CRIMINAL MISCHIEF STEALS SECOND PLACE

45-Footer’s Burst of Speed Gains Position

Kanoehe, Hawaii – Heavy winds off the island of Oahu helped propel Criminal Mischief to a second overall position in the 2010 Pacific Cup. Horizon, the Santa Cruz 50, retained her first place position, according to calculations posted by race officials this morning.

Until the last days of the race, it looked like the overall standings would be dominated by the Santa Cruz 50 fleet, led by Horizon, and occupying the top three spots. Criminal Mischief, the Reichel/Pugh 45 from Tiburon, California, had led her division all along. Her entire division of fast boats had adopted early courses sharply north, unusual for Pacific Cup victory. Criminal Mischief was the first to turn westward, gaining an early lead.

It was not until her final approach to the finish line at Kaneohe, however, that she overtook the times set by Deception and J World’s Hula Girl. In many years, the final approach to the finish can slow a boat’s progress. This year, however, surprisingly favorable winds for Criminal Mischief’s finish, outpacing her predicted speed for that leg of the course.

Deception, a Santa Cruz 50, retains third place overall, and Hector Velarde’s Mirage, hailing from the Waikiki Yacht Club of Peru, has moved into fourth. Double-handed Tule Fog, an Express 27 out of Richmond Yacht Club (Steve Carroll and Patrick Lewis) holds onto first in division and fifth overall.

The Pacific Cup, organized by the Pacific Cup Yacht Club, has 56 entrants for the 2,070-mile run to Kaneohe Yacht Club in Hawaii. For many entrants, this is their first major ocean crossing. This is the sixteenth race and the thirtieth year of the competition. For more information about the race and its entries, visit http://PacificCup.org.

Pacific Cup Yacht Club (PCYC) was established in 1979 to run the biennial Pacific Cup. PCYC’s mission is to realize the dreams of many sailors to participate in a competitive, safe, and fun race from San Francisco to Hawaii. As such, its pre-race seminars are not only qualifying events for Pacific Cup participation but a way to introduce and encourage participation in offshore sailing.

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