Mighty Merloe leaves mark on SD to Ensenada Race

SAN DIEGO – The annual San Diego to Ensenada Race International Yacht Race drew 40 boats to its starting line on Oct. 2, with Mighty Merloe besting the group to set a new course record.

Mighty Merloe, a 60-foot trimarand owned by Howard Enloe, set a new elapsed time course record of 2:52:24 on the 57.8-mile course that began off Zuniga Point to just half-a nautical mile from the Marina Coral jetty.

Blues skies and an average of 8-12 knot winds made for decent sailing weather, along with 2- to 3-foot swells.

Racers competed in 10 classes, with four boats from Mexico also joining in the regatta. This year’s regatta, hosted by Southwestern Yacht Club, experienced a 30 percent increase in boat participation, according to the club.

“The whole immigration and check-in process for the racers was very easy and the Mexican immigration and tourism officials did a great job making us feel at home,” said Mike McNabb, race chair and 2015 Southwestern YC sail fleet captain.

An after-race party was held at San Nicolas Hotel, hosted by hotel owner and tourism promoter Nico Saad and Mary Haller, Southwestern YC commodore, Sandra Sherman, Southwestern YC vice commodore, and Drew Bernet, Southwestern YC rear commodore.

Competitors were offered an additional chance to race in Mexico during the Todos Santos Race on Oct. 4. Nineteen boats sailed in the race that took place on a 20-mile course around the Todos Santos Island in Ensenada. Winners are as follows: 1st: Cimarron, David Bashman, 2nd: Poco Loco, Michael Roach and 3rd: Spin, Paul Farrell.

San Diego to Ensenada Perpetual Trophies

Unified Port of San Diego, Yacht Club with Most PHRF Trophy Winners – CRA

Port of Ensenda, First Mexican Boat on Corrected Time (Non-Cruising Class) – Fatback, Juan Hussong

Douglas K. Smith, First PHRF Boat to Finish (Elapsed Time – 6:25 pm) – Staghound, Alec Oberschmidt

Mayor of Ensenada, First PHRF Boat on Corrected Time – Wani Racing, Ben Mitchell

Hussong’s Cantina, First PHRF Class 2 Boat on Corrected Time – Abacus, Timothy Chin

Baja Department of Tourism, First PHRF Class 3 Boat on Corrected Time – LOCO-motive, Larry Andrews

Sano’s Steak House, First PHRF Class 4 Boat on Corrected Time – Boomerang, Mark Mallaby

Sano’s Steak House, First PHRF Class 5 Boat on Corrected Time – Wani Racing, Ben Mitchell

Southwestern Handicap Fleet, First SWHF Boat on Corrected Time: Escapade, Terry Smith

Burt Jay Perpetual Consolation, Last Boat to Finish–Yata Ma, Eduardo Morales

Bill Boison, Race Chair: Mike McNabb

San Diego to Ensenada, First Overall – AMSS – Sally 

San Diego to Ensenada, Best Elapsed Time – AMSS – Sally