Light makes might in race

Jim Madden won the Newport to Ensenada yacht race in 2001; it was his third attempt. Even though he came close over the following years, the 45-year-old Newport Beach resident hasn’t been able to duplicate his triumph. This year, though, Madden thinks he’s got a winning strategy.

He will hit the water this weekend with a lighter, faster boat that won him a race just last month.

Assembled with parts brought in from Santa Ana to Australia, the custom-built, 66-foot yacht weighs 28,000 pounds. It may sound heavy, but the craft — built almost entirely of carbon fiber — is a featherweight compared to Madden’s last 52-foot yacht that weighed 36,000 pounds.

Lighter boats, although they can bullet through open waters, can cause problems for a skipper who needs to keep the nose down in choppy waters or when making a turn, Madden said. That problem was solved with a motorized keel that turns with the boat and brings the front end into the water.

“This is, without a doubt, the fastest boat I have had,” said Madden, who has been boating since he was 10. “It’s a complete all-out race boat, no slow-going about it.” The only downside in being in such a slick craft is all the lost comforts and amenities below deck, he added. Madden will probably spend most of his time above deck, especially when he launches from Newport.

“It’s fantastic to see hundreds of boats on the starting line like that,” Madden said.

His will be just one of nearly 450 yachts from across the globe participating in the 144-mile race that starts at noon today just outside of Newport Harbor.

The race, now in its 60th year, could not launch under better conditions. Only mild winds are expected over the weekend and even those should die down in the evenings, national weather forecasters said. There may be a few low clouds and some patchy fog, but otherwise it should be a smooth race.

The lagging winds have upset Madden’s plan to complete the trek in under 12 hours, moving the finish time closer to Saturday morning. His newest vessel, “Stark Raving Mad III,” will jet through the glassy seas regardless. The 66-foot craft finished first just last month in the Newport Beach to Cabo San Lucas Yacht Race — also in mild winds.

“I love the competitive nature of it,” Madden said. “You can have a great boat and a great crew,” and the only thing affecting a win after that is the weather. Plus, since he spends five days a week indoors working as an equities investor, he enjoys the outdoors.

In addition to Madden’s boat, six ultralight displacement ‘70s crafts, once heavily popular on the West Coast back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, will participate, ushering in a sort of retro feel to the race, event spokesman Rich Roberts said.

“This race probably has the widest variety of boats you’ll see anywhere in the world,” Roberts said. Boats ranging in size from 20 to 80 feet will carry all types of racers, from the top-level Maxi group to the average-Joe cruiser, there just to enjoy the ride.

The start will be quite a spectacle to watch, even once the serious racers clear out, Roberts said.

Crafts full of people in costumes, dancing and all sorts of tomfoolery provide quite a show to onlookers, he said.

Although the best seat for the start has to be on any of the crafts leaving the water just outside of Newport Harbor, spectators can get a good view from a number of places. Try the bluffs above Big Corona Beach off of Ocean Boulevard or the jetty at the harbor inlet where a number of ships depart.

For more information, visit www.nosa.org .