Citius Is Winner of California Cup

Bill Wilson’s Santa Cruz-70, Citius, is the new California Cup champion, but barely.

The Los Angeles Yacht Club yacht, with Bill Messenger at the helm, finished fifth in the final race Sunday and wound up in a point tie with Dick Pennington’s Peterson-66 Cheetah, Long Beach Yacht Club, but Citius was declared the winner by virtue of having beaten Cheetah in three of the five races.

Cheetah was the winner of the final race, giving her a record of 1-4-4-4-1 for a total of 13.5 points. Citius’ finishes were 4-1-1-3-5 for 13.5

It was the third straight year that a Santa Cruz-70 has had it’s name engraved on the coveted trophy. Kathmandu was the winner in 1985 and Blondie in 1986.

It is also the third year that the California Cup has been competed for in ultra-light displacement boats, measuring from 66 to 70 feet, racing as a fleet. They include several Nelson-Marek designs, all best known as “downwind sleds” in long distance races to Mexico or the Transpac from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Sunday’s final race was sailed in light to moderate winds ranging from about 5 knots at the start to 12 on the final two legs.

Citius is owned by a LAYC syndicate headed by Bill Wilson, but Messenger was at the helm for the entire series.