Pacific Cup Trophies Tonight

After nearly a week of poolside lounging, cold-beverages, and parties, the 2008 Pacific Cup wraps up tonight with the trophy presentation at Kaneohe YC. In light of that, here’s a rundown of this year’s winners and some parting shots. We’ll have full coverage in the September issue of Latitude 38.

Overall:
1) Rain Drop, Cascade 36, Joby Easton/Bill Huseby — 1st Doublehanded 1, Latitude 38 Performance Trophy
2) Sleeping Dragon, Hobie 33, Dean Daniels — 1st Division D
3) Sapphire, Synergy 1000, Dave Rasmussen — 2nd Division D, Carl Schumacher Trophy
4) Bullet, Express 37, Michael Maloney 1st Division C
5) E.T., Antrim 27, Todd Hedin — 3rd Division D
6) Criminal Mischief, R/P45, Chip Megeath — 1st Division F
7) Bar-ba-loot, Moore 24, Andy Hamilton/Sarah Deeds — 1st Doublehanded 2
8) Checkered Past, Wyliecat 39, Chris Gibbs — 1st Division B
9) Sabrina, Calkins 50, Chris Calkins/Norm Reynolds — 1st Division E
10) Recidivist, Schumacher 39, Ken Olcott — 2nd Division E

First Elapsed Time:
1) Pegasus OP-50, Owen/Clark 50, Philippe Kahn/Richard Clarke — 7d, 15h, 17m, 50s

Bluewater Sailing Family Trophy: Sapphire

Storm Trysail Club Team Trophy: Encinal YC, Shaman, Cal 40 Steve Waterloo, Azure, Cal 40 Rodney Pimentel, Music, Nordic 44, John McCartney;

The Pacific Cup lives up to its billing as "The Fun Race to Hawaii," in part due to the reception awaiting the crews and families when they arrive at Kaneohe Bay. From the "leis and trays [of mai tais]" and Mooring Committees, to the crew sighting the finish from the Marine Corps base and the folks on the race deck, the volunteer effort at Kaneohe YC was pretty remarkable. All these people worked through the weekend, getting little sleep, if any at all. Then, when Monday or Tuesday rolled around, many had their day jobs to return to.

It wasn’t just the number of members or even non-members who were there through the nights and days, greeting boats as they arrived. It’s that each one seemed genuinely happy to be there doing it, genuinely concerned that the crews got a warm reception and that everyone felt welcome. Over here on the mainland, the notion of the "aloha spirit" often seems like a hollow caricature of itself, like when a marketer tells us to expect an ethereal blast of "aloha" every time we open a can of their macadamia nuts. At Kaneohe YC the "aloha spirit" is alive, and it’s for real.