Boats set sail for Ensenada in 74th annual Newport to Ensenada race
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The 74th annual Newport to Ensenada race is officially underway.
About 165 sailboats set sail from Balboa Pier late Friday morning, heading to one of three locations: Dana Point, to San Diego around the Coronado Islands, and to Ensenada. Most of the races are expected to end on Sunday with the exception of the sprint to Dana Point, which ended at around 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
The event was first held in 1948. The Newport Ocean Sailing Assn. — the nonprofit that organizes the annual race and encourages yacht racing throughout Southern California — was founded in 1947, making this its 75th year in operation.
Ensenada’s mayor Armando Ayala met with former Newport Beach Mayor Brad Avery in November at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for an early toast to the return of this year’s race. More celebrations are planned for Sunday in San Diego and Ensenada respectively.
Nearly 30 sailboats charted course for San Diego, and over 100 sailboats are making their way to Ensenada. A little over a dozen headed for Dana Point Friday.
The international boat race was canceled only once in its history, during 2020 in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To track the boats and see where they are against California’s coastline, readers can visit yb.tl/n2e2022# .
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Lilly Nguyen covers Newport Beach for the Daily Pilot. Before joining the Pilot, she worked for the Orange County Register as a freelance reporter and general assignment intern. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Cal State Long Beach. (714) 966-4623.
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Local News | Newport to Ensenada race gets underway with…
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Local News | Newport to Ensenada race gets underway with light winds
“It still is just for fun,” said Newport Ocean Sailing Association Commodore Mary Bacon as the 75th sailing of the famed race got underway Friday. “I don’t know of another race that is as fun as this, especially being an international race. There’s something for everybody.”
Sailboats leave the start line of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race just offshore from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sailing fans watch from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach as the sailboats gather offshore for the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The crew of XLR8 waves to sailing fans gathered on the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach just prior to the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sailboats gather just offshore from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach for the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sailboats near the start line of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race just offshore from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman takes photos from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach as the sailboats gather offshore for the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sailboats head offshore from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach after leaving the start line of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sailboats wait for the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race just offshore from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Malilia waits for the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023 near the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The crew of El Guapo waves to sailing fans gathered on the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach just prior to the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
This year’s 125-mile race has about 140 boats racing ranging from small 30-foot recreational cruisers to 80-foot multi-million-dollar yachts and they are sailing either of two courses – one that goes to San Diego and around the Coronado Islands, and the other to Ensenada, Mexico. A mini race to Dana Point was eliminated this year.
Spectators lined the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach at 11 a.m. Friday to watch the start of the race, marveling at the boats getting set to sail south toward their destination. With light winds to start the race in and in the forecast through Saturday, it’s not expected to be a record-breaking year.
Many of the boats hail from Southern California harbors, but nine different states are represented and there are even crews from Canada and Mexico that joined this year’s race.
Boaters spent the past week getting their vessels ready and loading up food and drinks for the overnight journey, said Bacon.
“Let the circus begin,” she said.
It’s the camaraderie that makes it special, the excitement and the passion for being out on the water during such an iconic race, Bacon said.
The Newport Ocean Sailing Association was founded in August 1947, “a post-World War II dream of recognizing local sailors” and opening up boating to Mexico, with Ensenada selected as the destination of NOSA’s first long-distance ocean race.
The event started before many of the nearby harbors existed, just as yacht clubs were starting to form and as the sport of sailing was growing along the coast.
The race is a draw for serious competitors who aim to break records and casual cruisers joining for the party element, lured by the margaritas and beers that flow at the finish line.
While the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race has a festive vibe, it’s also a serious contest to win bragging right among boaters.
“It’s always a new adventure, based on the friends and family you’re with – and certainly based on the weather,” Bacon said.
This year’s mild conditions paled in comparison to last year’s record-breaking, whipping winds that were clocked at upward 30 knots. “They were flying,” Bacon said.
NOSA Staff Commodore Bills Gibbs and crew last year took home the best time with Wahoo, his Schionning 1400 catamaran.
In 2021, it was Jerry Fiat’s Farrier 32 SRX Taniwha that was the big winner.
Taniwha sat out last year’s race, but Long Beach sailor Peter Sangmeister, 21, had a game plan for the trimaran this year – to dart out quickly from the start line and go way offshore to find wind.
“We’re looking to finish first in line,” he said. “It’s one of the fastest boats in Southern California and we’re hoping we’ve put together a team of some pretty good people.”
The trimaran is 32 feet, not big, “but it’s very fast.”
Sangmeister comes from a long line of sailors and is a third generation Newport-to-Ensenada racer. His grandfather Peter Tong, 82, has done the event a handful of times and his father, John, 60, will be on a different boat, Rock N Roll, competing in a separate category.
Sangmeister did the race in 2016 with his father, but they didn’t quite make it to the finish line. The boat broke just as they reached the boarder and they had to turn around, he said.
One of the exciting parts of the race is the number of boats. The shorter race course makes it more accessible than the longer Newport Harbor to Cabo San Lucas race or the Transpacific Yacht Race, which goes from Los Angeles to Hawaii.
“This is a more mellow race, which I think is a big attraction,” Sangmeister said Friday. “But it is an international race, one of the shortest you can do in the world. I’m praying for a bit more wind and I think everyone will have a bit more fun.”
To track the boats in real time, go to nosa.org
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Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race Gets Underway Friday, April 26
The 76th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race gets underway on Friday, April 26 at 11 a.m. off of the Balboa Pier. Hundreds of spectators are expected to line the Balboa Pier and nearby beaches to catch a glimpse of the boats as they set sail for Baja California.
A multitude of racers and 145 boats that keep N2E a Southern California yacht racing favorite will take to the course bound for the Hotel Coral and Marina in Ensenada.
Race organizers, the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, will be celebrating before the start as it welcomes Mike Whalen’s Ramble On, for his 50th running of the iconic yacht race. The veteran has raced on eight of his own boats and crewed for others on just as many. They have varied in size, from 30 to 44 feet, and sailed in several classes, including ORCA with a not-so-fast catamaran.
He has been sailing Ramble On, his Beneteau 44.7 for just 2 years. It will be one of the 23 Beneteaus competing. Although he won a class trophy quite some time ago, he reports that they usually finish in the middle of the fleet.
“I just enjoy the sport – really enjoy sailing and racing,” said Whalen. After replacing a main sail (sadly lost in the Cabo race) he and his Shoreline Yacht Club crew are hopeful of a better finish this year.
Three other skippers will be sailing N2E for 40 years or more. Another three have sailed for more than 30 years, while a dozen have clocked over 20 finishes.
“We’re very excited to see the fleet grow this year to over 145 boats,” said NOSA Commodore Phil Herzfeld. “It’s also exciting to see 35 first-time owners competing in both the PHRF and Cruising fleets.”
Bernt Helgaas of Wayzata, Minnesota, and his Norseman 447 Andreas is one of those excited first-timers. Helgaas bought the 1981 Norseman berthed in San Diego and has been refitting it for the past couple of years. Although made for ocean crossings, the heavy cruising boat needed a lot of TLC before it ventured outside the harbor.
Now, with new electronics, navigation systems, plumbing, and rigging, Andreas is about to start her new life as a race boat. “N2E is going to be a good shakedown for the boat and the crew,” Helgaas said. After N2E will be other long-distance races like the SoCal 300, and eventually Transpac.
Returning again and again and again in hopes of a repeat of last year’s three-trophy win is Rich Festa’s Groundhog Day. Sailing in the always-competitive maxi-class, the Rogers46 crossed the finish line at N2E 75 in 17hr 36mn 13s. They were two hours and 34 minutes faster than the closest class competitors.
The 75th race saw better-than-expected winds at the start, but dropped overnight, making for very close racing by morning’s light. Choices made by the skippers and navigators meant the difference between winning – or not – would come down to a matter of seconds in some classes.
Skippers for this year’s race are starting to track weather systems and chart expected conditions. They will be making strategic plans to maximize the wind or make the best of them.
Only one thing is for certain; N2E continues to be a competitive and fun race that offers weekend and competitive sailors the chance to sail to Mexico and back in a weekend.
NOSA and its nearly 40-person team of volunteers will present more than 30 trophies on Sunday, April 29.
The 17 sailors who chose the shorter course to San Diego will celebrate victories on Sunday at Silverlake Yacht Club.
The Newport Ocean Sailing Association, organizers of the historic Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, was founded in 1947 to promote ocean racing off Newport Beach. The first 125-nautical mile race sailed on April 23, 1948, into the small fishing village of Ensenada, Mexico. Mrs. Denny Barr claimed the top prize for skippering Mickey, a 46-foot sloop to best overall corrected time.
With an emphasis on camaraderie and competition, the N2E quickly attracted thousands of racers, becoming an event where fun-seeking novices could race alongside celebrities and world-class sailors.
Visit https://nosa.org/ for more information.
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Groundhog Day Takes Top Honors Light Winds Make for Close Racing
Ensenada, Mexico., May 1, 2023 – It wasn’t Groundhog Day, but then it was. Rich Festas’ 46-foot Rogers Groundhog Day won the top three trophies at the 75th Newport to Ensenada International […]
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Newport Ocean Sailing Association is a non-profit organization run by a board of directors filled with highly experienced sailboat racers and U.S. Sailing Certified Race Officials who, along with a large group of volunteers, are the premier race management team who host the iconic Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race and others all-the-while promoting yacht racing in Southern California.
The Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race is an annual 125-nautical-mile international yacht race. First run in 1948, sailors gather each spring in Newport Beach, California, to participate in one of the West Coast's premier regattas. The Newport to Ensenada yacht Race (N2E) is a race to the city of Ensenada, Baja California. [1]
2024 Race Recap. The 76th annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race is in the books with sailors enjoying excellent sailing conditions over the three-day event. With exciting weather forecasts correctly predicting mostly consistent winds in the high teens to low 20 knots and choppy seas, the age-old N2E decision to go inside or ...
The sailboat La Mer passes the Balboa Pier as sailors prepare to start the 76th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race in Newport Beach, CA, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Photo by Jeff ...
In the Newport to Ensenada Race, 126 boats broken into 13 classes. , and the first class warning will be at 1055 followed by a new class starting every 5 minutes. These boats will race the 124 miles for Ensenada. ... As the Newport sail races unfold, seize the opportunity to witness the beauty of competitive sailing against the breathtaking ...
April 26, 2024 4:59 PM PT. The Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race is back on the waters again for its 76th year. About 150 vessels departed from Newport Harbor Friday and sailed past the ...
The legendary Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race sets off on its 125-nautical mile course on April 26, 2024. This annual spectacle begins with a flurry of activity just off the iconic Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, California. From there, daring sailors embark on a thrilling journey south to the charming Mexican port city of Ensenada.
The Newport Ocean Sailing Association announces that online registration is open for the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race. The iconic coastal race will start off the Balboa Pier on April 28, 2023. For 2023, NOSA is re-focusing on its distance racing heritage and will have only two courses; the traditional Newport to Ensenada ...
April 22, 2022 5:57 PM PT. The 74th annual Newport to Ensenada race is officially underway. About 165 sailboats set sail from Balboa Pier late Friday morning, heading to one of three locations ...
Sailing fans watch from the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach as the sailboats gather offshore for the start of the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday, April 28, 2023.
10:30 am. Balboa Pier. 1 Balboa Pier. Newport Beach, CA. 92661. Visit Website. Add to Calendar. Welcome to the history-making 75 th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race. This 125 mile overnight race provides the perfect mix of fun and adventure as racers decide whether to head off-shore for stronger winds or to sail the rhumb line ...
The 76th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race will depart from its multi-line start April 26, 2024. A multitude of racers and 145 boats that keep N2E a Southern California yacht racing favorite, will take to the 125mn course bound for the Hotel Coral and Marina. Race organizers, the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, will be celebrating ...
Hosted by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, the beloved 125-mile Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race sails Friday, April 28 for the 75th time. 140 sailboats, an eclectic mix of serious sailors campaigning multi-million-dollar yachts racing alongside recreational cruisers - from 30 to 85 feet - will cross the start line starting at ...
NEWPORT TO ENSENADA. 2021 Race Results & 2021 Trophy Winners. NEWPORT TO SAN DIEGO. 2021 Race Results & Trophy Winners. NEWPORT TO DANA POINT. 2021 Race Results & Trophy Winners. ... Newport Ocean Sailing Association - Daniel Hodge 5th Place - Lake Mission Viejo Yacht Club - Mark Glackin. 2016 Results.
This 125 mile overnight race provides the perfect mix of fun and adventure as racers decide whether to head off-shore for stronger winds or to sail the. ... Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race. Newport Beach. Newsletter. Receive Our Emails. Recent Blog Posts. May 16, 2024. 7 Ways to Spend Memorial Day Weekend in Newport Beach Read More .
The Newport Ocean Sailing Association, organizers of the historic Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, was founded in 1947 to promote ocean racing off Newport Beach. The first 125-nautical mile race sailed on April 23, 1948, into the small fishing village of Ensenada, Mexico. Mrs.
949-220-4461. Address. PO Box 7485. Newport Beach, CA 92658. Email. [email protected] SUBSCRIBE FOR RACE UPDATES. designed by risingT, LLC.
Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race, Newport Beach, California. 3,819 likes · 33 talking about this. The West Coast's Largest International Yacht Race
Anticipation Begins with N2E 75 Countdown Race week starts early with Yachtsmen Luncheon. Registration is closed and anticipation is ramping up for the 75th Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race's April 28 start. April 19, 2023. In 2023 Race, Press Release.
The beloved 125-mile Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race sailed last Friday Hosted by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, the beloved 125-mile Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race sailed last Friday, April 26 for the 76th time. The fleet of 146 sailboats crossed the start line starting at 11 a.m. off the Balboa Pier.
The beloved 125-mile Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race sailed last Friday Hosted by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, the beloved 125-mile Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race sailed last Friday, April 26 for the 76th time. The fleet of 146 sailboats crossed the start line starting at 11 a.m. off the Balboa Pier. Posted ...
Newport to Ensenada Race: entry open Published on December 12th, 2023 (December 12, 2023) - The 2024 Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, to be held April 26-28, is open for registration.
The 76th annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race is in the books with sailors enjoying excellent sailing conditions over the three-day event. With exciting weather forecasts correctly predicting mostly consistent winds in the high teens to low 20 knots and choppy seas, the age-old N2E decision to go inside or outside the Coronados ...