Maxis come to Newport Beach

Pre-Transpac round the cans show down in California

The rare sight of big, fast sailboats racing off Newport Beach is in store for the First Team Real Estate Invitational Regatta on 19-22 May, featuring high-powered racers such as Roy Disney's Pyewacket, Randall Pittman's Genuine Risk and a cadre of Transpac 52s.

Big sailboats racing off Newport Beach traditionally has been limited to watching them disappear over the horizon after starting a race to Mexico. This regatta will have three days of racing around buoys on a course set close to shore. As many as 20 entries are anticipated.

The Newport Harbor (NHYC) and Balboa (BYC) Yacht Clubs are combining resources to manage the event. Proceeds will benefit Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute.

Organisers plan an on going biennial event scheduled between the Newport to Ensenada Race in April and the Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii in July. The inaugural event will feature a range of high-tech racers from 1D48s up to Disney's maxZ86, with ULDB 70s, Neil Barth's Volvo 60, America's Challenge and various 50 footers in between. Crews will range in number from 12 to 23 people.

Other early entries include Doug Baker's Andrews 80 maxi sled, Magnitude 80, and Ed McDowell's Santa Cruz 70 Grand Illusion overall winner of Transpac 1999. Baker said he hasn't had many opportunities to race Magnitude 80 around buoys. "We did some in Mexico [after a distance race there]. Buoy racing is fun, and they're going to have a good fleet. It's getting better on the West Coast."

The TP52s, the world's fastest growing one-design big boat class, are expected to have three entries: Fred Detwiler's Trader, Charles Burnett's Braveheart and Mark Jones's Flash. The latter, called J-Bird III under previous ownership, became the new class's breakthrough boat in 2001 when it was first to finish in Division 2 of the Transpac, well ahead of several ULDB 70 sleds.

Tom Pollack, a local businessman and executive director of the TP52 class, said, "This is the biggest big boat regatta they've had in Newport in many years. It's a great event. It puts Newport Beach back on the map for big boat racing and will help build the TP52 fleet on the West Coast."

Social activities are planned utilising some of Newport Beach’s finest facilities, including an opening dinner at BYC on Thursday night, May 19, and an awards celebration at NHYC on Sunday night.

Races will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday’s races will provide sponsors and their guests an opportunity to experience the action on board race boats in a competitive format.

First Team President Cameron Merage said, "Newport Beach is the ideal host site for an international regatta. Our entire company is delighted to lend our name and support to this exciting event on behalf of Hoag Hospital and the community."

Jim Madden, co-chair with Jay Swigart, said, "this collaboration has the power to generate immense benefits. Through the support of sponsors and the efforts of the competitors, the real winner of the event will be the patients of Hoag Hospital."

Early entries:

America's Challenge (Volvo 60), Neil Barth, Newport Beach.
Bolt (Nelson/Marek 55), Craig Reynolds, Newport Beach.
Genuine Risk (Dubois 90), Randall Pittman, San Diego.
Grand Illusion (Santa Cruz 70), Ed McDowell, Lahaina, H.I.
Magnitude 80 (Andrews 80), Doug Baker, Long Beach, Calif.
Margaritaville (Andrews 52), Jay Steinbeck, Los Angeles.
Pyewacket (Reichel/Pugh maxZ86), Roy E. Disney, Los Angeles.
Scout Spirit (Reichel/Pugh 77), David Janes, Newport Sea Base Syndicate, Newport Beach.
Stark Raving Mad (J/145), Jim Madden, Newport Beach.
Taxi Dancer (Mull 68), Paul Sharp, Newport Beach.
Vicki (Andrews 68), Al and Vicki Schultz, Long Beach, Calif.