Race Comes Long Way in 14 Years

When the 44 boats in Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s race to Cabo San Lucas race hit the starting line at 1 p.m. today, it will be a far cry from the first race, in 1971, when only seven boats could be mustered for the 790-mile downwind slide.

The biennial race has grown in popularity because it is one of the few races to Mexico that provide good winds for the entire distance.

In 1971, the entry list was light because the race was scheduled virtually on top of Long Beach Yacht Club’s 1,000-mile La Paz race. Since then, LBYC has abandoned the La Paz race and now has a Cabo race of its own in the years NHYC does not.

This year’s Cabo race promises to be exceptionally competitive with nine ultra-light displacement yachts rating 70 under the International Offshore Rule (IOR) system of handicapping.

With fair winds, hopefully from the northwest, the lead yachts should arrive in Cabo San Lucas by Wednesday.