60th Newport to Ensenada race looking strong

by Rich Roberts on 29 Mar 2007 A month before the start there are already more than 200 entries for the 60th Lexus Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race April 27, well ahead of the usual pace.

Peter Bretschger, president of Integrated Marketing Works, the sponsorship marketing company for NOSA over the last three years, said, 'This is still one of the largest yacht races in the world with over 3,500 sailors involved, and it's bringing a lot of sponsorship support from companies like Lexus and Porto Hussong keeping the costs down for the boat owners.'

For the first time, entries for the world's largest international yacht race may be filed and fees paid online on the race website. For those planning to race but not yet entered, discount entry fees will rise from $135 to $185 after April 13.

Also, there will be no pre-race inspection as before. Instead, competitors will be personally responsible for complying with the U.S. Coast Guard Equipment List and the PHRF Standard Equipment List for Category 1 races. Boats will then be subject to random inspection after finishing. Details are on the race website.

The last of a series of pre-race seminars will be Wednesday night at Dana Point Yacht Club and April 5 at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. The complete agenda also is covered in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on the race website.

Current entries include Doug Baker's Magnitude 80 and Jim Madden's Stark Raving Mad III, each first to finish in recent races to Mexico. Baker's Andrews 80 from Long Beach smashed the 22-year-old record for Del Rey YC's race to Puerto Vallarta by 31 hours. Madden's Reichel/Pugh 66 from Newport Beach led the way in Newport Harbor YC's race to Cabo San Lucas, beating another Ensenada race entry, Bob Lane's Andrews 63, Medicine Man, by 79 minutes.

Baker briefly held the Newport to Ensenada record of 11 hours 23 minutes 53 seconds set in 2002 until it was bettered by Roy Disney's Pyewacket a year later in 10:44:54, a record that still stands. The multihull record hasn't been seriously challenged since Steve Fossett clocked 6 hours 46 minutes 40 seconds in 1998---the only boat ever to finish before sundown.

The largest number of entries was 675 in 1983.

For this race, Madden has donated a Maxi class trophy for first place on corrected handicap time. To be eligible a boat must have a valid IRC handicap rating certificate.

Also, Ensenada businessman Cesar Juaregui of Bajarama Tours has donated the 'Amigo' trophy to be awarded annually to the race's outstanding first-time competitor.