Spinnaker Cup 2024 Experts Briefing

Dave MacEwen and Jeff Thorpe will offer a briefing on Spinnaker Cup preparations, tactics, weather routing and safety requirements at MPYC on April 9 starting at 530pm. This briefing is highly recommended for all skippers and crew who are planning to race in the upcoming 2024 Spinnaker Cup, or simply dreaming of doing the race someday. It would also be of interest to other racers and non-racers alike, including Spinnaker Cup volunteers. Dave MacEwen is a MPYC member, former Board member and Race Director. He is also active at St Francis Yacht Club where is currently the Executive Race Chair. Dave has completed multiple Transpacs starting in 2013 (often finishing with a podium position), Mexico races, Rolex Big Boat Series, Spinnaker Cups and CA Offshore Race Week (CORW) races. He and his Santa Cruz 52 team "Lucky Duck" were the overall winners of the 2018 CORW. Dave currently campaigns his Rogers 46 “_Lucky Duck_” in many offshore races, and he plans to compete in the 2024 CORW (including Spinnaker Cup), the 2024 Pacific Cup and Big Boat Series. Dave also actively campaigns a J/90  also named “_Lucky Duck_” on San Francisco Bay.

Jeff Thorpe is a professional sailor, sales consultant at Quantum Pacific loft  navigator, and weather guru. He is widely considered as one of the most experienced offshore sailors and navigators on the CA coast, if not country wide.  He has extensive sailing history on many types of boats including J/70, J/111, J/105, J/125, Melges 24, Olsen 30, E-22, TP 52, Santa Cruz 70 and Santa Cruz 52 classes as well as offshore catamarans and cruising boats . His offshore experience is even more impressive having competed (mostly as navigator) in numerous Transpacs and Pacific Cup races, and CORWs, as well as races down the CA coast to Mexico including Cabo, and Ensenada. Jeff is willing to share his extensive experience with Spinnaker Cup sailors and supporters as we prepare for the race. Jeff will join the briefing via Zoom.

In-person attendance is highly recommended. The briefing will also be streamed via Zoom using the link below. Online participants are required to register for the event.

Zoom link

Passcode: 999857

Contact Jean du Preez at dupreez.race@gmail.com for more information on the event.