San Diego to Puerto Vallarta - Race
The first four boats in the 2008 San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International ‘Vallarta Race’ set off for Puerto Vallarta yesterday. Starting in a moderate (8-10 kts) east/southeast breeze and on a strong ebb tide, three ORR Division 4 boats and a single ‘Performance Cruiser’ hit the line at 1200 sharp.
Ernie Doizaki’s 78’ Dashew blue-water design ‘Beowulf’ was a little slow out of the blocks, but after clearing Point Loma, she was reported on the FIS Tracker doing 7 – 8 kts and heading offshore, where no doubt, she is most comfortable . As the lone ‘Performance Cruiser’, the pressure is off within his class, but Doizaki will still be watching the progress of the Div 4 race boats fully half his length.
In that department, there is likely to be some close sailing. Condor, a Columbia 50 owned by Chicago’s Lindy Thomas and sailed by a mostly ‘Chi-town’ crew took the start right at the pin on starboard. Ducking his transom were the other two Div 4 competitors Super Gnat and Uncontrollable Urge. Super Gnat, a Beneteau 40.7, is owned by SDYC’s Cliff Thompson and is being sailed by Cliff, his daughter MaryAnn Hopper, her husband ‘AnJohn’ and several of their neighbors from Dallas Texas where they are from. They were a spirited group at the Kick-Off party the night before. Urge, a Columbia 30 is the ‘short ship’ of the fleet, and owned by James and Chris Gilmore from Silvergate YC in San Diego. They are not new to distance sailing and freely admitted to finishing ‘last’ in last year’s Transpac race. Regardless, they have some solid ocean miles under their keel, and will likely be putting that experience to good use here this week.
Today marks the start for the rest of the 19 boat fleet as the Division 3, 2 and 1 boats get underway. Their start area will also be off Shelter Island in San Diego.
Photo Credit: Vallarta Race
Submitted By YachtPals on 23 Feb
Puerto Vallarta, Vallarta Race, San Diego, sailing rally, Mexico, sailboats, sailboat, boats, boat, yachts
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Vallarta Race
Friday began with high winds and what San Diego calls "a torential downpour" (meaning it was drizzling, and mostly lightly). So the crews made their final preparations and stocking of boat equipment in the wet weather. But by the afternoon the rain had passed and Friday evening turned out to be calm and clear.
The report back Friday morning from Coley D, the Communications vessel was that they had a rocky night on the rolling seas on their way to Ensenada where they stopped for fuel and to complete their immigration paperwork. Coley D is not a small powerboat, so we wish the best of luck to the 4 sailboats that were out there Friday, especially Uncontrollable Urge, the Columbia 30 with just about no place to hide.
San Diego to Puerto Vallarta
The Division 3 boats were the last boats to transit a band of westerly breeze that split as it hit the Baja coast. Up to now, they have been beating into a stream of southerly or southwesterly wind that bends northward. But within the next 6 to 12 hours they will be moving into a flow that makes westerly or northwesterly wind. Whatever great sailing they experience between now and the finish, they will surely have earned.
The Division 2 and 1 boats will probably be overtaking the Division 4 boats sometime during Sunday night. Everyone seems to be making excellent boat speed!
Vallarta Race update
Vallarta Race update – Big breeze down to Cabo, now crews agonize their way across the Gulf for the second leg of this race. The approach to Cabo (in tight = within 25 miles of the tip of Baja, out wide = outside of 25 miles from the tip of Baja) will have everything to do with how they finish in the race.
Beowulf is the sole “Performance Cruiser” and is sailing under a PHRF handicap. Beowulf can use her engine to power through the light winds, although she does accrue a time penalty for doing so. Indications are that Magnitude will overhaul Beowulf just before the finish, unless Mag. hits a big hole.
Looking at the Position Report for Tuesday, based on their elapsed time so far, Peligroso, Holua and Velos each are within 30 minutes of one another for overall corrected time honors. Pendragon is an hour behind that bunch and four or five more are within two hours. This is still anyone’s race.
The finish boat Safari has left the dock and will be setting the finish line this afternoon. We will be on alert beginning around 6 am Wednesday as we anticipate the first arrival.
Vallarta Race
Congratulations to Doug Baker and the crew of Magnitude 80, who crossed the finish line at 04:07:35 PST, crushing the course record by just over six hours (-06:08:01).
The course's previous record was owned by Pyewacket in the first race SDYC hosted to the destination of Puerto Vallarta in 1998.
Vallarta Race - Mexico
The Vallarta sailing race ended in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, where the crews are now enjoying the hospitality for which Mexico is so well known.
Click here to view the Vallarta race results.
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