Pyewacket first in line again

The first boat to finish the 59th Lexus Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race was the same one that finished first last year.

Pyewacket, the maxZ86 previously owned by Roy Disney, pulled into Ensenada Harbor at 5:08 a.m. Saturday. The monohull boat, which was donated to the Orange Coast College School of Sailing & Seamanship last year, finished with an elapsed time of 17 hours, 8 minutes and 20 seconds.

Brad Avery and Keith Kilpatrick co-piloted Pyewacket in the race.

The next fastest finisher was Doug Baker’s Magnitude 80, which was second in last year’s Newport to Ensenada race and was considered the top contender this year, in a time of 20:05:01. Newport Sea Base’s Scout Spirit, piloted by David Janes, was third in 21:26:46.

Following them among the monohulls were Peligroso (piloted by Mike Campbell and Dale Williams), Pendragon IV (John McLaurin), Grand Illusion (Ed McDowell), Staghound (Alec Oberschmidt), Medicine Man (Bob Lane), Taxi Dancer (Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Paul and Laura Sharp), and Ragtime (Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Chris Welsh).

In fact, eight of last year’s top 10 monohull finishers ended up with top 10 finishes this year.

Loe Real, captained by H.L. Enloe, was the first multihull boat to finish. The 60-foot Jeanneau from Silver Gate Yacht Club posted a time of 21:06:24. Following Loe Real was Bill Gibbs’ Afterburner (23:12.11) and Michael Lenehans’ Delta Vee (23:21:00).

Sailors reported light winds at best for much of the race, topping out near 12 knots during the final stretch toward Ensenada.