Did rejection beget sailing rivalry?

Talk to organizers of either race, and they shy away from the word “rivalry.” But this weekend’s Border Run yacht race, which coincides with the 63rd Newport to Ensenada competition, has all the makings of one.

The Border Run started in 2009, when its organizers weren’t allowed into the Ensenada race. The 70- to 90-mile Border race embarks from Newport Harbor toward San Diego, and includes a swing around Coronado Island for those who choose it.

Border Run co-founder and boat designer Randy Reynolds wasn’t allowed to enter his catamaran in the race because the Newport Ocean Sailing Assn., which oversees the Ensenada race, deemed it unsafe.

Organizers said the yacht is not “self-righting,” meaning that should it flip in the water, it wouldn’t automatically right itself.

Could the rejection of this class of boats have spawned a breakaway race that today challenges the more established regatta?

Reynolds was unavailable for comment Thursday, but Border Run co-founder Bob Long said that he and Reynolds were only looking to jump-start a dwindling racing field and sport.

Long said the association didn’t explain to them why they weren’t on the race entry roster and wouldn’t return their calls or e-mails.

“It doesn’t show very much professionalism or communication,” Long said.

From there, the Border Run was born. It’s a race that acts as a “feeder” for San Diego’s Yachting Cup next week because many boaters will stay on there to participate in that following event, Long said.

Ralph Rodheim, an organizer of the Newport to Ensenada race, isn’t buying the claim that Border Run organizers just wanted to help the San Diego race.

Rodheim declined to say what he believed their motivation was, but said “it’s pretty obvious.”

“There’s nothing positive about them doing it the same weekend,” Rodheim said. “What would be good for racing is if they had this race some other time ... I hope the Border Run can find its own weekend. I’d love to sail in it; I just can’t do both.”

The Newport-Ensenada race has had more than 700 yachts in years past, and as recently as 2004 it drew 268 competitors. This year, there are 217 entries.

“It’s a reality. I think it’s like the rest of the economy, this race is just like the rest of the economy ... it has nothing to do with the Border Run,” Rodheim said. “I’m positive, I think we’re going to see, as the economy slowly comes back, the number of boats will slowly come back.”

Officials also note that drug violence in Mexico has scared off people who would meet the boaters in Mexico.

While the Ensenada’s numbers drop, the Border Run’s grow.

The race has at least 180 entries lined up for the start Saturday, up from about 100 in 2009.

The Border Run includes many smaller boats that couldn’t participate in the Ensenada event, but not all of them. At least some yachts, organizers and racers alike said, have been siphoned off from the Ensenada race.

“Believe me, we’re not dragging people over to us. They’re coming to us,” Long said.

Dan Rossem, owner of the 32-foot yacht Problem Child, said he’ll stick with the Ensenada race.

“People are just buying into the Mexican hysteria,” Rossem said. “If you stay away from dark places, you don’t get into trouble.”