2015 Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race now a Transpac qualifier

by Laurie Morrison on 29 Nov 2014 Officials with the Newport Ocean Sailing Association have announced that the iconic Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race is now an approved Transpac qualifying event.

According to the Transpac Notice of Race, to be eligible for the July 2015 event, each boat must complete a qualifying race prior to June 1. Those races are generally 150-plus nautical-mile ocean passages. Few Southern California races meet those requirements.

To meet the qualifying criteria, NOSA will offer a separate, longer N2E course that will go around San Clemente Island and south to the same finish line as the other racers.

NOSA believes the more challenging course will be advantageous for local boats and skippers new to Transpac and competitors sailing from afar who could sail N2E as a tune up race. Vice Commodore Jerry Moulton suggested the longer, offshore route that members of US Sailing and the Transpacific Yacht Club officially approved.

The course will be open to all racers who qualify; bigger boats and race veterans wanting to up their level of competition, fun and excitement while racing against world-class Transpac contenders.

'It's a win-win for everybody,' said Moulton. N2E boats running the supplemental course will have to meet higher Transpac safety standards as US Sailing considers the new route an ocean course. N2E is normally considered a coastal race.

'Anyone who qualifies can participate in the longer race,' said Moulton. Those higher Transpac standards will potentially include having upgraded safety equipment aboard.

Transpac, a 2,225 nautical mile race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii runs every two years. Officials announced the opening of entries for the 48th running on its Facebook page September 16 and two 100-foot yachts have already signed up. One is Bob Oatley's supermaxi, Wild Oats XI, which is operated as a joint venture between Oatley and Roy Disney Jr.