January 25, 2025. SAN FRANCISCO: The marine environmental group Sailors for the Sea, Powered by Oceana, has recognized the 2024 Pacific Cup with its top “Platinum” status. Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea advocates for a cleaner and healthier marine environment. One branch of that effort encourages regattas to adopt more sustainable practices.
The Pacific Cup has long supported excellent environmental practices and has been teaming with Sailors for the Sea since their earliest days. “We went paperless several races back, and our host clubs have been great partners in reducing waste and plastic use,” explained Galen Loving, Pacific Cup’s Environmental Chair. “With additional projects like recognizing ‘green’ boats, on-shore cleanups, and expanded education, we were able to satisfy Sailors for the Sea’s platinum requirements,” he added.
Run in even years, the 2070 mile Pacific Cup race from San Francisco to Oahu offers racers many opportunities to adopt environmentally responsible practices. Starting with the obvious requirement not to toss plastics overboard, racers can improve their situation with thoughtful packaging choices, avoiding single-use water bottles, recycling containers on land, and donating unconsumed food items to local food banks, for example. All of this takes place in an atmosphere of fun and spirited competition.
The 2026 Pacific Cup will start the week of July 6, and the team will be looking to repeat their platinum status. “Our advocacy for the environment is a strong element in all of our training, and even our parties,” commented PCYC Commodore Bob Hinden, “we’re proud to be responsible mariners on this patch of water we’ve enjoyed sailing.”
About the Pacific Cup
The Pacific Cup has taken thousands of sailors downwind from San Francisco to the welcoming shores of Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. A true bucket list event, the Pacific Cup draws sailors from near and far to participate both on the water and online, as the entire marine community closely follows the race participants in this trans-Pacific race. Running every even year, the next race starts on July 6, 2026, with an awards ceremony held at the Kaneohe Yacht Club on July 24.
About Sailors for the Sea
Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana is the world’s leading ocean conservation organization that educates and activates the sailing and boating community toward restoring ocean health. Sailors for the Sea unites sailors and boaters to take a stand for our oceans and waterways. Since the organization’s start in 2004, Sailors for the Sea has worked toward building a community of ocean stewards by offering tools, education and inspiration so that sailors may become change agents and harness the power of their passion to heal the ocean. Sailors for the Sea is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island.