Newport-Ensenada race brings the throngs to harbor

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy,

I am sure that you have noticed that Newport Harbor is being

invaded by sailboats, all types of sailboats over 20 feet in length.

The yacht clubs’ docks are stacked with boats extending out into the

harbor.

Noon is when hundreds of sailboats will be setting their sails to

leave Newport for Mexico in the world’s largest international yacht

race with only sailboats.

I hope you have figured out what I am talking about, but for those

landlubbers who are lost, it is time for the 58th annual Newport to

Ensenada Race. The Newport Ocean Sailing Assn. (www.NOSA.org)

organizes this annual event, and it is expecting more than 500 boats

entered in 23 different racing classes.

Every year, I enlighten you with my weather and sea predictions

for the race, and I am still batting a thousand. So, what will the

racers encounter this year on their sail down the coast?

My crystal ball is showing that the race might slow down a bit

with three-foot seas. We might be in a situation known as the calm

before the storm, with winds at only 10 knots or less from a weak low

pressure moving through the area this weekend.

I will be interested in knowing how many sailboats will be sailing

to the west, seaward, of the Coronado Islands; and more interesting,

if anyone made the mistake at night to sail in between the rocks.

However, keep an eye to the seas that might become mixed from the

south and west for the cruise back home Monday. I am not sure if we

will see any rain from this system, but the racers should bring their

foul-weather gear.

You can check on my weather predications and hear a live race

update when Mary Longpre -- from the association’s press office --

calls into my radio show with a report on Saturday. Mary will let us

know which boats have finished, if any records were broken and how

the other racers are doing out in the Pacific as they head south.

Maybe she will have a couple of interesting or funny stories to

relate to us about the race. In the past, I have seen and heard of

racers colliding at the start line, naked movies shown on the sails,

dancing girls, boats tangling with whales -- with the boats losing,

boats sailing past the finish line -- that is hard to do now with GPS

and the laser light at the finish -- and skippers who are so cruel

that the crew abandons the boat in Ensenada, leaving the owner to

solo back home.

The tip of the week is to visit the two boat shows in Newport

Beach next week. Duncan McIntosh Company will be hosting the 32nd

annual Newport Boat Show at Lido Marina Village, and there is also

the Southern California Marine Assn.’s Boat Show at the Dunes.

Remember that I will be at the Newport Boat Show at Lido Marina

Village on April 30, broadcasting my radio show live from noon to 1

p.m. The broadcast tent will be set up on the cobblestone street near

the show’s entrance, and you will not miss our hut.

I have a few reasons for you to stop by our broadcast. First, you

can win prizes including BoatUS/Vessel Assist one-year memberships,

Hornblower cruise tickets and special pillows from Banner Mattress.

The fun continues because you may have the chance to be on the radio,

and the cameras will be rolling for my next TV episode. I know you

have always wanted to be on TV, so now is your chance.

If that is not enough, you can hear entertainment provided by The

Mojitos.

Oh yeah, let’s not forget all the boats and big boats that we call

yachts for you to see, along with the numerous vendor booths with

everything, including the galley sink. Lastly, thanks to the Daily

Pilot as one of our sponsors.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and

Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe Voyages....

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to mike@boathousetv.com or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.