2008 Long Beach to Cabo San Lucas - Final Day

Patrick O’Brien skippered Ed McDowell’s SC70, Grand Illusion, to first overall on corrected handicap time Rick Roberts

Peter Tong and crew of OEX gather on-deck for a victory photo after breaking the Cabo race record and finishing second overall on corrected handicap time. (Photo credit: Michael Stuart) © SW

Brack Duker's Holua was always in sight of the top two boats and finishing third overall in PHRF and second overall in ORR. Holua chose to take a wider arc to Cabo, losing ground to the leaders in the last half of the race.

Bob Lane’s Andrews 63, Medicine Man, raced to first in Division I and fourth place overall in the 2008 Cabo race. © Rick Roberts

Bob Lane's Andrews 63, Medicine Man, raced to first in PHRF and ORR Division I, and fourth overall. Per Peterson's Andrews 70, Alchemy, skippered by Viggo Torbenson, was fifth overall in PHRF. Chris Slagerman's Peterson 68, Cheetah, rounded out the field in sixth place overall in PHRF and fifth overall in ORR.

Missing from the podium this year was Doug Baker's Andrews 80, Magnitude 80, losing its mast early on the second day. Good news was that no one was injured and, after having cut away the entire rig, sails and all, they were able to safely motor to Ensenada.

Also retiring was Kevin Flanigan's Fox 44, Ocelot, which withdrew early on the second day believing there would not have been enough consistent wind to be able to complete the distance before the Thursday noon finishing cutoff.

Grand Illusion seemed to be a nemesis to OEX and Holua, being mentioned in post-race interviews by both.

Tong said earlier, 'Sunday morning we were neck and neck with Grand Illusion so we had to figure out how to distance ourselves from them… which we did.'

Sam Heck, watch captain of Holua said, 'We saw G.I. the second morning and kept trying to stay ahead of them.'

Skipper O'Brien commented, 'Oh yeah, we saw them and tried to stay between them, running a fine line between not going too far out [away from the coast for more wind] and not too close inside.

'We stayed on starboard tack all the way to Newport Beach and then tacked to port. At about 375 miles from Cabo, we took down our 3A [spinnaker] and put up the 4A because the breeze went aft. We jibed when Holua jibed and crossed in front of them. We knew we were pretty set after that. They 'fagged out' and went outside looking for more weather. We saw OEX inside of us and Holua outside. As long as we stayed outside of OEX and kept Holua outside of us we had a chance.

'We sailed our angles and hit our targets and it worked out well.'

Heck said, 'We had a good time. We tried to stay ahead of G.I. but went wide off of [Isla] Cedros for more wind and they kept going straight. We figured it was smarter, but…[chuckles]. We didn't break anything, didn't tear any sails, no one got hurt and we're all smiles at the end.'

Bill Lee, Transpac record setter (Merlin, 1977), and designer/builder of the Santa Cruz 70s, talked about the boats and what he believes is their place in sailboat racing today.

Lee said, 'I was on Blondie [one of the first SC70s built] in 1985 with Bill Martin when they set the Cabo record.

'You look at the Lido 14s, the 505s, the 49ers. These are boats you can have fun on and sail yourself with friends. That's what's good about the SC70. It is a good amateur boat that you can take out with a few friends and race. That kind of sailing is more satisfying. Any bigger and you have to bring in the pros to sail it.

'That, I believe, is the singular reason the boat is so popular. It's the right size boat before you have to lose your friends. Bigger is not always better.'

Brack Duker’s SC70, Holua, finished the 2008 Cabo race in third place overall on corrected handicap time. © Rick Roberts

Unofficial Results (time listed in Days:Hours:Minutes:Seconds)

PHRF
Division I
1. Bob Lane, Medicine Man, LBYC – elapsed 3:00:48:15, corrected 3:01:10:05
Doug Baker, Magnitude 80, LBYC – retired

Division II
1. Ed McDowell, Grand Illusion, King Harbor YC – 3:00:53:30, 2:21:58:33
2. Peter Tong, OEX, LBYC – 2:22:50:09, 2:22:07:39
3. Brack Duker, Holua, Cal YC – 3 :01:14:42, 2:22:49:40
4. Per Peterson, Alchemy, Oceanside YC – 3:04:20:07, 3:01:48:58
5. Chris Slagerman, Cheetah,SouthBayYachtRacingClub – 03:19:56:54, 03:13:36:14
Kevin Flanigan, Ocelot, Corinthian YC of Portland – retired

ORR
Division I
1. Bob Lane, Medicine Man, LBYC – 03:12:48:15, 02:15:27:30
2. Doug Baker, Magnitude 80, LBYC – retired

Division II
1. Ed McDowell, Grand Illusion, King Harbor YC – 03:12:53:30, 02:07:42:38
2. Brack Duker, Holua, Cal YC – 03:13:14:42, 02:09:04:10
3. Peter Tong, OEX, LBYC – 03:10:50:09, 02:09:10:03
4. Chris Slagerman, Cheetah, SouthBayYachtRacingClub – 04:07:56:54, 02:21:58:51
5. Kevin Flanigan, Ocelot, Corinthian YC of Portland – retired
(Alchemy chose not to be scored under ORR)

PHRF - Overall on Corrected Handicap Time
1. Ed McDowell, Grand Illusion, King Harbor YC – 3:00:53:30, 2:21:58:33
2. Peter Tong, OEX, LBYC – 2:22:50:09, 2:22:07:39
3. Brack Duker, Holua, Cal YC – 3 :01:14:42, 2:22:49:40
4. Bob Lane, Medicine Man, LBYC – elapsed 3:00:48:15, corrected 3:01:10:05
5. Per Peterson, Alchemy, Oceanside YC – 3:04:20:07, 3:01:48:58
6. Chris Slagerman, Cheetah,SouthBayYachtRacingClub – 03:19:56:54, 03:13:36:14
Doug Baker, Magnitude 80, LBYC – retired

ORR - Overall on Corrected Handicap Time
1. Ed McDowell, Grand Illusion, King Harbor YC – 03:12:53:30, 02:07:42:38
2. Brack Duker, Holua, Cal YC – 03:13:14:42, 02:09:04:10
3. Peter Tong, OEX, LBYC – 03:10:50:09, 02:09:10:03
4. Bob Lane, Medicine Man, LBYC – 03:12:48:15, 02:15:27:30
5. Chris Slagerman, Cheetah, SouthBayYachtRacingClub – 04:07:56:54, 02:21:58:51**
(Alchemy chose not to be scored under ORR)

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