Newport to Ensenada - An ocean cruise and a Brass Spittoon

by Rich Roberts on 8 Apr 2010 Anyone can be a winner in Newport to Ensenada First-to-finish is nice and a record is extra special, but how about a $6,000 Lamborghini watch?

That's one prize Magnitude 80 missed last year but every boat in a racing division will be chasing again in the Newport Ocean Sailing Association's 63rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race starting April 23. A new sponsor, Lamborghini Travels, will present a limited edition diamond watch to the winner of the President of USA trophy for the fastest overall corrected handicap time that Cleve Hardaker of San Diego won last year on Sojourn, a Catalina 36.

The newest sponsor stated, 'Lamborghini Travels' goal when sponsoring an event is to seek originality. We find this through high end events.'

Hardaker sailed in PHRF-K, the lowest-rated of the racing classes, as did Chris Meyers of Lawton, Okla., sailing a Columbia 29-2 named CC. Just because you're racing under the radar doesn't mean you're overlooked. Hardaker won a $5,000 watch with the top prize. Meyers and his son Jay won . the coveted Brass Spittoon.

Meyers, who couldn't be blamed for not hanging around for the entire awards ceremony, said, 'I didn't even realize I'd won the prize until some time after the race.'

His reaction later? 'I was, uh . I was amused.'

The Brass Spittoon, which needs no description, isn't just a booby prize. Until the format was modified a few years ago the winner was the last boat to finish before the deadline time. Some of the contests among stragglers circling above the line for tail-end honors were legendary.

Then the honor was modified to recognize the slowest handicap time.

Meyers had done the 125.5 nautical miles from Newport Beach to Ensenada about a dozen times but always on a competitive multihull, not an aging monohull.

'The boat had problems with the rigging and problems with the sails,' he said. 'Bottom line was we didn't do very well---but we did finish the race. There were several boats finishing after us when we crossed the line. When Jay told me later we had won the booby prize I was a little surprised.'

He suspects some of his followers may have been Cruising Division boats, which may motor part of the time and aren't eligible for the Brass Spittoon.

'Humphrey Bogart won that award [on Santana] one year, didn't he?' Meyers asked. 'At least I was told that he did. If that is true then I'm in pretty good company.'

Bogie's achievement couldn't be immediately confirmed, but Meyers added, 'I probably will try not to repeat this year.'

He also said, 'I am absolutely impressed and thrilled and indebted to the people who put on that race. I accept the award in the spirit in which it is made. I'm trilled to death to participate in the race.'

The Carnival Cruise option
New passport regulations are in place for everyone crossing the border, including racers and others who choose to take the Carnival Cruise ship Paradise to Ensenada during race weekend. Donna Gaddis and 40 friends from the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in Channel Islands, Calif. would recommend the latter, which proved popular when it was introduced as an option for travelers last year.

The price for the three-night round-trip out of Long Beach is as low as $269, plus government taxes and fees of an additional $41.10 per person . Details

'Our club has long been a supporter of racers in the Newport to Ensenada Race,' Gaddis said. 'Last year our 'landlubbers' literally cruised over the Mexican border on the Carnival Paradise. On Saturday morning we woke up, sat on our balconies and had the best view ever of the finish of the race.

'This year we will once again board a bus from PCYC to Newport Beach to experience the majestic start of the race and then proceed to the Carnival Paradise in Long Beach to set sail for Ensenada.

'PCYC Commodore Mary Lou Breeze will host the PCYC hospitality suite at the Bahia Hotel to welcome sailors, mingle with other yacht clubs and generally enjoy the flavor of Ensenada.'

Otherwise, Gaddis said, the group will enjoy shipboard activities including a spa, miniature golf, dance classes and buffets.

Support for racers and their fans:
Vessel Assist boats will monitor the fleet all the way to Ensenada, and the Mexican Coast Guard will be on station south of the border to ensure another safe race. A NOSA power cruiser also will accompany the fleet from start to finish.

For families and friends driving to Ensenada, new, large directional signs in English have been placed over the roadways leading out of the San Ysidro border crossing to guide drivers past the outskirts of Tijuana and onto the free-flowing and guarded Highway 1 toll road directly to Ensenada.

NOSA also is working closely with the Mexico Tourism Bureau to arrange for an enjoyable weekend highlighted by a gala fiesta Saturday night, followed by the boisterous awards ceremony in the courtyard of the headquarters Bahia Hotel Sunday afternoon.

The race is open to boats from high-tech ocean racers to Mom and Pop trailerables. Classes will be established for designated Sport boats, including Melges 32, Melges 30, Melges 24, Farr 30 (formerly Mumm 30), Henderson 30, Turbocharged Hobie 33, Viper 830, Columbia 30-32, Flying Tiger 10M, B 32 and Antrum 27.

The minimum size limits are 18 feet for monohulls and 20 feet for multihulls.

Online entry is available at www.nosa.org/nosa_onlineentry.html