Newport-to Ensenada 2002

 By:  Buz Branch

The morning in April 2002 broke cold and dark with a steady drizzle. High winds and seas  were predicted by the afternoon. Small craft warnings were already posted and our "small craft" Southern Comfort, a Santa Cruz 27, was well out to sea sailing from Long Beach to Newport. The start of the 55th Newport to Ensenada race  was  just 5 hours away and we were jib reaching at a steady 6-8 knots.  

Pre Race preparations of running heavy air spin sheets, Barber Haulers, Technora  after guy with 18,000 lbs working load, checking our harnesses and personal strobes, and rechecking all leads to be sure they are fair, was all done enroute. The crew was made up of Cole Price, skipper and driver, Cole's 14 year old  son ,Mike, would run the pit, Doug, foredeck, Norm, middeck,  Jimmy,  mainsheet trimmer and myself, head sail trimmer  and occasional relief driver. Everyone was talking, formulating a plan , trying to predict and anticipate. We already knew the J-92s and J-80s with their carbon fiber sprits and big powerful code zero asymetricals would be impossible to beat in the predicted conditions. We decided to just do our best and have fun. The crew is a very democratic team  and everyone's input is valued. Everyone can do each others job if necessary, but all have a specialty.                     

The boat is a 25 year old ultra light displacement boat (ULDB). Not ULDB by today's technology, but still very competitive (named boat of the year  by SoCal yachting assoc. and has won over 100 trophies) The boat is faded brown and battle scarred with a 24 ft waterline, the skipper touches her up with Rustoleum paint from Ace Hardware and there are patches and holes filled everywhere. Not a cushion or creature comfort to be found. It has good sails and good deck equipment and a flawless bottom - a race boat.                                                   

This was my third consecutive Ensenada Race and I have had the pleasure of a crew slot whenever I can make a race.

We arrived an hour before the start and the yachts there were impressive. Merlin, Christine(100 footer), two Americas cup boats, Dennis Conner on Stars and Stripes, Medicine Man, After Burner, Magnatude, Transpac 52s and 70 foot Maxi sleds that I have read about for years. And there was the six man crew of little Southern Comfort looking up at 100+foot masts with big powerful carbon fiber and mylar sails that cost more for one sail than my home.  452 yachts were getting ready to start the biggest yacht race in the world , top sailors and heavily  campaigned sleds from around the planet; well .it was just awesome!!                                                                                 

The starting line was divided into three and every 10 minutes about 40 boats started ,"A" fleet and the multihulls first. At our start gun, we were at full  speed , toward the favored end, on starboard tack, about 2 ft  "over early" ;or so we thought, but of the 3 boats that were recalled to restart, we were not recalled . Last year, we were first in fleet to pop the chute , this year, second. The air was very bad and the chute was way unstable due to all the traffic, but soon we were clear and we started to power up. The wind built to 12 knots, gusting to 18. The seas also built and soon we were surfing big waves with sustained speeds of 10 -12 knots. The tremendous loads on the spin sheet I was trimming were handled with ratchet blocks at the stern and the cabin top winch; exhausting, and intense work. Towards nightfall, the winds were a steady 24 -28 knots with really big waves. We would surf the front side, bury the bow in the next with the decks awash ,climb , launch off the top, surf, bury , climb ,launch, again and again! Our hull speeds were a steady 14-16 knots GPS. We saw spinnakers explode and only one skipper had the nerve to reset a spare. Squall after squall would hit with driving rain and usually a near round up.  Terrified of pitch poling, cold and shivering from unseen breaking waves , we blasted on to the limit through the pitch black of hell!!! By 4am the winds and squalls eased and just  for a brief moment, the full moon  appeared through the dark clouds and shimmered on the water, our wake was aglow with phosphorescence and Dolphins rode our bow wave; Heaven!! By sun-up the wind had completely died and it took over an hour to claw the last mile to the finish line; talk about a bummer !We were wasted and disheartened! If we only had 10 more minutes  of wind , if only..Each of us swore an oath that we would NEVER do this race again.                                                                                     

As we ghosted inside the breakwater of Ensenada harbor, just beginning to warm up to the morning sun , our spirits instantly soared as we were welcomed and congratulated by shouts and applause from the skippers and crew of the anchored Maxi Sleds who could not believe their eyes; the little brown boat had finished in the company of giants and" rock stars ". As our skipper Cole looked around the harbor a little smile appeared on his haggard face . " Well boys, "he said, " we didn't exactly embarrass ourselves, well done!"              High fives went around with talk about hot showers and strategies for, yes it's true,..  next  years Newport to Ensenada race.

Final score: 3rd in class  and an impressive 13th overall in a fleet of 452 yachts.(turns out 2 of the 3 J- boats  finished just before the wind died).  The other Santa Cruz 27s finished over 3 hours behind us. We corrected on all the sleds, including  Magnatude who set a new course record held since 1998 by Pywacker.  We also corrected over  Mr. Americas Cup.Dennis Conner on STARS and STRIPES by over 1.3 hours

See you on the water,   Buz branch  SV Doubloon C+C29                                                                                                                                                      Commodore ,  San Juan Sailing Club