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Parties Lead Up to April 26 Ensenada Race Start

Byline: The Log Staff

Parties Lead Up to April 26 Ensenada Race Start

NEWPORT BEACH — More than 250 boats in nearly a dozen classes are expected to compete in the 66th annual Newport-to-Ensenada Race, starting at 11 a.m. April 26 off the Balboa Pier. Good spectator viewing areas will include the pier, the beach and the bluffs above Corona del Mar State Beach, which the racers will pass on their way south to Ensenada.

But before the boats head south of the border, a week of race activities is planned in Newport Beach.

A Launch Party, set for noon-4 p.m. April 21 at the Balboa Village/Fun Zone area, will kick off the celebrations. The race organizer, the Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA), expects nearly 1,000 people to attend the party at ExplorOcean, at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. It will include a “Taste of Balboa/Sample, Stroll and Sip” event, live entertainment, a nautical art exhibit, a display of race boats, a street chalk festival, children’s boat-building, a Stella Artois Beer Garden and a display of Lexus automobiles provided by the race’s title sponsor.

A Yachtsman’s Lunch with speaker Dave Ullman is set for 11:30 a.m. April 24 at Newport Harbor Yacht Club. And NOSA plans a big pre-race fiesta starting at 5 p.m. April 25 at Harborside Restaurant in the Balboa Pavilion.

Once the boats have arrived in Ensenada, racers will enjoy a Saturday night fiesta at the Hotel Coral — the race headquarters — from 8 to midnight April 27. The post-race trophy presentation is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 28 at the Hotel Coral.

Registration forms, a complete schedule of events and more information is available at newporttoensenada.com.

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