In the just concluded Border Run Race, SailTime was awarded its own class by the race organizers. This is a significant step in the maturation of the program as it takes a minimum of 6 “of the same” boats to create a class in a major sailboat race. Occasionally you will see a certain production boat class, like a J-Boat class in a major race, but most racers find themselves in a handicap system called PRHF. Those boats race against a wide variety of others from old to new and large to small.
The Border Run race this year featured more than 185 boats at the starting line. The start was delayed to allow the wind to fill in on what would become a light and variable, slow motion dance down the 100+ mile course between Newport Beach and San Diego, California.
The Crew of 1421
First Place in the SailTime went to SK Leong, owner of “1421”, a 2008 Hunter 36 in the Channel Islands Fleet. Second Place went to “Arbella” and Third Place went to “Diversion”, both out of the Orange County base in Newport Beach.
SailTime Members gather after the race for a group shot
The Border Run Race is an alternative to the “grandaddy” of West Coast Spring races, The Newport to Ensenada, two years ago, when it was felt Mexico might not be the safest place to end a race these days. It too, saw about 200 boats on the same weekend. So, there were over 400 boats making their way down the coast!
