More reasons to party

Records fell once again in this year’s Tommy Bahama Newport to

Ensenada yacht race. Must be the water.

Actually, the winds are to thank for the early finishes this year.

Who knows? Come next year, the boats could all finish by Friday

night, and the partying start a day early.

But really, this year’s race proved to be another success, with

461 boats and various new records.

The Pyewacket, which didn’t participate last year because it was

busy sailing the Caribbean, returned to reclaim the monohull course

record at 10 hours, 44 minutes and 54 seconds. The crew members

earned their extra partying time.

Valkyrie, a sailboat more than 30 years old, was the race’s

overall winner with corrected time. Its skipper was none other than

Don Albrecht, the commodore at South Shore Yacht Club in Newport.

Nice to keep victory close to home.

But back to that partying idea. With the right winds ... .