There has been much debate in yacht clubs and on the water about the Pacer 27. At the Cape Town Boat Show the level of interest in the boat was frankly amazing. From the show we have 42 people who want to take the boat for a trial sail. Most of these want their existing crew to go along so as to get their buy-in too. The question of the ‘Lipton’ seems secondary to the fact that here is a great new boat, and one which unlike all before it, can be ‘take home’ to tinker on.

Herewith then, a peek into the future of the boat as we see it.

Some facts:

•  Just under 20 Pacer 27’s have been sold into the SA market excl the
    charter boats. Deliveries start shortly.
•  Class Rules are nearing completion and will soon be posted on the
    Pacer Website for discussion
•  Class Association close to sanctioning by SAS
•  Substantial sponsorship in place for the Class Association
•  Pacer Yachts remains committed to a Charter fleet, numbers to
   be confirmed.

Looking at the above, a ‘class’ of Pacers already exists. Boat 5 is already in production, and add to all of this the following very important facts:

1.  The boat has been proven to be very easy to trail. 120kph behind a
     2.5ltr D/Cab.This translates into a class which WILL travel!

2.  The Rig can be raised or lowered by as few as two men, in 15 minutes
     using a winch on the boat. Again, this translates into a class which
     WILL travel.

3.  The boat has received rave reviews in SAILING. Here is a class of boat
     which is thrilling, sexy and fun to sail….

4.  The boat constitutes excellent value, especially when compared to
     overseas classes which can be imported but will never have the ‘go fwd’
     support already achieved for the Pacer 27 by way of Harvey Composites
     sponsorship for the class, or the massive boost given the class by the Yard
     owned boats. This, in the face of a hugely devalued Rand.


What this all adds up to is, here is a boat which, if ever there was a class of boat which deserved to succeed in South Africa, the Pacer 27 must surely be it.

The next 12 Months:

The inaugural Pacer 27 event takes place in Durban toward the end of February, early March 2007. Hosted by the Royal Natal Yacht Club, it shall take the following form:

It shall be run over two weekends:

1st Weekend: PACER 27 INTER-CLUB MATCH CUP REGATTA

•  Match Racing Format
•  12 Top Club Teams to be invited from SA and Overseas
•  Charter Boats shall be provided for teams
•  Boat Rotation shall take place between heats
•  Valuable Prizes to be won, Medals & Trophy shall be awarded
•  To become an annual event, hosted in all regions on a rotational basis, with
    a properly structured selection criteria in place for 2008.
(already a Top Team from Australia have entered)


2nd Weekend: PACER 27 SHOOTOUT REGATTA

•  Open to all Owners of Pacer 27’s and those who have paid deposits on new
    boats
•  Friday prior to the weekend – Coaching Clinic on the Pacer 27 S
   (by recognized SA Yachtsman)
•  Saturday and Sunday – 4 x Round the Cans Races offshore Durban, plus a
   ‘there and back race’.
•  Sunday PM. Prizegiving


Following on from these two events will be the Provincials and National Regattas.

TWO YEAR “PACER 27 GRAND SLAM SERIES”

Run over a two year or two season period, points shall be allocated for every regatta sailed. These shall accumulate and at the end of the 1st and 2nd seasons a “Grand Slam’ Regatta shall be hosted (also on a regional rotational basis). Points accumulated during the season shall be added to points earned in the Grand Slam, and the winners shall walk away with fantastic prizes. In the 1st Year, the overall winning boat will take home R30000.00 in Prizes. In the 2nd Year, the Winners will be awarded with a Brand NEW Pacer 27 Sport! [points shall be allocated for every regatta, properly weighted, and structured. People who have paid deposits but haven’t taken delivery of their boats by the time the events are in full swing will be given preference in terms of taking up charter boats]

These events will place the Pacer 27 Sport as the most active and sought after small keelboat class in South Africa.

Add to this, the immense interest and orders we are receiving from overseas parties, the fact that it is a stated goal to have the boat recognized as an International Class within a few years, and we have a winner in all respects.

All it will take is for South African sailors to drop their pre-conceptions and catch up to the rest of the world in sailing terms, by supporting the Pacer 27