Pacific Cup Profiles: Andy Schwenk and the Crew of ‘Spindrift V’
We’ve been reaching out to sailors who are signed up for this year’s Pacific Cup, starting on July 15. To make it easier, we have a list of questions prepared, for example, “How many Pacific Cups have you competed in?” We also want to know about the boat, the crew, and of course, what’s for dinner.
Point Richmond sailor Andy Schwenk got back to us regarding his entry for this year’s race. Last year he crewed aboard the Santa Cruz 52 Westerly. He describes Westerly as highly modified and added that they won [the] Transpac [2023]. (Perhaps you caught our live chats with Andy and the crew during the race?)
“My goal is to take the lessons learned there and apply to my own program,” Andy says.
This year he’s entering the Pac Cup aboard his own boat, the Express 37 Spindrift V — despite the Pac Cup race in 2022 almost being his last.
Andy tells us that included on a list of upgrades and repairs ahead of the race is “a bigger med kit than 2022.” The boat is also getting new countertops, and “a bunch of expensive engine repair[s].”
Collectively, Spindrift V‘s crew have about 20 Pacific Cup races under their keels. Here’s who’s aboard:
Ward Naviaux: Medical officer/watch partner. Ward and Andy doublehanded the 2014 Pac Cup aboard Ward’s SC 27. “[We] launched off some tasty waves; GPS claimed we exceeded 22 knots!!!”
Conrad Holbrook: Ship’s engineer/watch captain. Andy describes Conrad as a “rock-steady Cal Marine guy,” who is doing his third sail across the Pacific aboard Spindrift V.
Eric Ochs: Foredeck/Conrad’s watch partner. He’s a “talented Moore 24 guy, fearless foredeck, strong, and smart.”
Lisa Wilson: Heartbeat/pit/galley/organizer, on her fourth trip across. “Every yacht needs a Lisa or they are less for not having this role. Fresh sourdough each day, BBQ ribs, espresso at midnight, you name it; she she keeps us a happy ship.”
Andy says the general plan for the race is “to avoid whales, maybe catch a fish and keep it dirty-side down.
“The Pac Cup is simply the funnest race on the West Coast. The legendary Hawaiian hospitality in Kaneohe may be the most memorable part, but the efforts of the volunteer Pac Cup commitee to put on a first-class affair, and all the support from the pre-race academies and get-togethers, are the backbone of the program.
“It certainly is the trickiest race for the navigator: the challenge to sail a direct route but also keeping it speedy by skirting the Pacific High pressure system, an area of calm winds typically parked between your departure and destination.
“Generally speaking there are fewer gold-plated, paid-pro, full-on assaults in the Pac Cup so the mom-and-pop operations still have a shot at a pickle dish. Beyond that it’s actually scheduled for the most moonlight, starry nights at sea; that’s what it’s about.”
Andy has owned Spindrift V since September 2019, and has been racing her on the Bay and offshore ever since. “We usually get second place but sometimes we do a little better.”
Now that you know Andy, if you see him out on the Bay, or sailing the Pacific, give him a wave.
Other 2024 Pacific Cup Profiles: Heather Richard, Elliott James, Matt Arno