J/Sailors Relishing Fast Race South of the Border(Newport Beach, CA)- This year the famous 125 nm drag race down the coastline, the proverbial "Border Run" from SoCal to Ensenada just south of Tijuana, Mexico has a new sponsor on-board- Lexus Cars. Chuck Iverson, Commodore of the organizing Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA), said, "Lexus' presence elevates the race to a new level of esteem. NOSA is proud to have our two traditions of exceptional performance working together." From the sailing community standpoint, it's good to see like-minded business partners supporting the sport of sailing overall for friends, families and loved ones.
From the sailing perspective, it looks like the J/Clan is supporting the event in a big way as it often has over the years. Here's a quick breakdown of the J/Team entries. There are twenty-one J's sailing across six classes, representing about 10% of the fleet overall and nearly 35% of the "racing boat" fleet.
Sailing in Sprit A Class will be a raft of TEN J/120s in what amounts to be a J/120 one-design class. Promising to be a big factor will be incredibly well-sailed J/120s over the years, including Jim Barber's HOT TAMALE, Gary Winton's SHENANIGANS, Tom and Terri Manok's avidly-campaigned POLE DANCER, John Laun's champion CAPER, and perhaps Mike Hatch's silver-collecting J-ALMIGHTY-- please note, all of these J/120 teams are capable of podium finishes, so all outcomes will ride on that "road not taken" from point A to point B.
In Sprit B Class will be an army of J/105s making an assault across the border, including Bill Moore's KESTREL, Juan Lois's ROCINANTE, Mark Wyland's LUCKY STAR, Tom Bollay's ARMIDA. Giving them a run-for-the-money will be John Shulze's J/109 LINSTAR.
In
the big boat PHRF division will be a cast of characters many of you
will be familiar with in SoCal offshore sailing circles. In PHRF A, the
"big boys & girls", will be Viggo Torbenson's J/125 TIMESHAVER,
fresh off a successful assault on the Puerto Vallarta Race recently.
Giving them a run for the podium will be a hot team from Santa Barbara
YC led by Carolyn Parks on the J/145 RADIO FLYER, a known awesomely fast
offshore boat with lots of silverware for her sisterships. Not to be
taken lightly is a "fast cruiser", the J/160 INDIGO sailed by Paul
Margis, that can run amok with the racing boats given the right reaching
conditions.In PHRF B class are some more offshore J/Teams that have a similar "laid back", but serious approach to their sailing style--- generally a successful approach to SoCal sailing, with many to show shelves of silverware for their efforts. Recently, Seth Hall on his J/124 MARISOL has been winning, so we expect good things from his team. Twin J/46s, Jorge Morales' gorgeous BOLERO and Bob Pace's equally beautiful ANDIAMO will be challenging Seth for honors in their division.
While the big boats may have a fast, comfortable passage, perhaps the "sleeper" in this fleet is Larry Leveille's incredibly well-sailed J/29 RUSH STREET from Santa Barbara YC that will be sailing in PHRF D. Never discount how fast a masthead J/29 can catch you in the craziest of conditions. And, these guys know how to do it. Compatriots in crime in the 30 footers will be Steve Cole's J/30 LOVE & WAR sailing PHRF F from Alamitos Bay YC, equally as capable as RUSH STREET to surprise the fleet. What many forget is how fast the J/29 and J/30 are at reaching like hell once everyone is sailing with cracked sheets under white sails or sailing with chutes on reaching angles.
How do you sail the Ensenada Race? Lots of wisdom is offered by many. But, one of the renown experts on the race is Andy Rose-- this guy's done a LOT of offshore races, but most especially the Ensenada Race. What Andy likes about the Lexus Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race is that "it's a very challenging race." Although it's only 125 nautical miles from the Balboa Pier to the new finish line off the new race headquarters at the Hotel Coral and Marina, it presents important strategic decisions, along with unsurpassed pre- and post-race fun.
"You see a lot of conditions that you sometimes wouldn't get unless it was a longer race. It's fun sailing after dark. If the race doesn't have some very light squirrely stuff in the night we don't do very well. We're the smallest boat in the maxi class so we need something weird to happen and, happily, it happens at night. Last year we were fortunate to do the right thing and we ended up within a few lengths of the boats that had been four or five miles ahead of us at sundown."
On Thursday evening, Rose discussed three points in the race that are key: (i) whether to go offshore at the start or stick to the coast; (ii) whether to go inside or outside the Coronado Islands at the border, and (iii) when to jibe to the finish inside Todos Santos Bay, where races have been won and lost in the tricky breeze.
"I don't think anyone can tell you they know all the ins and outs," Rose said. "None of us do. But there are some things we look for and try to act accordingly." However it goes, Rose said, "You get to a fun place at the end with the town filled up with people who have just raced down."
Some of the boats, anxious to return home, don't dock after finishing but just head for home---"turn and burn," it's called. "That'll be part of my talk," Rose said. "We stay until Monday morning because we love Ensenada and we always have a great time. The shoreside stuff for us is just as much fun as the race." For more Lexus Newport-Ensenada Race sailing information
