68th annual Newport to Ensenada Race

This year the famous N2E became the infamous N2C (Newport to Catalina) because the wind was exactly one day late to the start line. Vanishing Girl was one of 4 boats in our division to retire with a DNF, a decision that came swiftly and unanimously at 1am while slatting off Carlsbad, CA.

Let’s rewind to the beginning of the 5-day trip with Captains Paul and Jared, and PPS crew Danna, Mike, Andreas, and Mark.

_/)___/)_/)____/)___


Interesting problem the authorities appear to have in bustling downtown Ventura.
20150422_122033

Van Girl sleeping under a waxing and just slightly gibbous moon, ready to go.
20150422_222329

We departed Ventura at 4am. A whale came by to say hi as the sun rose over Pt. Mugu. Nice way to start the day!
20150423_161814

Race Day morning. Drizzle!
20150424_090442

206 boats this year. Danna loved the close quarters milling about before our 12:10 start. ​​
20150424_110152

We had a good start. Here we are on top of Cool Man Cool. Photo credit to Joy.
Ensenada-2015-8205-X2

Sail #1006. We could’ve used a bigger headsail. Photo credit to Woody.
Screen-Shot-2015-04-28-at-4.55.04-PM

The dreaded leeward hike. Even the 70′ tri ORION was pretty much stuck to the water.
20150424_124449

From the bluffs just south of Newport. Like a great migration. Photo credit Woody.
Screen-Shot-2015-04-28-at-5.02.47-PM

By sun up, we were no longer racing. It was a strategic call to spend the night motor-sailing to Avalon for two reasons: ​
20150425_073629

First, because it was fun to spend a day with nothing to do but play 6 games of pool and walk around town. ​
20150425_114336

Second, because when the wind came back it came back big. I almost felt bad for those who finished. What goes down must come up. And the forecast was for 30 knots from up. ​
20150426_104337

That morning I had to go unfuck the main halyard at the first spreaders. ​
20150426_095212

Here’s the whole crew looking at me looking at them. Down faster please!
20150426_095123

The breeze came on, and the cowboyz got serious.
20150426_123310

It continued to build – up to 30 kts true, briefly – and we kept reducing sail. Great opportunity for boat and crew to hone some skills.
20150426_1411310

By the end of the afternoon we ended up with just a double reefed main, flying in to Jared’s anchorage (Paradise Cove).
20150426_144226

It was dark the rest of the trip. We arrived Ventura the exact time of day we left, 4am. By 7am the crew had resisted the temptation to go “off watch and snooze” instead driving home to SF, Arizona, and Oxnard. Van Girl and crew had a fun sailing adventure, if not a race to Ensenada. See you all again for another attempt! ​
Screen-Shot-2015-04-13-at-4.45.26-PM


Captain Pablo out.​

One Response to 68th annual Newport to Ensenada Race

  1. Jane Roy says:

    You guys rock! Jared you doing the Ha-Ha in that beast? I wanna go!!!!