(Newport Beach, CA- April 15-17)- A West Coast classic, a 125.5 nm
overnight race that provides the perfect mix of fun and adventure as
racers decide whether to head off-shore for stronger winds or to sail
the rhumb line towards the finish. With over 50 trophy categories and
numerous classes the opportunity to "take home the silver" makes this
race appealing to all levels of participants. Whether you are a
first-time racer or an experienced pro, this one is for you.The race is sandwiched between some really fun events – something that all sailors like. Enjoy the "Send-Off" Fiesta at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club the night before the race, a long-standing traditional that must be experienced to be believed. The post-race party atmosphere Saturday and Sunday at Race Headquarters, the Bahia Hotel in Ensenada, will definitely make you smile. Plus, a lucky raffle winner will get to ride around in the new Tesla Motors all-electric Roadster for the whole bloody weekend!! By Sunday afternoon, the city of Ensenada pulls out all of the stops and puts on a huge fiesta for racers, crew, family and friends. In the courtyard of the Bahia Hotel, the music rocks, food and drink flows and everyone parties to all hours of the night. Most importantly, get your picture taken riding the burros! A Kodak moment to memorialize for your Facebook pals you actually went there to race, not to party.
Amongst
the 175 entries is a large and strong contingent of J sailors. Perhaps
leading the charge down the coast for the J/Fleet will be the four
"superfast" J's in Sprit A class. Never to shy away from a fun
challenge is perennial front-runner Tom Holthus on his well-campaigned,
TransPac winning J/145 BAD PAK from San Diego YC. Yet another J/145
vying for honors will be Santa Barbara YC's team of Poppe/ Parks sailing
with a good crew aboard SEQUOYAH. Nipping at their heels like a mad
dog with a bone in its teeth will be Mark Surber's J/125 DERIVATIVE from
CORYC. Cruising in serious comfort and giving all these J "sleds" a
case of anxiety attacks (depending on conditions, of course) will be
Paul Marais's gorgeous J/160 INDIGO from SYC-LB. And, just to keep
these trophy-hunters honest will be a J/130 sailed by yet another good
crew from Santa Barbara YC, Chuck Browning and gang aboard BEBE.Leading the charge in Sprit B class will be two J/120s, BARAKA sailed by Janet Mostafa from Balboa YC and FEE EVENT raced by Chuck Wert from BCYC. Along with them will be two J/105s, ROCINANTE's Juan Lois from SBYRC and LUCKY STAR's Mark Wyland from ALYC. Spread across other parts of the PHRF classes are the following: Seth Hall's J/124 MARISOL from CYA, Larry Leveille's J/29 RUSH STREET (last year's Kings Harbor Race Winner) from Santa Barbara YC and Tom Lehtonen's J/30 EGGEMOGIN from SBYRC. Any one of these boats has the ability to upset the proverbial "apple cart" for the big boys-- won't be the first time a J/29 or J/30 has spoiled the party. For more Ensenda Race sailing information