Pacific Passage Prep

While we’re still wrapping up our coverage of this July’s Transpac Race to Hawaii (be sure to read all about it in the next issue of Latitude 38, coming out on September 1), planning and prep for next July’s Pacific Cup is going full steam ahead, with 49 boats already entered.

Among the resources Pacific Cup YC offers in the way of support is a free chapter from record-setting global navigator Stan Honey’s book Pacific Cup Weather Routing, which starts off like this:

"The primary feature that determines the tactics in a transpacific race is the Pacific High. Typically there is no wind in the center of the high, and increasing wind as you get farther south, up to a limit. The central question concerning course selection is: how close to sail to the high, or how many extra miles to sail to get farther from the high?"

On October 17, PCYC will hold their second Offshore Academy, an afternoon-long session of education featuring experienced and expert speakers, covering topics tailored to the interests of the registrants. Richmond YC will host the seminar; sign up for $30 at www.pacificcup.org. Between now and then, be sure to mine the Pacific Cup website, which is rich with prep help for prospective sailors. All this info applies not only to racers, but to all who anticipate a Pacific crossing.