Exhibitors Rev Up for Strictly Sail Pacific

As we post this, the exhibit floor of the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show at Oakland’s Jack London Square is bustling with frenetic activity in anticipation of tomorrow’s opening. National, international and local boat and gear manufacturers, as well as a broad range of service providers, will be on hand to share their expertise and sell their wares throughout the four-day event (tomorrow through Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. daily).

Among the highlights of every Strictly Sail show are one-hour seminars on a impressive range of topics — everything from on-board yoga tips to surviving a shipwreck. If you’re interested in either of Latitude‘s big cruising rallies, the Baja Ha-Ha and the Pacific Puddle Jump, you’ll want to attend one of our informational gatherings: Ha-Ha How-To, this Friday at 2 p.m. or Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (both in the Windward room). Our presentation on Tahiti and the Pacific Puddle Jump will be Saturday at 4:45 p.m. (in the Regatta 1 room). Thanks to our Tahitian partners, we’ll be giving away an authentic black pearl bracelet, in addition to other items of swag, at the Tahiti seminar. See the website for a complete listing of seminars, exhibitors, and special events.

If you’ve been longing to take a look at the actual America’s Cup in person, but missed your chance during its Bay Area stopover during the victory tour, you’ll have another opportunity at the show tomorrow. The oldest trophy in sports will be on display from noon until 7 p.m., where it will be joined by BMW Oracle Racing Design Coordinator Ian Burns and sailors Brad Webb and John Kostecki (a Bay Area native). At 5 p.m., the trio will sign free posters before giving a multimedia presentation — with some killer video — and a Q&A session. It’s definitely worthwhile.