ISLE FILE
Mari Cha IV threatens Pacific Cup sail record

Advertiser Staff

Built to be the fastest offshore monohull racing yacht, the 140-foot Mari Cha IV might prove to be just that in the 13th biennial West Marine Pacific Cup race from San Francisco Bay to Kane'ohe Bay.

Mari Cha IV is predicted to finish the 2,070-nautical-mile race at 4:30 p.m. today. If Bob Miller's purpose-built juggernaut does, it will break Pyewacket's 1998 race record of 6 days, 14 hours, 22 minutes, 20 seconds by more than one day.

Meanwhile, Division E boats Winnetou, Morpheus and Natazak continue to wage a battle for the overall race lead based on corrected time. They are expected to finish within hours of one another on Saturday.

The other division leaders are: Eyrie in doublehanded, First Light in A, California Girl in B, Inspired Environments in C, Surprise in D and Braveheart in F.

MORE SAILING

Two more finish, but Voodoo Child leads

Two more Division 1 boats crossed the finish line in Lahaina yesterday, but Voodoo Child led Division 2 and was the overall fleet leader of the IBM 2004 Victorial to Maui yacht race.

Cassiopeia finished at 2:39 yesterday morning and Flash at 2:47 in the afternoon, joining Renegade at the docks.

Meanwhile, Voodoo Child, a J130 from Tacoma Yacht Club, logged 230 miles in the 24-hour reporting period to wrest control of the overall lead from Flash.

Skipper Brian Duchin and navigator Brad Baker have made a couple of gutsy course changes to put Voodoo Child into position to capture the 2,308-nautical-mile race.

Tranquillite continues to lead Division 3.

BASEBALL

Eldredge clinic scheduled for July 24

The second Eldredge Athletics Youth Baseball Clinic will be held July 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Punahou School baseball field.

The clinic is for children ages 9 through 16 and limited to the first 80 registrants. The $65 fee includes a T-shirt and lunch. Registration forms may be downloaded via the Internet at www.eballclinics.com or may be obtained at Rainbow Sports or Toy-riffic locations in Kapolei or Mililani. Deadline to register is July 20.

Dave, Pal, Duane and Boy Eldredge will conduct the clinic. They will be helped by University of Hawai'i assistants Chad Konishi and Keith Komeiji, Mid-Pacific Institute coach Dunn Muramaru, Kamehameha assistant Mark Hirayama and former Punahou coach Mike Moss.

Those who need more information or want to assist with the clinic can call 681-5681 or e-mail eldredgeathletics@hawaii.rr.com.