Boaters get the party started for Newport to Ensenada race

Ominous clouds that made for a drizzly morning didn’t keep boaters and other sailing enthusiasts away from the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

Onlookers packed the end of the Balboa Pier, waving and readying their smartphones to snap shots of more than 200 sailboats cruising out of Newport Harbor to start the 125-nautical-mile race to Ensenada, Mexico.

Beachgoers, some unaware of the 68-year-old tradition, stopped to stare at the uncommon sight. The boaters sailed to the invisible starting line, waiting for a horn to sound to begin the competition.

Though she said that “sailing is not the greatest spectator sport,” Newport Beach resident Kathleen Moaddeli spoke passionately about the race, explaining the different styles of boats and sailing techniques to those around her. Depending on the boat and crew, the trip can take from 10 hours to more than a day.

Wearing a T-shirt with a sailboat emblazoned across the front and a hat to protect herself from the intermittent rain, Moaddeli pointed toward a large trimaran whizzing past the pier. “That one will probably be there by sundown,” she said.

Once the sailors arrive in the Baja port town, the real party will begin. Some will spend the weekend lounging in Mexico with tacos and cheap beer before sailing back to the States.

Tom Kennedy, vice commodore for the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, has participated in the annual race since 1984. Through the decades, the race has become deeply rooted in Newport Beach’s sailing culture.

“Even after so many years, the race has kept a lot of its old flavor,” Kennedy said.

Since its inception, the event has brought together boaters from all over the United States, whether they are competitive racers or simply fans of sailing the ocean.

Dwight Rowe has traveled from his home in Ventura to race for the past 20 years.

“It’s all about getting away from the day-to-day stresses and the electronic tether that binds us all together,” he said.

Rowe, decked out in rain gear, was busy organizing equipment with friends and family aboard his boat, Buena Vista, hours before the race began.

When asked about the weather conditions, the longtime sailor looked toward the clouds and shrugged.

“You never know what you’re going to get,” he said. “That’s part of the fun.”