June Casagrande
Not even the winners themselves get to behold all 48 Newport to
Ensenada trophies in their historic splendor.
The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is putting together an exhibit
that captures, for the first time, the legendary Newport to Ensenada
yacht race's past.
"This is just such a big event with so much history for Newport
Beach that we're really excited to be doing this exhibit," said Glenn
Zagoren, director of the museum.
The race started back in 1947 when a small group called the
Newport Ocean Sailing Assn. decided to put together a little
international yacht race to lift the nation's spirits in the wake of
World War II. Organizers expected about 20-odd entries and were
floored when 117 yacht crews signed up. The turnout set in motion a
half-century of success for a race that's now an important piece of
local history.
"This is a subject very near and dear to this community's heart,"
said Marcus de Chevrieux, curator of the museum.
The exhibit will kick off the race, which takes place April 23
through 25. It will include hundreds of photographs, many of them
from the museum's own archives. Memorabilia will include the original
telegraph announcing that President Truman would attend.
"The Newport to Ensenada race has always been 50% the party and
50% the actual race," Zagoren said. "We have both of those aspects
portrayed in memorabilia and photographs, and we want to portray both
sides."
