Newport to Ensenada - It's OK for now . but DC will have his say

by Rich Roberts on 17 Apr 2010 As the Australians learned at the 1987 America's Cup down in Fremantle, don't mess with Dennis Conner when he has a score to settle. That's on the minds of Lew Beery, Andy Rose and Tom Purcell, the Tres Gordos LLC group that owns It's OK, an Andrews 50, as they prepare to defend last year's Maxi class victory in the Newport Ocean Sailing Association's 63rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race starting Friday, April 23, off Balboa Pier.

The Tres Gordos guys beat Conner's Farr 60, Stars & Stripes, by 3 minutes 29 seconds, with Alec Oberschmidt's Reichel/Pugh 50, Staghound, only eight minutes farther back.

That's talking PHRF corrected handicap time, which is what counts when disparate boats compete. Theoretically, the system rewards the crews that sail their boats closest to their rated potentials.

Boat for boat, Stars & Stripes, with a rating of minus-63 seconds per mile, actually finished about 28 minutes ahead of It's OK (-57) in their contest for the President of Mexico trophy last year. 'And, Beery said, 'if Dennis hadn't hit an island of kelp he would have beaten us. He did it early in the morning around 3 . probably got too close in [to shore].'

But last year's top three Maxi finishers will go at it again for 125.5 nautical miles of the offshore tradition. Conner said, 'I have enjoyed the race since the mid-50s. My first races were on PCC and Owens Cutters. In those days it was THE race everyone looked forward to as there were much fewer races. 'Not much has changed in the race itself. Ensenada has seen the biggest changes with the new downtown and paved roads.'

Beery said of the 2009 contest, 'What was really amazing was that the first three boats couldn't have sailed a shorter course. All of the other guys went clear outside.'

It was a special year with a moderate but steady offshore breeze blowing from an ideal direction that allowed the fleet to sail a straight-line reaching course until turning into Todos Santos Bay.

Beery, Rose and Purcell certainly know the way. Beery reckons he has sailed more than 40 Newport-Ensenada races and Rose and Purcell about 30 each.

'That gives us about a hundred years of experience in the race on board,' Beery said.

Beery's boats named It's OK also have been a race tradition.

'This is number seven, and all of 'em have been in the race,' he said.

And the fun doesn't stop at the finish.

'We check into the Coral [hotel], and we have our annual croquet tournament there,' Beery said. 'I'm the defending champion in that, too. One of the rules is you have to hold a glass of wine in one hand and hit the ball with the other.'

Until then, they are focusing on sticking as close as they can to Conner.

'He is a fun competitor,' Beery said.

Conner said, 'I am hoping for another good time in this year's race.'

Driving across the border
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. For the return trip, a limited number of passes for the express Servicios Medicos Lane back across the border at San Ysidro will be available through NOSA officials at the Bahia Hotel race headquarters in Ensenada. The lane will be marked by a banner shown here. . . Also, 078, a Mexican version of the 911 phone number to call in case of emergency, is now available across the border.

Tweets to and from the fleet
Race fans, friends and families may follow the pre-race and in-race Twitter Tweets from any of the competitors who will be tweeting (see list at http://www.nosa.org/nosa-twitter.html). Just go to your Twitter account to sign up and follow the racer(s) of your choice. To have your Tweets followed, email the webmaster ( dee@gowebdev.com) to put your avatar and twitter account info on the NOSA website.

Late race notes
The entry list has reached 210 boats. The overall racing division winner---Maxis plus PHRF A through K---on corrected handicap time will receive not only the President of USA Trophy but a $6,000 Lamborghini diamond watch from a new race sponsor, Lamborghini Travels. . . . 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. The price for the three-night round-trip out of Long Beach is as low as $349, plus government taxes and fees of an additional $41.10 per person. Besides the race, guests will enjoy shipboard activities including a spa, miniature golf, dance classes and buffets.

NOSA has been working closely with the Mexico Tourism Bureau to arrange for an enjoyable weekend highlighted by the boisterous awards ceremony in the courtyard of the headquarters Bahia Hotel Sunday afternoon.

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.

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.

Lamborghini Travels has joined has joined the list of event sponsors and supporters that also include North Sails, the world's largest sailmaker; City of Newport Beach, Go Baja, The Pirate's Lair, Mount Gay Rum, Firebrand Media, Marriott Newport Beach Hotel and Spa, Connection to Cruise/Carnival Cruise Lines, Vessel Assist, Ruby's, West Marine and Weather Routing Inc.

Logistical support is provided by the Bahia Corinthian, Balboa and Newport Harbor Yacht Clubs.

www.nosa.org