73rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race now open for entry

Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race © Event Media

The Notice of Race and Registration pages for entry are now available for the 73rd edition of the 2020 Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race. These can be found on the event's new website at nosa.org, with the start date scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2020.

First raced in 1948 with entries that included Hollywood stars like Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and Errol Flynn, this classic ocean race is held annually and organized by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA). The event is unique among international distance races in being open to entry for a large and diverse group of sailors and boat types, and annually attracts hundreds of boats and thousands of participants in both the race itself and the popular pre- and post-race social events in Newport Beach and Ensenada, Mexico.

This success is in part because the Newport to Ensenada Race has actually been organized into three races in one event, each with its own merits but starting at the same time off Newport's Balboa Pier:

(1) The main Newport to Ensenada Race (N2E) is a 125-mile offshore overnight race intended for all boats over 21 feet in length. Scoring will be using PHRF or ORR ratings for monohulls and ORCA ratings for Multihulls. An Unlimited Class is also available for very fast boats interested in elapsed time scores only. PHRF classes will be divided into ULDB and non-ULDB entries depending on their PHRF Performance Factor. There is also a CRUZ class option to enter, where PHRF and ORCA CRUZ entries may use their engines at night for a time penalty calculated from their engine log. PHRF CRUZ entries may also enter in Spinnaker or non-Spinnaker divisions.

(2) The Newport to San Diego Race (N2SD) is a 60-mile race intended for those teams in boats over 21 feet in length interested in a coastal offshore experience without the length of the race to Mexico. Eligibility and scoring options are the same as the main N2E race, except no ORR class is offered.

(3) The Newport Sprint to Dana Point Race (N2DP) is a 14-mile race intended for entry-level and small-boat sailors racing monohull one-designs or boats with PHRF or Portsmouth handicaps, or multihulls racing with ORCA handicaps. High Performance one-designs over 13 feet in length may also race subject to approval from NOSA.

Each race will offer take-home awards in a variety of criteria. So-called Primary Awards will be given for rankings determined by corrected time results in each class. Secondary Awards will be given to top places in other award categories, such as All-Female or Doublehanded Crew in PHRF, ORR and ORCA scoring. Each race's Notice of Race details Award guidelines.

There are also numerous prestigious Perpetual Trophies awarded in a variety of categories...the list of winners on these trophies are a chronicle of the great sailing yachts raced in Southern California (and beyond) throughout the post-War period. For example, last year's winner of the NOSA Trophy for fastest elapsed time was the reigning Sydney-Hobart Race champion Alive, Phil Turner and Duncan Hine's Reichel/Pugh 66, who also won the Amigo Trophy for being a first-time winning N2E entry and the Lahaina Yacht Club Trophy for having the fastest PHRF class elapsed time.

Finally, an added feature of these races and included in the entry fees is the ability for friends and family who cannot race to follow along using the YB satellite tracking system, where positions, speeds, ETA's and even projected results are all available online for free and easy access. This valuable tool also provides links to each entry's social media access links during the race.

"This offshore race is a Southern California classic in every sense of the term," says Bill Gibbs, Commodore of NOSA. "Not only are we rooted in the history of sailing in this region, but we continue to innovate and adapt to the changing dimensions of the sport to maximize participation...and fun. The race does more than any other on the US West Coast to get boats and sailors out to enjoy the Pacific, whether racing to win or just having a good time with friends.

"Whether you're sailing a 29er to Dana Point, a Sportboat to San Diego, a Volvo 70 to set a race record or the family cruiser to Ensenada, we welcome all to join us next year in April for Southern California's largest and most fun ocean racing event."

More info found on the event website at nosa.org and the direct link to Registration is here.