Records fall during yacht race

June Casagrande

It was the fastest Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race in its 55-year

history -- one that broke Roy Disney’s 1998 monohull record five times

over and even brought every boat in by early Saturday afternoon.

Magnitude was the first boat to finish, with a time of 11:23:53 that

beat out the record set in 1998 by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket by about 30

minutes.

Five boats, in fact, beat Disney’s record for monohulls, and five out

of the first six to finish were all designed by Newport Beach boat

designer Alan Andrews.

“Everybody got in so early that a lot of places didn’t have their

rooms ready,” said Ralph Rodheim, promoter of the event, from a makeshift

media headquarters in Ensenada.

The wind kept blowing at anywhere from 12 to 22 knots all night,

keeping competitors moving at record speeds.

“For the first time in many, many years all the boats have now

finished,” he said around 4 p.m. Saturday, “and most had finished by noon

today. There’s more fun and frivolity because the party started even

earlier than usual.

Coming in at second place was Medicine Man, on which Andrews was a

crew member. Third to finish was Newport Beach resident David Janes

sailing Jaybird III.

The Chesapeake 38 cruising boat owned by Don Koll made the whole race

without ever firing up its engine. Koll reported to race officials that

the boat exceeded its own maximum speed most of the way.

Rodheim said that, while every block of Ensenada continues to be

filled with race revelry, Newport Ocean Sailing Assn. officials are

tabulation the corrected results. Winners will be declared early tomorrow

afternoon.

“This is the best mood I’ve seen in years,” Rodheim said. “Beautiful

clear skies, good wind and everybody getting to the party early.”

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .

MORE INSIDE

Ralph Rodheim,promoter of the Tommy Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht

Race, talks about the future of the race. See Community Forum, Page 9