Largest International Yacht Race: Newport to Ensenada

By James Rothaar
27 April 2009 @ 10:44 am EDT

International Yacht Races: The Newport Ocean Sailing Association is sponsoring the 62nd Newport to Enseneda International Yacht Race. The race begins at noon April 24 at the Balboa Pier in Newport. It runs down the Southern California coastline and finishes in Baja. The event is the world's largest international yacht race despite having a field of only 272 boats this year. The race has normally averaged more than 400 boats in past years.

The boats competing in the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race range from 18 to 80 feet in length, and there are a couple thousand sailors that make up the 272 individual crews. The length of the regatta is 125.5 nautical miles.

The fastest-rated yacht is Doug Baker's Magnitude 80, an Andrews 80. The boat has finished first among mono-hulls the past two years. The current speed-record holder for mono-hulls is Roy E. Disney's watercraft, Pyewackets. In 2003, it set the record by finishing the race in 10 hours 44 minutes and 54 seconds. This year Pyewackets II, which is being captained by Disney's son Pat, is among the favorites. The record for catamarans is six hours 46 minutes and 40 seconds. The record was set in 1998 by the 60-foot Stars & Stripes, which was owned by the late Steve Fosset.

The Fiesta del Vino is held in Baja after the race. An awards ceremony is held in the courtyard of the Bahia Hotel on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned for the results.

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