Sadly, we lost one of our Pac Cup boats that was going to send in reports (Pimu – story here), but we still have the boys and girl on Ragtime (Latest here), and have finally just heard from Michael Spies onboard his J/160 Maritimo 160. (I had gotten the invite, but had to bail, and of course I regret it now!). They are currently leading their division on corrected time!
Just rolled into Day 6 of the 2026 Pacific Cup onboard Maritimo 160 a J160.First day or so was very sporty and colder than your Mother In Law’s kiss with the weather slowly coming good. We started the same day as the Big Boats with all other Divisions starting either 3 or 4 Days before us despite some of them owing us time.
on Handicap i.e. being faster!
Our Division will certainly be the last to finish which was a given before we started. The earlier starting fleets seem to have got the best of the weather shooting through the lighter patches virtually unscathed where as our fellow Divisional colleagues (ORR 2) and the big boats ahead have been dealt a pretty crooked hand weather wise, with our fleet gybing consistently for the last 3 days trying not to park up under the moving cell.
No stars, moonlight or visible horizon to steer by at night making getting good numbers consistently at night very challenging. We have enjoyed being pretty competitive in our Division against designs such as Santa Cruz 50’s,an Andrews 56, DK 46 and a Swan 42. Without our close tight knit group the race would be a tad monotonous.(What a disrupter I would have been! – tempesta).
Maritimo 160 hasn’t raced in over 25 years, so it was a big effort from everyone involved including J Boats just getting on the start line. All sails bar 2 Spinnakers are old enough to vote, so early and multiple spinnaker changes are the order of the day so they are not carried out of range.
Still learning the boat with the crew with a fundamental philosophical difference of opinion between fellow Watch Captain Scott Kaufman and myself weather to sail hot or soak deep. Still being a Skiffie at heart you don’t have to guess which way I think. (Check the Polars, Spiesy! But I would think with the right kites, the boat can be soaked more than you think. Says me from my computer chair!)
The amazing build quality and structural integrity of this classic design has fortunately ensured minimal breakages and downtime at this early stage. Chafe is a constant enemy and work in progress with a lot of end for ending, recycling and re-splicing. (Oh to have that extra $100k to spend on new sails and rigging!)
On the down side, we burnt through 80% of the allocated Starlink Data in the first 3 days! Lesson learnt is don’t give the WiFi password out! That has limited our non essential contact with the outside world. But the Boat is comfortable and mostly dry which lends itself well for our delivery to Australia post race in time for this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Just been called for my watch. Future articles will be dictated by how we can manage the Data issue. – Michael Spies.
