Sailing

Sailors Cross Finish Line in 73rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race

Rhumb Runner takes off from the start line near Balboa Pier on April 23.

By: LINDSEY GLASGOW

NEWPORT BEACH— Fair winds and weather greeted competitors in the 73rd Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on April 23. Racers took off from Balboa Pier and followed one of three courses, a 125 nautical mile race to Mexico, a 92 nautical mile race to San Diego or a 14 nautical mile sprint course to Dana Point.

Hosted by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, the time-honored race drew roughly 170 boats this year. The race took a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers and racers were eager to get back on the water and race this year.

“Even though people had to jump through hoops, both the race committee and the racers, it’s worth it,” said Dana Point Yacht Club member Betsy Senescu, who raced to Ensenada aboard Yippee Kai Yay, about all the extra efforts to provide COVID-19 protocols to keep racers safe.

This year’s big winner was Jerry Fiat’s Farrier 32 SRX, Taniwha, a folding trimaran, with an elapsed time of 11:21:00 and a corrected time of 14:23:27. Taniwha took home five trophies including best ORCA A and President of NOSA Best Corrected – Orca.

“It was pretty amazing to sail with Pete Melvin, Ferdinand Van West, and Tim McKegney,” said Fiat in a released statement. “I’m so fortunate to have sailed with such an impressive team of accomplished sailors.”

The team was hot on the tail of Roy Disney’s Volvo 70 Pyewacket, which made her N2E debut this year. Pyewacket and her crew smashed the elapsed time record in Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Newport to Cabo San Lucas Race the month prior.

The technologically advanced boat came within 12 minutes and 13 seconds of breaking the N2E monohull record on a course without record-breaking conditions. With an elapsed time of 09:47:21 and corrected time of 16:08:39, Pyewacket claimed three top trophies.

Andy Rose and the It’s OK team returned to the podium to collect the Governor of California trophy for best-corrected Ultra-Light aboard the Andrews 50. Steve Sellinger’s Triumph, a Santa Cruz 52, was another big winner taking home the President Of USA Best Corrected and Jack Bailee Best Corrected - Newport Beach Club trophy. Andy Horning, a N2E veteran of 24 years competing in two different boats, has now been a class winner 15 times. Day Tripper II, a 1990 Hunter 40, and Horning’s regular crew made the best time in PHRF C Class by a wide margin and took home the Converse Wurdemann Trophy. Dan Rossen might as well have his name permanently etched onto the Volvo Best Corrected - Double Handed trophy, winning for yet another year with Problem Child, a B32, with partner Richard Whitely. Top:Fair winds and weather greeted competitors in the 73rd Newport Beach to Ensenada International Yacht Race on April 23. Above: Sailors prep and take off from Balboa Pier on April 23 for the 2021 Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race.

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The Martin16 has a seat on the back for a companion to assist the sailor, the Hansa303s are a single-person boat.

Challenged Sailors San Diego Sails 7th Annual Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

CORONADO— Gray skies and a crisp breeze couldn’t damper the spirits of a group of sailors and volunteers at the seventh annual Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta hosted by Challenged Sailors San Diego.

Racers bundled up in jackets and sweaters grouped together under a white canopy in the courtyard of the Coronado Yacht Club on April 23 while waiting for Coronado Yacht Club coach Jon Rogers, a national and world champion sailor, to walk them through the courses for the next day’s race while passing out his best tips.

The regatta spanned three days of fundraising, coaching, and racing at the Coronado Yacht Club in Glorietta Bay.

The memorial kicked off with a coaching and open practice session with Rogers on the morning of April 23, followed by the actual race on April 24.

The race honors Naval Lieutenant Junior Grade Kyle C. McArthur, a Coronado native and avid racer, who passed away in a car accident in 2013.

Rogers spoke about the honor of coaching McArthur, saying that even at 11-years-old, he had a good grasp of sailing.

For the coaching session, Rogers propped a foldable white board up on a table in front of the racers and talked animatedly about the course and tips. Roger told racers the key to Glorietta Bay was to stay in tune with your boat and the wind, one racer quipped that the others could just follow them to figure out which way the wind was blowing and was met with raucous laughter and a couple of quips back about famous last words.

Challenged Sailors San Diego racers have a unique set of challenges, many of them are in wheelchairs or have other physical disabilities that can make life more difficult but, you wouldn’t notice once they take to the water in their Martin 16s, Harbor 20s, or Hansa 303s. After the coaching session, sailors were eager to get out on the water and test their skills with a series of practice starts and a shortened course for practice purposes.

Once down on the dock racers who were racing in Martin 16s were assigned a boat, and a companion to assist them. Martin 16s have a unique set up, all of the lines lead directly to a seat nestled in the middle of the boat to allow those with the ability to move their arms to maneuver the boat how they choose.

One of the Directors of Challenged Sailors San Diego Craig Dennis, explained the mechanics of the boat and showed off a device that is rigged to the boat and allows racers without mobility in their arms to maneuver the lines and the sails with just a joystick or depending on the severity of their mobility, a breathing tube that allows them to maneuver with just their breath. For two hours, roughly ten boats were cutting through Right top: The lines of the Martin16 lead directly to the center seat to allow the sailor to navigate the boat from one spot. Bottom right: To assist sailors into their boats there is a hoist that helps move them from their wheelchair into the seat.

The Martin16 has a seat on the back for a companion to assist the sailor, the Hansa303s are a single-person boat.

Challenged Sailors San Diego Sails 7th Annual Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta

By: JORDAN B. DARLING

CORONADO— Gray skies and a crisp breeze couldn’t damper the spirits of a group of sailors and volunteers at the seventh annual Kyle C. McArthur Memorial Regatta hosted by Challenged Sailors San Diego.

Racers bundled up in jackets and sweaters grouped together under a white canopy in the courtyard of the Coronado Yacht Club on April 23 while waiting for Coronado Yacht Club coach Jon Rogers, a national and world champion sailor, to walk them through the courses for the next day’s race while passing out his best tips.

The regatta spanned three days of fundraising, coaching, and racing at the Coronado Yacht Club in Glorietta Bay.

The memorial kicked off with a coaching and open practice session with Rogers on the morning of April 23, followed by the actual race on April 24.

The race honors Naval Lieutenant Junior Grade Kyle C. McArthur, a Coronado native and avid racer, who passed away in a car accident in 2013.

Rogers spoke about the honor of coaching McArthur, saying that even at 11-years-old, he had a good grasp of sailing.

For the coaching session, Rogers propped a foldable white board up on a table in front of the racers and talked animatedly about the course and tips. Roger told racers the key to Glorietta Bay was to stay in tune with your boat and the wind, one racer quipped that the others could just follow them to figure out which way the wind was blowing and was met with raucous laughter and a couple of quips back about famous last words.

Challenged Sailors San Diego racers have a unique set of challenges, many of them are in wheelchairs or have other physical disabilities that can make life more difficult but, you wouldn’t notice once they take to the water in their Martin 16s, Harbor 20s, or Hansa 303s. After the coaching session, sailors were eager to get out on the water and test their skills with a series of practice starts and a shortened course for practice purposes.

Once down on the dock racers who were racing in Martin 16s were assigned a boat, and a companion to assist them. Martin 16s have a unique set up, all of the lines lead directly to a seat nestled in the middle of the boat to allow those with the ability to move their arms to maneuver the boat how they choose.

One of the Directors of Challenged Sailors San Diego Craig Dennis, explained the mechanics of the boat and showed off a device that is rigged to the boat and allows racers without mobility in their arms to maneuver the lines and the sails with just a joystick or depending on the severity of their mobility, a breathing tube that allows them to maneuver with just their breath. For two hours, roughly ten boats were cutting through Right top: The lines of the Martin16 lead directly to the center seat to allow the sailor to navigate the boat from one spot. Bottom right: To assist sailors into their boats there is a hoist that helps move them from their wheelchair into the seat.