The Human Race

Terry Phillips

Race here and a race there; here a race, there a race, everywhere a

race-race!

Whew. Sailboat racing is a wonderful activity, just like tennis,

golfing, the movies or watching Monday Night Football.

But what if there were three or four games being played on Monday

night or you were asked to play golf in three of four foursomes on the

same day? Decision time.

It’s not the being able to choose one race over another that is the

bad thing, but rather, does so many races dilute the sport?

A question that has been bantered about the sailing community for a

long time to which there seems to be no real correct answer.

This Saturday, the Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA) will host

the 14-mile Bank Race, a race that has been around for about 40 years.

The Bahia Corinthian will hold “J-Fest 99,” another great race and on

Oct. 17, the four-race “Hot Rum Series” begins.

The “14-mile Bank Race” has had its share of celebrities enter the

event, with Beverly Hillbilly Buddy Ebsen and Gunsmoke’s James Arness to

name a couple.

The event draws approximately 40 entries and has always been one of

Newport’s more successful races.

However, prior to the invention of Global Positioning Systems (GBS),

the race was oftentimes won by the boat that could fine the 14-mile bank

mark first.

With a little fog, a little current and a little compass, many had

trouble locating the turning mark.

In fact, the committee boat had trouble determining just where it was

as well.

The 14-Mile Bank has a hump called Larson’s Knoll, which sits about

350 feet below the surface.

When you drop your cement block attached to the mark line, you better

hope you hit the knoll or the mark Titanics.

In any event, the GPS has saved the day and all is well with this well

run and well attended event.

Awards and trophies will be given out at the annual NOSA general

meeting held at the Balboa Yacht Club during this Sunday’s brunch. For

information, contact NOSA at (714) 771-0691.

The 20th anniversary of the Voyager “Hot Rum” Series, hosted by the

Newport Beach Yacht Club, begins next Sunday.

The three-race event held on Oct. 17, Nov. 21, Jan. 16 and Feb. 13, is

an inside the harbor race.

The start line is approximately 100 yards west of the Nautical Museum

and will begin at noon. A warning horn will blow at 11:54 a.m.

The race will have two PHRF classes, A and B and welcomes one-design

classes of five or more entries.

Gather ye’all and unite - Santana 20s, Harbor 30s, Schock 35s and

others and enter this fun event.

The event concludes each Sunday race with a barbecue and copious

amounts of hot rum drink specials held at the Newport Beach Yacht Club

from 4-7 p.m.

For additional information, contact the race committee co-chairman,

Fred Masino at (949) 723-5107 or Leo Collin at (714) 708-5548.

Both of our local “kiwi connections,” the Paul Cayard America One

boat, constructed right here in Costa Mesa at the Westerly Boat Yard and

Chris Collin, CFO of the America True Syndicate, are dueling daily on the

Hauraki Gulf.

“We’re really happy with our progress and the team’s really up for the

opening series,” Coffin said. “America One and Dennis Conner are kind of

doing their own thing and so are the Italians. We’ve run along side the

Aloga and New York boats and feel comfortable with our progress.”

The Louis Cuitton Challenge Series begins on Monday, Oct. 18. The

series will determine who will challenge Team New Zealand’s Black Magic

for yachting’s ultimate prize; the America’s Cup.