Pacific Puddle Jump Registration Now Open
Having ‘gone live’ yesterday with our online registration page for the 2012 Pacific Puddle Jump rally, we were excited to spread the word in today’s ‘Lectronic. But when we checked the site at 7:00 a.m. this morning, there were already 11 sign-ups. Sheesh! Makes us wonder if these eager passage-makers hadn’t been ‘camping’ on the site like diehard music fans awaiting the sale of sure-to-be-sold-out concert tickets.
In any case, we’re thrilled to have them, as well as all the others that will be added to the roster in the coming weeks. The registration process is free and only takes a few minutes to complete.
What is the Pacific Puddle Jump? If you have no idea what we’re talking about, let us explain that the PPJ is a rally, of sorts, made up of boats from all over the world that are sailing west to French Polynesia. Unlike most rallies, where the entire fleet travels en masse, Puddle Jump ralliers set sail from points all along the west coast of the Americas, typically leaving anytime between the end of February and the beginning of May. The largest groups traditionally jump off from Mexico’s Banderas Bay and Balboa, Panama. Latitude 38 co-hosts send-off parties in both locations: at the Vallarta YC, February 29, and the Balboa YC in early March (date TBA soon).
The disparate fleet typically establishes one or two dedicated Puddle Jump nets so the earlybirds can relay weather info and keep in touch during the 3,000-mile crossing. And by registering, fleet members are eligible for several attractive offers: Through a special arrangement with the Tahitian yacht agency CMA-CGM, all registered PPJ boats can get bond exemptions (which eliminates the need for every crew member to post roughly $1,800 cash as a repatriation bond), clearance in and out, and duty-free fuel for a nominal fee. Jumpers are also invited to attend the annual Tahiti-Moorea Sailing Rendezvous, slated for June 22-24 this year. After a rally-sail to Moorea from Papeete, fleet members are introduced to traditional Tahitian music, dance, cuisine and sport — including six-person canoe races — along the palm-lined beaches of majestic Oponohu Bay. You’ll find lots more Puddle Jump info on the website.
This year’s first fleet members are:
Wondertime / Benford 38 / Michael & Sara Johnson / Seattle, WA
Sognare / Beneteau Oceanis 411 / Kevin Hollins / South West Rocks, Australia
Bright Angel / Mason 44 / Robert & Linda Hargreaves / Olympia, WA
Cheers / Morgan 382 / Mark & Michelle Graves / Plano, TX
Convivia / Cal 43 / Tucker & Victoria Bradford / San Francisco
Red / Waterline 48 / Richard Dowling & Fran Kelly / Juneau, AK
Kia Ora / Spencer 55 / Dennis Williams / Ventura
Southern Hiatus / Chris Craft 35 / Dennis Whitmore & John Snook / Boise, ID
Coconut / Pacific Seacraft 37 / John Monroes & Ann Quarles / Santa Fe, NM
Spanish Stroll / Southern Cross 31 / Glenn Jennings / San Francisco
Cetus / Fantasia 35 / Terry Kotas & Heidi Kotas / Gig Harbor, WA