By Ambrosia Sarabia

Last updated: Friday, 5/14/2010 2:50 PM

Photo by: Paul DeCapua Highest Honor – Carlos Avila, a longstanding Newport Ocean Sailing Association liaison in Mexico and his wife, Dolores, were awarded a model sailboat by NOSA during a celebratory dinner. To show their appreciation for Avila, they named him an honorary staff commodore.

CORONA DEL MAR –– Carlos Avila, a longtime Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA) liaison in Mexico, was caught off-guard when friends and colleagues surprised him with a celebratory dinner April 21, for his work in support of the Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race.

The Ensenada, Mexico resident was under the impression that he would be dining with a few friends at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club a few nights before the launch of the 63rd annual Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race. Instead, more than 50 friends and staff commodores joined him in celebrating his 90th birthday and honoring his work with the association.

“He was flabbergasted,” said NOSA staff commodore Paul DeCapua. “All night he kept saying, ‘I had no idea.’”

The early birthday celebration (Avila will turn 90 on May 29) also commemorated more than 50 years of service and hospitality that Avila and his wife, Dolores, have provided to NOSA. Avila, an Azusa native who relocated to Ensenada several years ago, has opened his home to NOSA members throughout the years and assisted with the race on the Mexico side.

The association relies on Avila to introduce them to government representatives, assist with understanding all administrative requirements and help make sure everything that is required is completed before the start of the event.

To show their gratitude, the association named Avila an honorary staff commodore. Although he is passionate about the race, Avila did not personally own a boat until NOSA Staff Commodore Jerry Montgomery presented him with a model sailboat — representing their involvement with the race — during the dinner.

“There has never been a hiccup,” DeCapua said. “Carlos is so much appreciated by all of us.”

The next night, sailboat racers participating in the race unwound at a bash hosted by Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, April 22 — the day before crews took to the open ocean in a competition to bring home a racing title.

While some sailors turned in early the night before the race, others hit the annual Bahia Corinthian YC send-off party, where sailors from all over the coast convened. Live music blasted from speakers as members of the sailing community mingled with racers and enjoyed one another’s company.

“This is a major tradition for bluewater sailing,” said Bahia Corinthian YC Vice Commodore and six-time race participant Ted O’Conner. “It is important that we keep this tradition going.”

Bahia Corinthian YC has hosted the annual send-off for more than 40 years, opening its slips and clubhouse to racers in this historic competition. This year’s start had 215 boats.

Vessels of all sizes and racers of all experience levels participate in the annual race that begins in Newport Harbor and finishes in Ensenada, Mexico. At completion, crews sail more than 125.5 nautical miles.

“We have a great time,” said Tom Parker, co-owner and racer aboard Taxi Driver — a 68-foot Reichel-Pugh sled that took overall top honors in this year’s Newport-to-Ensenada Race. “This is a very important race for us because not only do we enjoy it, but we also know that it is prestigious to win it.”

Parker and his crew of 14 have participated in the race aboard Taxi Dancer for the past four years. Each year, the crew makes the 11.5-hour sail to Newport Harbor from Santa Barbara to compete for the coveted cup. This year, however, the team made it down the coast in 7.5 hours, thanks to 26-knot winds.

“Sailing is all about having your friends together,” Parker said. “We work together and have a great time.”

Taking the race conditions in stride keeps the crew aboard Elixir calm and in the right frame of mind. Although this is the only race the crew has entered that the vessel has yet to win, the team’s focus is less on the win than on keeping everyone happy.

“Our saying is, ‘laughter makes the boat go faster,’” said Chad Downey, owner and captain of the 49-foot Jeanneau. The seven-member crew has competed in the race for the past five years, faring well.

Downey and his wife, Kerrie, of Hermosa Beach, stock the galley with plenty of chocolate and great food, to ensure the crew stays well fed. A wide selection of music from the Dave Matthews Band is kept on hand to be played when crews hit the deck.

“Everyone is aware of what this (win) means to the boat,” Downey said.

Participants — from hard-core racers to less-competitive personalities — compete in the race each year, from near and far. Whatever their mindset, racers always enjoy pre- and post-race parties in Newport Beach and Ensenada.

“Sailing is a great equalizer,” said O’Conner, who raced aboard his 45-foot Hunter, Tenacious. “Sometimes you win, and other times you just arrive.”

By Taylor Hill

Last updated: Friday, 5/14/2010 2:55 PM

Photo by: Pat Reynolds Rounding the Island – Bob Lane’s Medicine Man rounds Coronado del Norte on its way back to San Diego Bay for the finish of the second annual Border Run race.

NEWPORT BEACH ­— Just two weeks after the 2010 Border Run, race co-creator Randy Reynolds is making big plans for 2011.

“April is when the sailing season starts, and (in 2011) I want to make it a juggernaut month in Southern California,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds shook up the racing scene in 2009 by organizing the Border Run race from Newport Harbor to San Diego, skirting Mexico’s Los Coronados Islands on the way — on the same weekend as the tradition-rich Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race. His latest idea is to create a Southern California racing series that ties together April’s three biggest sailing events — including the Ensenada Race.

It might not be easy to get everyone on board with the idea, Reynolds admitted. However, it is in everyone’s best interest to work together to create this series, he said.

According to Reynolds, the Border Run was originally created in response to Reynolds’ own XS racing class R33 catamaran not being accepted as an entry in the Newport-to-Ensenada Race two years ago. “It was a political move when they did that,” Reynolds claimed.

“Somebody didn’t want the XS class in there, or they saw it as a liability,” Reynolds said. “But if they continue to go up against us (with the Border Run on the same weekend as Newport-to-Ensenada), they might lose more boats — so, I think they have an interest to make it work (as part of a monthlong race series).”

The ideal plan for next year, Reynolds said, would be to have the Border Run start April 10, as a feeder race for the Yachting Cup April 17 — leading up to the Newport-to-Ensenada Race April 29, with a weekend break in between for Easter weekend (April 24).

“We’ve already talked to about 50 sailors, and they are saying that a series is the only thing that makes sense,” Reynolds said. “I want to race in the Ensenada Race, and I know there are others who want to race in both (the Border Run and the Ensenada Race).”

Reynolds spoke with San Diego Yachting Cup regatta manager Jeff Johnson and Newport-to-Ensenada marketing director Ralph Rodheim, and Reynolds said both race organizing bodies are considering the move. “We would like to have everything wrapped up in May, so we can start promoting. If we can all get together and get along, we can have one really cool series,” he said.

Other plans for next year’s Border Run race include furthering the developmental class by including a specialized kitesurfing class; continuing to improve Border Run TV, which allows sailors to upload videos from their cell phones during the race so that landlocked spectators can enjoy the action; and creating a deeper involvement in the charity aspect of the event, with more opportunities for sailors to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). “We’re looking at having boats competing on and off the water over the course of the year to raise money,” said race co-founder Bob Long.

This year’s Border Run results are:

Long Course:

ORR ULDB-A (3 boats): Akela, (Reichel/Pugh 77), Doug Baker; elapsed time 9 hours 7 minutes, 34 seconds, corrected time 9:07:34.

ORR WC 70 (6): Grand Illusion, (Santa Cruz 70), Edward McDowell; ET 10:17:40, CT 8:42:16.

PHRF ULDB-A (3): Medicine Man, (And 64), Bob Lane; ET 9:38:41, CT 12:08:50.

PHRF WC 70 (6): Holua, (Santa Cruz 70), Brack Duker; ET 10:08:29, CT 12:15:53.

XS Racing Light (4): Insane Asylum, (R33), Scott Klodowski; ET 9:40:52, CT 11:27:02.

PHRF Light-A (6): Locomotion, (Andrews 45), Ed Feo; ET 11:42:35, CT 12:46:17.

PHRF Light-B (7): Pendragon, (Melges 32), Howard Lewis; ET 14:16:51, CT 14:07:45.

PHRF Light-C (2): Off the Porch, (J/105), Scott McDaniel; ET 18:26:02, CT 16:18:38.

PHRF-B (6): Alpha Papa, (Tripp 33), Gordon Leon; ET 17:01:45, CT 15:30:45.

PHRF-C (10): Torea, (Ketch), Tom Jones; ET 19:50:11, CT 15:36:56.

Short Course:

XS Racing (4 boats): Freestyle, (Crowther 40), Jerry Wetzler; elapsed time 12:22:32, corrected time 11:16:02.

XS Racing Light-A (1): Cat Attack, (R33), Randy Reynolds; ET 6:40:20, CT 8:02:00.

XS Racing Light-B (5): Wimpy, (Reynolds 21), Mitch Yount; ET 14:31:27, CT 12:48:47.

XS Beach Cat (4): Pend, (Nacra 20), Kevan Peck; ET 7:26:05, CT 8:36:05.

PHRF Light A-s (5): Piranha, (Farr 40), David Voss; ET 9:49:31, CT 9:56:31.

PHRF Light A FARR 40 (2): Piranha, (Farr 40), David Voss; ET 9:49:31, CT 9:56:31.

PHRF Light B-s (11): Anarchy, (Flying Tiger 10m), Tempesta/Rickard; ET 10:21:01, CT 9:39:01.

PHRF Hobie 33 (4): Peregrine, (Hobie 33), Simon Garland; ET 12:49:10, CT 11:14:40.

PHRF B-s (10): Reliance, (NM 41), Bill McKeever; ET 12:42:54, CT 11:32:54.

PHRF Beneteau 40.7 (4): French Toast, Dorgan Yachts, Inc; ET 12:43:42, CT 11:33:42.

PHRF C-s (8): Gator, (Frers 39), Benjamin Wheatley; ET 12:33:03, CT 11:02:03.

PHRF D (13): No Rationing, (Olson 911S), Pattison/Brown; ET 13:38:16, CT 11:18:16.

PHRF D Cal 40 (4): Dani Girl, (Cal 40), Matt Campbell; ET 14:08:20, CT 11:55:20.

PHRF E (4): Misty, (Islander Bahama 30), Gus Kindweiler; ET 16:51:17, CT 13:28:17.

Mono XS SailTime (6): 1421, (Hunter 36), S. K. Leong; ET 20:25:12, CT 17:26:42.

Mono XS Spin B (2): no name, (Columbia 30), Mikel Lasa; ET 20:57:43.

Mono XS C (7): Yemaya, (Harbor 25), Tom Schock; ET 14:11:06, CT 10:48:06.

Cruz PHRF C No Spin (8): Sugarlips, (Santana 39) Jim Treydte; ET 14:38:19, CT 12:21:49.

Cruz PHRF C Spin (7): Spitfire, (Cherubini 44K), Jeffrey Woods; ET 14:28:48, CT 11:51:18.

Cruz PHRF D Spin (4): Daydream, (PSN 323), Steward Wright; ET 15:56:46, CT 12:12:46.

By Catherine French

Last updated: Friday, 4/30/2010 3:04 PM

Photo by: Tom Ramsey Sailing in Celebration – Angry Hillbillies sailed to first place in C Class during Pacific Corinthian YC’s McCune Memorial Race, March 28.

Twenty-knot winds, gusts of more than 30 knots and seas nearing 10 feet caused a one-day postponement of the ninth annual McCune Memorial Race, hosted by Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in Channel Islands Harbor, March 27.

“The skippers agreed to wait until 10:30 a.m. to make the decision to go or cancel,” said Fred Richardson, Pro and Race Committee chairman for the club. “Then, caution was the word of the day and we all agreed to try again on Sunday.”

The postponement reduced the fleet from 18 to 13, but all three classes enjoyed great sailing with favorable winds and calm seas. The race is a reverse-handicap or pursuit start with slower boats starting first. It was also the first race of the Pacific Corinthian Cup, a three-race high point series.

On March 28, two spinnaker classes raced an 18.8-mile course and the non-spinnaker class raced a 10-mile course — with everyone finishing inside Channel Islands Harbor.

Randy Alcorn of Anacapa Yacht Club, aboard his Cal 29 Out Patient, edged out Jim Alpert’s C&C 37 Paradise Found from Ventura Yacht Club by only 43 seconds, to get the bullet in non-spinnaker. But the Class A Choate 48 Funatic, with Ventura Sailing Club’s Rod Abbott, made it look easy, beating the second place boat by more than 12 minutes. Angry Hillbillies from Ventura Yacht Club cruised to first place with a nearly 14-minute lead in C Class.

Every year, sailors from Ventura and Channel Islands Harbor come to race in honor of avid sailor Dick McCune, who died 10 years ago. He was known for living life well and to the fullest — so, rather than mourn the loss, a race was begun to celebrate his life, organizers explained.

“Every year, I am amazed how much interest there is in this race,” said Yoli McCune, widow of Dick McCune. “It is so great to see familiar faces ... people Dick and I sailed with for so many years.”

Results are:

Spinnaker

Class A: 1st: Funatic, Rod Abbott (15:13:30); 2nd: XS, Geno Beville (15:25:44).

Class B: 1st: Angry Hillbillies, Moore & Klatt (15:19:49); 2nd: Perfect Balance, Richard Sharpe (15:33:43); 3rd: Tortoise, Garrett Baum (15:35:00); 4th: Double Down, Brian Kerr (15:40:13); 5th: Majic Dragon, Mike Harper (15:45:00).

Non-spinnaker

1st: Out Patient, Randy Alcorn (13:57:33); 2nd: Paradise Found, Jim Albert (13:58:16); 3rd: Breezy, Chris Johnston (14:00:42); 4th: Velero, Brent Swanson (14:05:17); 5th: Rumbylowe, Virgil Landry (14:07:37); 6th: Serenity, Rich Reynolds (14:10:08).

By Ambrosia Sarabia

Last updated: Friday, 4/30/2010 3:04 PM

Photo by: Bill Berry Sailing for Hope – A minimum $25 donation gives sailors of all skill levels the chance to crew on a vessel and compete in the City of Hope Regatta.

MARINA DEL REY — Sailboat racers are invited to participate in an event that will award something more than trophies and prizes: a feeling of satisfaction for helping save lives.

Santa Monica Windjammers Yacht Club will host its 10th annual City of Hope Regatta May 16, to benefit the City of Hope Cancer Research Hospital. Mariners of all skill levels can take part in the race, and pay a donation to crew on one of the vessels.

Boaters can fulfill a dream to crew in a sailboat race by purchasing a spot on one of the vessels — and then spend the day caught up in the excitement that racing brings. Classes include one-design Catalina 42, PHRF and cruiser.

For a $30 donation, spectators can enjoy refreshments and racing action on the water aboard the 58-foot Hatteras tri-deck motoryacht Odyssey, which will be positioned at the starting line when the race begins.

Early sign-up is advised, as space is limited. Crew spots are selling for a minimum donation of $25, made payable to CoH (City of Hope). Other tax-deductible donations are also accepted.

Last year’s regatta raised $9,600. For more information or to sign up for the regatta, e-mail Norm Perron at thecaptain101@gmail.com or visit smwyc.org.

By Rich Roberts

Last updated: Friday, 4/30/2010 3:04 PM

Photo by: Rich Roberts Team Victory – Afterburner’s Bill Gibbs (left) and crewmembers showed off awards for their ORCA victory at the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race.     Photo by: Rich Roberts Winning Women – Cindy Wynne, along with her Sol Mate crew, enjoy their victory in the All-Woman class at the Newport to Ensenada Race.

ENSENADA, Mexico — In the pre-dawn hours of April 24, Lorenzo Berho of Mexico finished first aboard Peligroso in the big boat Maxi class, in Newport Ocean Sailing Association’s 63rd Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race.

Never mind that at the next day’s awards ceremony, the trophy went to Dick Compton, Jim Yabsley and Tom Parker, owners of Taxi Dancer — the Reichel/Pugh 68 from Santa Barbara that beat him by 70.5 minutes on corrected PHRF handicap time over the race’s 125.5 nautical miles.

No matter. “We are the first boat from Mexico to finish first in the Maxi class,” Berho said.

In all, 217 boats entered the international race, 198 of which started and 192 finished.

Taxi Dancer’s owners outscored all the other racing division boats on corrected time and collected a $6,500 Lamborghini diamond watch for their achievement. Parker said the Taxi Dancer team enjoyed “a great party” the night before the race, and they had another in Baja California.

Then there was Bill Gibbs from Ventura, who was delighted when his Tennant catamaran, Afterburner, finished only an hour and a half behind H.L. Enloe’s much faster trimaran, Loe Real, because he collected 26 minutes more than what the San Diego-based rival owed him in handicap time to win the ORCA class for multihulls.

Taxi Dancer, the bright yellow longtime campaigner among West Coast ultralight sleds, finished only 11 minutes, 22 seconds behind Peligroso boat for boat, before cashing in 81.5 minutes worth of handicap chips — no contest.

Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes was a more serious threat. Taxi Dancer owed time to the dark blue Farr 60 and tallied out by less than 12 minutes.

Bill Gibbs’ Afterburner catamaran from Pierpont Bay YC won the ORCA class for multihulls. Gibbs, the new president of the Ocean Racing Catamaran Association, said, “Ensenada has been an interesting race for us. In 11 attempts, we have broken three times and been first to finish three times. This time we weren’t first to finish, but we won.”

But it was tricky.

“We were with Taxi Dancer for the first hour,” Gibbs said. “They’re great in light wind — but when there’s no wind, we get stuck.”

Peligroso was originally built for and sailed by the late Long Beach sailor Mike Campbell. After Campbell’s death in 2008, Berho, a Mexico City businessman, bought it with a special purpose.

“We bought the boat to support Mexico’s young sailors,” he said — and he wanted a boat that would draw attention.

For this race, he said, “We had mostly a crew of sailors in their early 20s: young people with ambitions to sail in major events — even in the Olympics.”

His navigator was Piet van Os of La Jolla, who had the same assignment on Morning Light, the boat sailed by a similar crew for the late Roy E. Disney’s documentary film of the same name. Van Os now sails the world navigating merchant ships.

H.L. Enloe’s hope was to challenge the multihull record of 6 hours, 46 minutes, 40 seconds set by the late Steve Fossett on the Stars & Stripes catamaran in 1998, but the conditions weren’t there for his 60-foot trimaran. Although finishing first, he was an hour and 7.5 minutes over his own best time of 8:45:03 last year.

At the start of Sunday’s awards ceremony, NOSA Commodore Doug Jones led the crowd in the courtyard of Ensenada’s Bahia Hotel in paying tribute to longtime Santana editor Kitty James, who died at age 65, after a battle with cancer.

Many winners seemed to be from James’ old homeports in Orange County: eight first places in all, including four for Dana Point Yacht Club.

One of the latter was collected by Cindy Wynne’s team on Sol Mate, a Beneteau 35S, as the best of three all-woman crews among the 217 boats entered.

The last racing division boat to finish was Steve Ginder’s Exit Strategy, a Jeanneau 46.5 from Dana West Yacht Club that also posted the slowest corrected handicap time when it crossed the line at 5:58:27 Saturday afternoon — a double whammy that clinched the booby prize: the coveted Brass Spittoon.

In other strong classes, Mike Warns’ Fifty-One-Fifty, a Santa Cruz 50 from Ventura Sailing Club, won PHRF-A.

The lower PHRF classes capitalized on the switch from light easterlies suffered by the higher classes, closing the handicap gap after the faster boats finished before the wind switched.

That’s how Tim Murison’s Bolero, a 64-year-old Islander CLP 44 racing in PHRF-F, logged the second fastest corrected time, only 41 minutes slower than Taxi Dancer’s claim on the watch.

Class winners are (by PHRF corrected handicap time):

MAXI (7 boats) and PRESIDENT OF U.S.A. TROPHY (Fastest corrected time, racing division monohulls): Taxi Dancer (Reichel/Pugh 68), Dick Compton/Jim Yabsley/Tom Parker, Santa Barbara YC, elapsed time 14 hours 12 minutes, 51 seconds, corrected time 17:08:33.

ORCA (5): Afterburner (Tennant catamaran), Bill Gibbs, Pierpont Bay YC, ET 11:17:20/CT 16:26:54.

PHRF-A (13): Fifty-One-Fifty (Santa Cruz 50), Mike Warns, Ventura Sailing Club, ET 18:21:24/CT 18:27:40.

PHRF-B (16): Amante (Choate 48), Richley Family, Lido Isle YC, ET 21:20:16/CT 20:04:58.

PHRF-C (16): Sleeper (Jeanneau 44), Ron Simonson, Cabrillo Beach YC, ET 22:46:14.CT 19:50:32.

PHRF-D (22 ): Wind Dancer (Catalina 42), P.K. Edwards, Ventura YC, ET 23:06:43/CT 19:33:22.

PHRF-E (17): Rasa (Islander 36T), Ken Ziegler, Dana Point YC, ET 24:39:55/CT 19:51:16.

PHRF-F (9): Bolero (Islander CLP44), Tim Murison, Richmond YC, ET 22:4715/CT 17:39:47.

PHRF-G (11): Wiwo Ole II (Cheoy Lee Robb 35), Daniel Hodge/Tony Cozab, Dana Point YC, ET 25:13:42/CT 18:32:06.

SPRIT-A (10): Bad Pak (J/145), Tom Holthus, San Diego YC, ET 18:11:47/CT 19:14:32.

SPRIT-B (6): Lucky Star (J/105 OD), Mark Wyland, American Legion YC, ET 23:05:33/CT 20:09:51.

BRASS SPITTOON (slowest corrected time, racing division): Exit Strategy (Jeanneau 46.5), Steve Ginder, Dana West YC, ET 29:38:27/CT 27:20:24 (finished 5:58:27 April 24).

DOUBLEHANDED (7): Wiwo Ole II (Cheoy Lee Robb 35), Daniel Hodge/Tony Cozab, Dana Point YC, ET 25:13:42/CT 18:32:06.

ALL-WOMAN (3): Sol Mate (Beneteau 35S5), Cindy Wynne, Dana Point YC, ET 25:02:23/CT 20:32:33.

CRUZ GA (17): Enchanted Lady (Rob55K), Andy Sibert, Seal Beach YC, ET 22:49:46/CT 18:56:56.

CRUZ GB (13): Getaway (Catalina 34), Ray Huff/John Ugoretz, South Bay Yacht Racing Club, ET 27:28:43/CT 21:24:46.

CRUZ NA (24): Trojan Conquest (ERC 38), Alan & Robin Cheeks, King Harbor YC, ET 26:18:32/CT 21:06:52.

CRUZ NB (7): Fair Havens (Newport 28), Dave Griffin, Dana Point YC, ET 27:12:50/CT 19:41:02.

CRUZ SA (9): Elixir (Jeanneau 49DS), Chad and Kerrie Downey, California YC, ET 22:15:12/CT 19:32:03.

CRUZ SB (14): Kiwi Magic (Gulfstream 41), Bill Pickett, San Pedro YC, ET 25:19:31/CT 19:28:07.

FIRST 10 FINISHERS (elapsed times): 1. LoeReal (Jeanneau trimaran), H.L. Enloe, El Paso, Texas, 9 hours, 52 minutes, 33 seconds; 2. Afterburner (Tennant catamaran), Bill Gibbs, Pierpont Bay YC, 11:17:20; 3. Peligroso (Kernan 60), Lorenzo Berho, Mexico City, 14:01:39; 4. Taxi Dancer (R/P 68), Dick Compton/Jim Yabsley/Tom Parker, Santa Barbara YC, 14:12:51; 5. Stars & Stripes (Farr 60), Dennis Conner, San Diego YC, 15:08:34; 6. Pendragon IV (Davidson 52), John MacLaurin, California YC, 15:41:01; 7. Ragtime (Spencer 62), Chris Welsh, Newport Harbor YC, 16:10:13; 8. Staghound (R/P 50), Alex Oberschmidt, Southwestern YC, 17:51:48; 9. Blue Blazes (R/P 50), Dennis Pennell, San Diego YC; 10. Fifty-One-Fifty (Santa Cruz 50), Mike Warns, Ventura Sailing Club, 18:21:24.

By Taylor Hill

Last updated: Friday, 4/30/2010 3:04 PM

Photo by: Taylor Hill Racers Ready – A crowd of boats gathered off Newport Beach for the start of the second annual Border Run. This year, 143 boats participated in the race, including eight maxi sleds.

NEWPORT BEACH — Light winds at the start of the second annual Border Run did not deter a crowd of eager participants April 24, as 143 boats made the trek from Newport Beach to San Diego.

Sailors had two options: the 69-mile Short Course, a more direct route to race headquarters at San Diego’s Kona Kai Resort, or the 90-mile Long Course, wrapping around Los Coronados islands south of the U.S./Mexico border and also ending at the Kona Kai. Finishing racers celebrated with a party on the beach, followed by a trophy ceremony after results were tallied.

Akela, an R/P 77 turbo sled owned by Doug Baker, took first-to-finish honors on the long course with an elapsed time of 9 hours, 7 minutes, 34 seconds — despite struggling early in light winds and earning a penalty at the race start. Bob Lane’s Andrews 64 Medicine Man took first overall on corrected time.

Randy Reynolds, co-creator of the Border Run, enjoyed the race from the helm of his R33 multihull Cat Attack and finished the short course with the fastest first-to-finish elapsed time of 6 hours, 40 minutes, 20 seconds.

The 11 a.m. start off the Balboa Pier began slowly, with boats attempting to make way in the light winds. “I wish there could have been more wind for the start, but it picked up on the way down,” said race co-creator Bob Long.

Reynolds’ decision to create a race friendly to fast multihulls and boats of cutting-edge design came after he was denied entry into the Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race when the governing Newport Ocean Sailing Association deemed his R33 racing catamaran “unsafe” for the event. The Border Run’s motto of “everyone’s invited” ended up attracting both novice and seasoned sailors, with this year’s race including seven maxi-sleds and developmental classes, including a variety of multihulls and fast Hobie Trifoilers.

“I think next year, the third year of the race, will cement our place here,” Long said. “With our strong San Diego commitment and our increased efforts in getting first-timers to believe they can enter this race, I think we can grow this thing into a significant event.”

Long Course top finishers include:

Overall Elapsed Time: 1st: Akela, R/P 77, Doug Baker, 9:07:34; 2nd: Medicine Man, Andrews 64, Bob Lane, 9:38:41; 3rd: Insane Asylum, R33, Scott Klodowski, 9:40:00.

Overall PHRF: 1st: Medicine Man, Andrews 64, Bob Lane, 12:08:50; 2nd: Holua, Santa Cruz 70, Brack Duker, 12:15:53; 3rd: OEX, Santa Cruz 70, Peter Tong, 12:22:42.

Short Course top finishers include:

Overall Elapsed Time: 1st: Cat Attack, R33, Randy Reynolds; 2nd: Nacra 20, Kevan Peck; 3rd: Piranha, Farr 40, David Voss.

Italian Team Azzurra takes top honors in match racing off Long Beach.

By Rich Roberts

Last updated: Friday, 4/30/2010 3:04 PM

Photo by: Rich Roberts Top Two – Gavin Brady, four-time winner of the Congressional Cup, could not chase down Francesco Bruni and his Team Azzurra crew, as the America’s Cup hopefuls took home first place in the Grade 1 Open match racing regatta.

LONG BEACH — Francesco Bruni and his Team Azzurra crew squeezed the last bit of breath out of the 46th Congressional Cup March 27, to outsail Gavin Brady 2-1 and deny the four-time winner an unprecedented fifth Crimson Blazer in the only Grade 1 Open match racing regatta in the United States.

Instead, it was the affable Italian who donned the traditional prize, after reveling in a champagne shower and a proper dunking at the dock that blew off the tension of a hard-earned victory.

“We were very scared, especially after the score was one to one,” Bruni said, fearing that Mother Nature would rule the day beyond all of his sailing skill.

Unusually capricious conditions for the venue bedeviled the four semifinalists with a simmering offshore Santa Ana desert breeze, arriving at 18 knots from the east. Later, after one round of racing parallel to the sand-blown beach, the wind switched to 150 degrees onshore from the southwest, but dropped to 7 knots.

Azzurra, an Italian team with America’s Cup ambitions, hung tough, although pushed to the limit of three races by defending champion Johnie Berntsson in the semis and by Brady in the final.

Bruni will share his $10,000 prize with his crew: Tom Burnham, tactician; Ben Durham, main sail trimmer; Pierluigi De Felice, trimmer; Pietro Mantovani, pit and trimmer; and Matteo Auguadro, bow.

“We worked hard to win it,” said Bruni, who lost 2-0 to Berntsson in last year’s title match. “We weren’t very focused … and this year, we were this close to losing. We’re really happy.”

The title turned on another reversal of the Long Beach norm: The left side of the course was favored. Before each of their three starts, Bruni and Brady fought hard for that privilege in last-minute luff-ups below the line, and the boat that started to leeward with a direct shot at the pin end of the line won every race: Bruni by six seconds, Brady by two minutes, 22 seconds and Bruni again by one minute, 29 seconds.

In the first final match, Brady, who had eliminated Bill Hardesty 2-0 in the semis, even forced a foul on Bruni — but the latter built enough of a lead by going left to drop his spinnaker and do a penalty turn around the pin at the finish.

“It was all about winning the left,” Bruni said.

Eric Monnin of Switzerland won the fleet race around the harbor.

The Congressional Cup has maintained a high level of organization over the years, with a volunteer force of some 300 club members and their families. Each crew is assigned boat hostesses and a housing team to deliver outstanding local hospitality — which the Congressional Cup has offered throughout its 45-year history.

Final results are:

Round-Robin Standings: 1. Gavin Brady, New Zealand, 15-2.; 2. Francesco Bruni, Italy, 14-3; 3. Johnie Berntsson, Sweden, 14-3; 4. Bill Hardesty, USA, 11-7; 5. Dave Perry, USA, 10-8, $3,500; 6. Evgeniy Neugodnikov, Russia, 9-9, $3,100; 7. Eric Monnin, Switzerland, 7-11, $2,700; 8. Damien Iehl, France, 7-11, $2,300; 9. Sally Barkow, USA, 2-16, $1,900; 10. Simone Ferrarese, Italy, 1-17, $1,500.

Semifinals: Bruni wins Series #1, 2-1 (Bruni defeats Berntsson, 34 seconds; Berntsson def. Bruni, 0:51; Bruni def. Berntsson, 0:01); Brady wins Series #2, 2-0 (Brady def. Hardesty, 0:09; Brady def. Hardesty, 1:23).

Final: Bruni def. Brady, 2-1; Bruni wins $10,000, Brady wins $6,000. (Bruni def. Brady, 0:06; Brady def. Bruni, 2:22; Bruni def. Brady, 1:29.)

Petit Final: Berntsson def. Hardesty, 2-0; Berntsson wins $5,000, Hardesty wins $4,500. (Berntsson def. Hardesty, 0:20; Berntsson def. Hardesty, 0:09.)