2016 FMV Cup - Puerto Vallarta Race - 21 boats in action

by FMV Cup 2016 on 24 Feb 2016 2016 FMV CUP began with the departure of 21 boats from San Diego to Puerto. We have a pair of Farr 40s one design racing for 1000 miles; we have the 60x60 trimaran machine Mighty Merloe pacing the epic Super Maxi sled Rio100; we have a great collection (Class three) of Santa Cruz 50s and 52s; we have the great design debate: small quick pole boat (J/125) vs classic offshore R/50 Blue Blazes; and we have Class two, the diverse and always fun to sail sled class. There is a lot going on this week in the Pacific.

Classes three and four featured Santa Cruz 50s and 52s, a Reichel/ Pugh 50, a J/125 and two Farr 40s. The Friday start saw a chamber of commerce day, and a great one to send boats charging south to Puerto Vallarta. Four Class four boats and six Class three boats started in a perfect westerly breeze with 10-15 knots pressure. Two-time previous PV winner, R/P 50 Blue Blazes, started strong and was among the leaders of the pack - a good sign for skipper Dennis Pennell who is aiming for his third win this year.

As the sun was rising Saturday morning on a slightly overcast day, things were not looking up for the big boats starts. The 10 boats that set sail on Friday took advantage of a consistent breeze, launching them over 200 miles down the course. Most were reporting winds at 15-20 knots. Class zero, one, and two boats sat around the morning skippers meeting wishing their race could have included the Friday conditions. Skipper Wayne Zittel and the team on the J/125 J Worlds Hula Girl provided some commentary on their first day on the water.

“We had a nice start down at the favored pin end of the line, and were able to lead our pack out the Bay. As our fleets cleared the shifty/gusty stretches near Ballast point, the first spinnakers went up, and I do believe our whole fleet were into spins before we reached the ocean, with the exception of Deception who opted for their Code zero.“

“The breeze had filled across the whole course, so our pack of boats all sailed a line shoreward of the Coronado Islands. It can be risky if the winds are not solid, but it is closer to the rhumb-line, and yesterday this was clearly the fast call. One by one, boats peeled from their reachers to the runners, and we were off. All afternoon, our fleet drag-raced south. Lucky Duck punched out to an early lead. Horizon was next with us just off their weather hip. We worked had to reel them in, but had a bit of stubborn kelp on the keel that we absolutely could not shake...”

Saturday, February 20, 2016 dawned still and slightly overcast. Things were not looking up for the big boat start. But what a difference 30 minutes can make. As the Race Committee took station in the starting area, winds were calm. By 11:30am, 25 min prior to the start, winds were six knots from the south. And at the start, 11 knots from 270!

Class two (Sleds) were rail to rail at the pin and quickly out past Point Loma. Class One got underway shortly thereafter with Super Maxi Rio100’s speed reaching nearly 23 knots out of the bay. Rio100 amazingly makes its competition look small on the racecourse. Measuring over 100' long and 20' wide, Rio100 is targeting the West Coasts most competitive and challenging races such the SoCal 300 and Transpacs. The crew of 18 on board pushed the Super Maxi out in front of the Class one boats moments after the start line and was a 1/4 of a mile in front of the competition as the boats passed Point Loma headed south.

Then, twenty minutes after that, the speedster of the event, (and after watching them sail across the start line, it is apparent why they are sailing even though they are in a class by themselves...literally and figuratively) the ocean going ORMA 60 Trimaran, Mighty Merloe, rocketed across the start line. Within seconds she was flying two hulls, with just her leeward ama in the water. ZOOM is the word that comes to mind.

Today 23 February, the ship Mighty Merlo has reached Mexican waters around 13:30 hrs. Mexican boats (Patches, Vincitore, Dangerous and Flyer) are coming to Puerto Vallarta, giving worthy competition in these 4 days of sailing.