Sailing into sisterhood

Andrew Edwards

The annual regatta from Newport Beach to Ensenada, Mexico, has linked

the two coastal cities for 58 years. As mariners started the Lexus

Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race Friday, officials from both cities met

to discuss the possibility of strengthening the cities’ bond.

Ensenada Mayor Cesar Mancillas Amador led a delegation that met

Newport Beach officials and members of the Newport Beach Sister

Cities Assn. at a hilltop home overlooking the race Friday. The two

cities are in talks that could lead to Ensenada becoming Newport

Beach’s fourth sister city.

“We’re moving slowly and have established a very strong

relationship,” Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg said.

Finalizing an agreement to begin a sister-city relationship could

take a year, Bromberg added.

Mancillas said his city was prepared to become a sister city.

“Estamos listos. We’re ready,” he said.

Newport Beach’s other three sister cities are Okazaki, Japan;

Antibes, France and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Sister Cities Assn.

member Sid Stokes said if Ensenada establishes a formal relationship

with Newport Beach, the ties would ideally be more significant than

their paper record.

“We’re not just going to sign a document,” Stokes said. “We want

to find things that we can do for them and they can give us on a

friendship basis.”

Exact details of any cooperation are still being discussed, Stokes

said, adding that he traveled to Ensenada about two months ago to

talk about possible interactions. Friday, Ensenada school officials

met Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Robert Barbot and

other local school officials to talk about educational initiatives.

Barbot described his discussions as being in the very early

stages.

He also mentioned talks on the possibility of Mexico mandating

preschool for children.

“It’s just a beginning dialogue,” Barbot said. “We’re just talking

about ideas.”

Hours earlier along the bluffs above Corona del Mar State Beach,

spectators from Newport Beach and neighboring communities had lined

up to watch the regatta, which began at noon.

“I like to see them starting and see the great big boats with my

binoculars,” Newport Beach resident Joyce Field said. “It’s

thrilling, it really is.”

Field said Friday was her third time viewing the start of the

race. Sandy Wastradowski of Laguna Niguel has watched the opening

race each of the last five years, though she would rather have a

closer vantage point.

“I love to sail and I don’t think there’s anything prettier than

400-plus boats getting ready for the start of the race,” she said.

“Someday, I want to do this race. That’s my goal.”