The ocean race started in 1961 and has continually run every other year since.
One of the oldest offshore races on the calendar, The Pineapple Cup – Montego Bay Race will be the 33rd edition of the venerable 811 nautical mile race. Immediately after the start, racers cross the Gulf Stream for the Northwest Providence Channel. The middle of the race offers a fetch down the eastern side of the Bahamas Island Chain toward the tip of Cuba. The final stretch is typically a sailor’s dream: a 240-mile downwind sleigh ride from Cuba’s eastern tip, known as the Windward Passage, to the finish at Montego Bay.
The Pineapple Cup is set to start in Miami, Florida on February 3, 2017. Following a brief stop-over and Awards Ceremony in Montego Bay, boats may elect to sail in the newly formed Cuba Cup, a 640 nautical mile race from Montego Bay to Havana set to start on February 17th.
The two events will include divisions for IRC, PHRF, double-handed and multi-hulls. Both races may be registered for and raced independently, however, there will be an overall series trophy awarded in Havana to the boat with the best combined corrected time.
The Pineapple Cup will award the Robert McNeil Mobay Course Challenge Trophy to the first monohull to break the Montego Bay Race Record of 2 days, 10 hours, 24 minutes and 42 seconds set in 2005 by Titan 12. In addition, the Silver Rose Bowl (1st monohull to finish), Silver Pineapple Cup (1st overall corrected time IRC), Silver Seahorse (1st overall correct time PHRF), Arawak (1st overall corrected time multihull) perpetual trophies will be awarded at the prize giving. The Jamaica Tourist Board Log Award will be awarded to the team with the most interesting log.
“The Pineapple Cup has long been central to Storm Trysail Club’s mission, ‘to encourage the sport of ocean racing’,” noted Storm Trysail Club Commodore Lee Reichart. “We are excited to be again partnering with the Montego Bay Yacht club to reinvigorate this classic race. We think there is great potential in the new Cuba Cup, applaud Montego Bay for expanding its offerings and look forward to the series becoming a staple in the offshore calendar for years to come.”