FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2008 PCYC CONTACTS: Michael Moradzadeh (415) 830-3861 PacificCup@gmail.com Kathleen Helsper (417) 830-5465 k.helsper@gmail.com Ray Sweeney, Sweeney Communications, (808) 533-0033 Sweeneycom@aol.com STC CONTACT: Barby MacGowan, Media Pro Int'l, (401) 849-0220

barby.macgowan@mediapronewport.com 2008 Pacific Cup Counting Down to Start

Biennial Race to Hawaii has Biggest Fleet in Years July 9, 2008 - SAN FRANCISCO - The Pacific Cup race organizers announced the final starting lineup, with a total 61 boats competing in the biennial race to Hawaii. Twenty-two boats including two double-handed divisions are set to begin the race early afternoon Monday, July 14, with additional starts for faster boats through Saturday, July 19. Most racers anticipate arrival at Oahu's Kaneohe Bay around July 26-29, with that date range varying by several days on either side depending on weather, course selection, and boathandling. Notable participants in this year's race include Paul Cayard and his family aboard Hula Girl and Philippe Kahn aboard Pegasus. Records to be set?

Saturday's start, Division F, consists of the fastest boats skippered by dedicated and aggressive racers. Philippe Kahn on Pegasus (OP-50) hopes to best the record for fastest doublehanded passage now held by Stan Honey for his passage on the 70-foot Mongoose. As the fastest-rated boat in the fleet, Kahn should set the pace for the rest. The other boats in Division F are fully-crewed, generally meaning they will benefit from less fatigue and more aggressive sail handling. 70-foot sleds like Velos, Holua, and Rage will spar with Pegasus as well as Criminal Mischief and Flash, designed to take advantage of light weight, surfing all the way to Hawaii. Team Trophy, and Family Prize 2008 will see some special trophies. Blue Water Sailing magazine has sponsored a prize this year for the "Fastest Family Afloat." At least eight boats have declared as family efforts, with at least three relatives aboard, or two for doublehanders. These include perennial Pac Cup buffs Jim Quanci and Mary Lovely aboard Green Buffalo, the Jensen family aboard Alternate Reality, and the Cayard family aboard Hula Girl. Competition for the prize is expected to be spirited. Race co-organizer Storm Trysail Club has sponsored a Team Trophy. This prize will go to the three boat team from a single yacht club with combined best performances against the overall fleet and each boat's division. Nearly half the entrants have joined in teams defending the reputations of the Saint Francis, Richmond, Encinal, Corinthian of Portland, and San Diego yacht clubs, as well as the Singlehanded Sailing Society. The Pacific Cup All monohulls compete for the Pacific Cup, the trophy that gives the race its name. This is awarded to the boat completing the course with the best corrected time. Super-racers compete with modest family programs for this coveted prize. In the highly variable conditions of the Pacific, and under the strictures of the race, it's as likely that the trophy will be carried away by a general purpose sailboat of modest design as it is to be taken by an all-out race machine.

Daily Updates The Pacific Cup website, www.PacificCup.org, will be updated daily or better during the course of the race. Official standings, racer blogs, race commentary, and satellite tracks will be made available for the enjoyment and information of family, friends, and lovers of the race. ### The Pacific Cup: Started in 1980, the Pacific Cup race has attracted sailors of all stripes, from the hard-core ocean racer to the family ready and prepared for a true adventure. Roy Disney, Stan Honey, Philippe Kahn, and other luminaries in the sport have taken home Pacific Cup trophies, as have many family enterprises. The 2008 race will be one of the most heavily-attended in recent years, with 61 entries from 24 to 73 feet competing for a range of trophies including the Pacific Cup itself for best corrected time over the 2070-mile course. Pacific Cup Yacht Club (PCYC) was established in 1979 to run the biennial Pacific Cup. PCYC's mission is to realize the dreams of 70 or more yachts full of sailors, 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. Visit the official site at www.PacificCup.org About the Storm Trysail Club - The Storm Trysail Club (STC), reflecting in its name the sail which must be shortened when facing adverse conditions, is one of the world's most respected sailing clubs, with its membership comprised strictly of skilled blue water and ocean racing sailors. In addition to holding various prestigious offshore racing events (including the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex and Block Island Race), STC also hosts the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta and annual junior safety-at-sea seminars. It also has developed, in cooperation with the Transpacific Yacht Club, the Storm Trysail Transpac 65 and the Box Rule that will govern its design. Additional information is available at www.stormtrysail.org.