Would Missing This Race Be the End of the World?

Byline: The Log Staff

NEWPORT BEACH — Depicting a sailboat racing away from a burning city, under a yellow and orange nuclear sky, the artwork for this year’s Border Run — set to start March 10 — is definitely eye-catching.

“In 2011, the Border Run became the largest point to point race on the West Coast,” the race’s latest press release begins. “So, what are Border Run organizers planning for 2012? With futurists predicting the end of the world in 2012, organizers are taking no chances — by going all out to make this year’s Border Run special.”

There are many changes this year that will attract more racers to the event. This year’s Border Run will start on a new date — Saturday, March 10 — that will allow participants to compete not only in the Border Run, but also in the San Diego NOOD Regatta (March 16-18) and the Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race (April 27-29). And this year’s Border Run starts on a full moon, providing a chance for more wind.
Border Run organizers are planning a new single start for all boats. “With the turnout expected to be over 200 boats, this could be the largest single class start in the U.S.A.,” said race co-founder Randy Reynolds, of XS Racing.

All classes will start off the Balboa Pier on one long start line, separated into three classes: the 14-mile Sprint Course to Dana Point, the 70-mile Short Course to San Diego and the 90-mile Long Course around the island of Coronado del Norte to San Diego.

“It will be spectacular,” agreed John Marshall of South Shore Yacht Club, the organizing authority for the event. “Although the final details of the start are not being released yet, the basics are pretty simple and exciting.

“Ten minutes before the start, all boats will be required to be west of the Balboa Pier,” Marshall said. “With a leeward buoy off the pier and a committee boat out to sea, sailors will be looking for a helicopter and/or powerboat running the line, trailing smoke or a large flag just minutes before the start. This will help give sailors a good visual of the start line as the committee boat starts the entire fleet at 11 a.m. GPS time, with a cannon and radio communication.”

“We plan to make the start easy for beginners and tactical for the experts,” Reynolds added. “This start will be the only one of its kind on the West Coast. It will be easy, fun, exciting, tactical and challenging. We hope sailors won’t want to miss it.”

Start details will be announced by Feb. 13 with sailing instructions, on the Border Run website: theborderrun.org.

In other news, Reynolds announced that Dana Point Yacht Club is on board to finish the Sprint Course to Dana Point and to host the Sprint Course Party.

The San Diego Trophy Party for the Short and Long Course sailors will be at Silver Gate Yacht Club. The event will be catered by Fiddlers Green, and there will be plenty of parking, organizers said.

“Most importantly, Border Run sailors can earn prizes by raising money for three charities,” Reynolds said. “These charities are dedicated to preserving our oceans, promoting the sport of sailing and fighting blood cancers — including skin cancer.”

“We hope the sailors will get behind the new charities as they did last year when sailors raised over $50,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS),” said John Sakacs of City2Sea, who is heading fundraising for this year’s Border Run. LLS is one of the charities that will benefit from fundraising, in addition to City2Sea’s programs that introduce students to sailing and marine sciences.

To encourage sailors to enter early, sailors who sign up by Jan. 10 can pay a lower entry fee. See the race website for details.

The 2012 Border Run is sponsored by Ullman Sails and outfitted by Pirates Lair. The Border Run Team consists of XS Racing, South Shore YC (the organizing authority) and Dana Point YC. The Border Run is part of the 2012 Ullman Sails Offshore Championship Series.

For more information, visit theborderrun.org or call (800) 366-8584.