The cat comes back for yacht race

June Casagrande

When the cat’s away, the mice will play. But what happens when the

cat comes back? We’re about to find out.

Last year, Roy Disney’s Pyewacket, a monohull racer named after

the cat in the 1958 film “Book, Bell and Candle,” didn’t compete in

the Tommy Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race. In Disney’s absence,

five boats beat his 1998 monohull record of 11:54. This year, Pyewacket’s back.

“Needless to say, we were a little bummed when our record was

broken last year,” Disney said. “But to ease the pain, on the day we

heard about it, we had just won every race [of six] and the overall

trophy at the Antigua Race Week, so that sort of took the edge off

our disappointment.”

El Nino-related weather last year created unusually favorable

conditions for Newport to Ensenada racers. It’s not that the wind was

stronger than ever, but that it was consistent through the night and,

of course, that it blew in the right direction.

As a result, almost every one of the 473 yachts in the race

finished in less than 24 hours. Most sailors set their own personal

best records. And Disney’s reign as monohull king was toppled by

Magnitude, skippered by Doug Baker, and four other boats.

“There were unusually good conditions that caused a lot of racers

to set their personal bests last year, but don’t think that those

conditions won’t be back. It could happen again,” said Fred Slocum,

commodore of the Newport Ocean Sailing Assn., which puts on the

annual race.

The annual race, whose 56th begins April 25, has become an

institution in Newport and the destination city, Ensenada, Mexico.

The after-race parties alone are legendary. In its rich history, the

race has drawn not only the top sailing competitors, but also top

names in entertainment and politics. Among the names engraved on

Newport to Ensenada trophies are President Harry S. Truman and

Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren.

“We think of it as the event that really kicks off the Southern

California yachting season,” Slocum said. “It’s really the first big

race of the season. So it attracts some really big names. But at the

same time, these big names are racing aside ordinary people who

normally wouldn’t be found in the same group with people like Dennis

Conner and Bill Turpin.”

Organizers predict that between 480 and 500 boats will enter this

year, more than last year’s 473 entries. More than 20 events will

take place on land in conjunction with the annual race, including a

charity reception on April 19 to benefit youth services agency El

Viento.

“Needless to say, we’d love to get the record back, as soon as

possible, but it takes a good year weather wise to do that,” Disney

said. “Give us 25 knots of wind from the northwest right from the

start, and we’ll do the rest on our own.”

For information about the race, the reception or other events,

visit www.nosa.org or call (949) 644-1023.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].