2010 Pacific Cup Wrap Up

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I just want to take a minute to wrap-up our race to Hawaii. I’m a bit overdue in getting this together, but i got a bit busy bringing the boat back home too!

The 2010 Pacific Cup was a fantastic event. Our team of five sailors from around the country and four coaches aboard our new turboed Santa Cruz 50 Hula Girl was a perfect recipe for a memorable race. And what a race we had… with an elapsed time of 8 days and 19 hours, we were the 4th boat to sail into Kaneohe Bay, and corrected out to 3rd in class, and 6th overall (out of 50+ boats!). Not bad for our first outing, eh? Not only did we we end up with a great result, we ended up having a great time. Many thanks to the 2010 Hula Girl Team for making it a memorable event.

Here’s some photos for y’all (more coming too):

The J World Team in front of The Waterfront Hotel at Jack London Square, the title sponsor for Hula GirlOrganizing the sail stack…

Out the Gate… next stop, Hawaii!

Hmmm… looking kinda cold… must still be close to San FranciscoRippin’ along with the Blast Reacher and Genoa Staysail up

Barry getting comfortable in the nav station, playing Tetris. Just kidding. Actually working out our routing with Expedition, the most powerful navigation and flexible software package available for yacht racing… don’t leave port without it. (Good little plug for our sponsor, eh?)

Working hard to give the Hula Girl what she needs… more speed!

… and we rush headlong into the night…

Yea! Spinnaker up!

Double yea! Blue Skies!

Now this is more like a Pacific Cup!

Hey! There will be none of that ‘napping’ going on… this is a serious race!

Look at our pet ‘deck ape’ go!

Whoa! Port tack… finally!

A little too comfortable trimming the kite (note to self: get bean bag!)

Our trusty navigator, hard at work, takes a bearing with the compass…. whoops, I mean trims his beard with his sunglasses… I think… not really sure what is going on here.

Soaked by early morning squalls, but happy to be in Hawaii

The reception in Kaneohe is always great!

Ooohhh! Sweet nectar of the gods!

After.

Many thanks to coaches Barry, Kevin, and Geoff, and crew Bob, Mark, Rick, Tom and Vern! Fantastic job, and it was a pleasure to sail with all of you!We also want to thank the sponsors who help us run these great events: our primary sponsors of the Waterfront Hotel and Miss Pearl’s Jam House have been wonderfully supportive. Stop by for a room with a view of the water (and Hula Girl) or for some Gumbo on the patio…

And additional thanks go out to our team suppliers: West Marine for the crew gear, Expedition for the navigation and routing software, Spinlock for the Deckvest Series life jackets and safety harnesses, and McLube for all things slippery. Gracias, amigos!

I’m happy to report that Hula Girl is back in SF and getting ready for her season in Mexico… the next race will be the 2011 Newport to Cabo race… any takers?

All the best,

Wayne Zittel