to overtake many of the earlier starters somewhere in the middle of the Pacific.
UPDATE... Friday's starts have been moved to Thursday
Arrival
The boats will be welcomed by a dedicated team of volunteers at Kaneohe Yacht Club on Oahu. One reason for spreading the departures out is to focus the welcoming festivities, which include music, pictures, leis, and mai-tais, to a reasonable number of days. Once all boats are in, the crews can turn their focus to a full program of social events, including a Luau, a Rum Night featuring Goslings Rum, and the Awards Banquet to be held Friday, August 2.
The division assignments are below. Race organizers caution that there may be adjustments in assignments, and our Sponsorship Chair reminds us that divisions will be assigned to sponsors shortly. Doublehanded division splits are forthcoming.