Boats set sail for Ensenada in 74th annual Newport to Ensenada race

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.

Boats jockey for position in gusty winds at the start off in the 74th annual Newport to Ensenada boat race north of Balboa Pier on Friday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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#.

Boats head out from Balboa Pier, which marks the start of the 74th annual Newport to Ensenada race. The race officially ends Sunday for the San Diego and Ensenada sprints.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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