Zephyrus Gets Barn Door, but not Record

July 19 -
Kaneohe Bay, HI

At 8:27 am HST, Zephyrus V crossed the finish line of the Pacific Cup race from San Francisco to Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, less than one week after starting. The wind was blowing about 15 knots under partially overcast skies, and Zephyrus was sailing about 15 knots. Mari-Cha III is expected to finish around one, and the doublehanded Sonoma 30, Two Guys on the Edge, which led the fleet for a big chunk of the race, should come in about six this evening. Zephyrus's finish was about four hours off the race record.

In other PacCup news, Race Director Brian Boschma reports that "Alakazam has apparently lost all steering and is requesting a tow from Hawaii. We sure are having rudder problems this year in spite of extra inspection steps and required sea trials of emergency rudders."

The Scourge of the Mahi

July 19 - Pacific Ocean

Michael Moradzadeh, skipper of Cayenne, a Passport 40 and the Pacific Cup comm boat, filed the following report, which captures the flavor of the event:

"We caught the Mahi. An absolutely fabulous dinner. Michael C. is now known as the 'Scourge of the Fishy and Finned Things'.

"AND we have renewed the spinnaker jury rig. We fly wung out (take that, spellcheckers) at night and we fly the chute during the day. Today, we ran 160 nm directly toward an imaginary spot near Hawaii.

"Given that Hawaii is pretty much an imaginary spot, creating another imaginary spot seems pretty much redundant. My navigator, however, assures me that this is a good idea.

"The ETA-meter says we will arrive at 6 am on Sunday. This is pretty good. Last time, the ETA readout on the GPS mostly read '- - - - ' which means 'you never gonna get there' so this is much cheerier.

"So, we are back in the hunt. Beware Bequia! Look out Total Eclipse! Stay back Alcyone! Cayenne is coming to town!

"We are pretty sure we are on the right track, too, because we keep seeing other boats. Mari-Cha III, the 147-ft giant whose crew graciously showed us through her at KKMI, sailed by at a distance of 2 miles yesterday. Dang does she look good with her spinnaker up.

Cayenne, off to do battle
with fish and sloops

"Well, time to go and take roll call. We have not had more fleet damage, and you could not ask for a cheerier fleet. Last night, there was a guest appearance from Martha Stewart ("place a lilac-scented towel over your pillow so the next off-watch will not notice the drool") as well as perennial pest Pacific Rose. Much of the fleet participated in a limerick festival, and virtually all who fish are catching mahi mahi.

"Life is goood."

Weekend Racing Preview

July 19 - San Francisco Bay

Life is all about choices, and Bay Area racers are faced with all kinds of options this weekend. Some of the bigger events are the West Marine Fun Regatta at Encinal YC for kids; the second weekend of Fresno YC's High Sierra Regatta (at Huntington Lake) for lake circuit folks; the Plastic Classic Regatta at Bay View Boat Club for the vintage fiberglass crowd; Knarr match racing on the Cityfront; and Island YC's Silver Eagle Race for those who enjoy a 67-mile tour of the Bay. So far, 42 boats (including 22 J/105s) are signed up for Eagle, while 10 more are signed up for the new, shorter (41 miles) Eaglet.

A couple things on the calendar aren't happening: The Mallory and Adams Area G Eliminations were canceled as only one skipper entered each competition. By default, Brian Mullen (StFYC) will be going to the Mallory, while Vicki Sodaro of Tiburon (SFYC) will go to the Adams. . . . The Santana 22 Nationals were moved up a week, and occurred last weekend in conjunction with an Express 27 regatta. "Nine or ten" Tuna 22 sailed, but we still don't know who won.

Have a great weekend, everybody - and be sure to wave if you see our photoboat!

Could be you these photographers capture next time.
Photo Latitude/Chris

Construction of World's Largest Sailing Yacht Picks Up the Pace

July 19 - Southampton, UK

Construction of the Ron Holland designed 245-ft composite sloop Mirabella V for Joseph V. Vittoria, the former head of Avis, has reached an exciting stage at Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton, England. After months of painstakingly building the hull mold and then constructing twelve layers of Kevlar and E-Glass with a PVC foam core, the fitting of hull stringers, bulkheads, ring
frames, and equipment is now happening at a comparatively breathtaking
speed.

Yes, that is a picture of a boat hull under construction. There are
actually people in the photo, but they may too small for you to make out.

Just as visually impressive is the 295-ft mast mold. The mast is being manufactured in halves, with one comprising a complete length and the other
divided into three sections. An estimated five tons of cabling will be fitted within the hollow center of the mast, including a mass of sensors to monitor the rig loads.

Just the real estate required to house construction is mind-boggling.
Photos Courtesy Ron Holland Design

Mirabella V will join the Vittorias' other superyachts, Mirabella and Mirabella III, in providing luxury corporate and private charters during the winter of 2003/4 in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Twelve guests, pampered by 14 crew, can be accommodated aboard Mirabella V. Equally, with a very spacious saloon and a high tech entertainment system that includes an open air cinema on the sky deck, Mirabella V can serve as a corporate conference venue. Other features include a Jacuzzi, pool, gym, sauna, motor launch, 2 high performance tenders, diving gear, 4 sailing dinghies, 2 remote control model yachts and 2 jet skis.

Graphic Courtesy Mirabella Yachts

A week on board Mirabella V for 12 guests will cost US$250,000. The first charter has already been confirmed for the Caribbean in 2003.

Construction diary available on www.mirabellayachts.com. Also see www.ronhollanddesign.com.

A-Cup Funding Kiwi-Style

July 19 - Auckland, New Zealand

The America's Cup effort in defending New Zealand seems to remain more of a nationalist effort and less of a corporate one, and enjoys the support of the country's populace. Team New Zealand has launched a nation-wide Support Crew program in response to widespread offers of financial assistance from citizens. The public will have the opportunity to contribute to the campaign at the 78 stores operated by The Warehouse. Ross Blackman, Chief Executive of Team New Zealand, said, "We have been flooded with offers so I am delighted to respond with this announcement."

David Wilson, general manager of The Warehouse, said the Support Crew
program is intended to be affordable, with contributions starting at just one dollar and the most expensive Membership level costing only $20. The initial opportunity, just launched within all stores, is for customers to purchase $1, $2 and $5 donation cards. They will be displayed near the checkouts and the full amount paid will go to Team New Zealand.

In mid-September, just prior to the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series, a Support Crew Membership card carrying a magnetic strip will be offered in three categories - Bronze ($9.99), Silver ($14.99) and Gold ($19.99). Benefits will vary between the three categories and will include exclusive visits to the Team New Zealand base and chances for a Support Crew member to win a 17th Man ride on a Team New Zealand yacht.

Within The Warehouse, the Support Crew memberships cards will entitle members to a discount on their next purchase. As well as invitations to special shopping nights at The Warehouse, there will be chances for Support Crew members presenting their card to get all their purchases free of charge.

Women Key in Demi-Clé

July 19 - Lorient, France

Much to the surprise and consternation of some observers, a female duo rocked in the tough Mini Open 6.50 offshore skiff class's fourth Demi-Clé (Half-Key) Race. Swede Pia L'Obry and Australian Liz Wardley, who did bow on Amer Sports Too in the Volvo Ocean Race, took first place in the 350-mile offshore leg down from Baltimore in southern Ireland to Lorient, on the south coast of Brittany. The pair finished second overall in the three-legged race.

An doublehanded Mini Open 6.50 broaches.
Photo Courtesy open650.demi-cle.com

The women's boat, Morph'eau, arrived Wednesday night at 10.30 pm. All Mer, the leading boat overall, sailed by Frédéric Duthil and Cédric Gourmelen, arrived one and a half hours later.

Liz Wardley, as quoted in madforsailing.com, commented, "When it went dark last night we lost sight of them and we jibed off and then jibed back. We went into a fog bank. It turned out the rest of the fleet was in the fog bank for a day and a half and we only had it for a few hours."

Thirty-six boats sailed and four retired in the doublehanded/singlehanded regatta, which originated in Locmiquelic, France, and went through Cork in southern Ireland.

See http://open650.demi-cle.com for complete results and more.

YOTREPS

July 19 - The Pacific Ocean and Cyberspace

Who is out making passages in the Pacific and what kind of weather are they having? Check out YOTREPS - 'yacht reports' - at http://www.bitwrangler.com/yotreps/

Weather Updates

July 19 - Pacific Ocean

San Francisco Bay Weather

To see what the winds are like on the Bay and just outside the Gate right now, check out http://sfports.wr.usgs.gov/wind/. The National Weather Service site for San Francisco Bay is at www.wrh.noaa.gov/Monterey/.

California Coast Weather

Looking for current as well as recent wind and sea readings from 17 buoys and stations between Pt. Arena and the Mexican border? Here's the place - which has further links to weather buoys and stations all over the U.S.: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southwest.shtml.

Pacific Winds and Pressure

The University of Hawaii Dept. of Meteorology page posts a daily map of the NE Pacific Ocean barometric pressure and winds.

Pacific Sea State

Check out the Pacific Ocean sea states at: http://www.mpc.ncep.noaa.gov/RSSA/PacRegSSA.html.
For views of sea states anywhere in the world, see http://www.oceanweather.com/data/.