2010 Corona del Mar to Cabo San Lucas International Yacht Race
The 2010 race from Newport California to Cabo San Lucas is 800 mile race that is shaping up to be three races in one. The first race, will be to escape from the predicted light winds that will be present on our start line and sail out past the Channel island that are 30 miles to the West of our start. This will be a difficult game to play, as every mile we sail West to reach the expected increase in breeze, will be a mile of extra distance on the race course. So, though our shortest course will be to head South, we may have to sail some exra distance to reduce the amount of time it takes us to reach Cabo San Lucas.
The middle part of the race will consist of sailing the shortest course while predicting the windshifts that we can expect as we approach the two primary Western points of land along the Baja peninsula. The first critical point is name Cedros (370nm from the start) and he second is called Magdalena Bay (600nm south of the start). Each of these points will have a massive effect on the wind direction and wind speed. Much of the effect upon the breeze will be determined by the time of day at which we approach them.
The final part of the race will be the last 80 miles into Cabo San Lucas. The towering mountains that surround Cabo will be sure to have a massive effect upon the wind as we approach the finish. It will be our goal to find a final approach angle that avoids us getting sucked up under the mountains with only a slow hope of escape.
Limit will be the fastest boat on the race course this year. It will be our goal to use that speed to our full advantage.
LIMIT ARRIVES IN THE USA AND IS READY TO RACE! 20/3/2010
The Corona del Mar to Cabo San Lucas International Yacht Race is an invitational race for mono-hull boats for unique trophies presented by Balboa Yacht Club. The is from Newport Beach, California approximately 800 nm SSE to a finish near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Two start dates are planned with slower handicap rated boats starting on Friday, March 26, 2010 and faster handicap rated boats starting on Saturday, March 27, 2010.
After competing at the Bay of Islands Race Week in New Zealand (a week before GBRW) Limit was delivered back to Auckland where the sails went back to Evolution NZ for service and the rig was removed also for servicing by Southern Spars. Upon full service and inspection of the entire boat including winches, running gear and electronics the mast was re-fitted and the boat packed ready for the SS3 Dockwise, the ship that would transport this fully rigged Reichel-Pugh 63 from Auckland to Ensanada, Mexico ready for the 2010 West Coast USA circuit.
Alan and the core delivery team arrived for the unloading in Ensanada and were waiting for the SS3 Dockwise to arrive so they could deliver the boat up to San Diego, where it was to be lifted, weighed and measured for the American Handicap rule (PHRF)….a requirement even though we are in IRC division we had to get a PHRF rating also.
Anyway – here’s an exert Alan’s email from Ensenada…
Guess what ? The SS3 Dockwise is late. Should unload late today (Saturday) if no more delays. Wind currently 20kts 270. Our course to SD 340.Should be wild and wet if we leave today. Contrary to reports Ensenada is not a shit hole and quite safe. Only 8 murders last night. I counted 4 of us at breakfast so our night sojourn out of the safety of the Coral Resort was a success!!!!
No shortage of drugs and dealers. Good place not to visit. Adios Amigo’s!
Since then Alan and the guys have got the boat up to San Diego, finished the measuring and started working through boat preparations. Tonight our time they are delivering Limit up to Long Beach where the boat will stay until race start. Most of the team are flying into Long Beach California this week, where we will do our pre-race preparations, provision the boat then start the race. It is traditionally a downhill slide (yeah, heard that before!) but our navigator and local expert Malcolm Park (of Team Rosebud fame) is expecting a good run down to Mexico.
Will try and send some pics, reports etc out wherever I can.
Race Website www.balboayachtclub.com
Tracker here cloud.iboattrack.com/r/start.php?r=2010_corona_cabo