For a photo gallery of the start of the race, click here.
CORONA DEL MAR — Not even sunny skies or calm waters could hide the cloud hanging over this year’s Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race which began Friday afternoon.
Organizers saw a nearly 20% drop from the average number of yachts racing in the annual trip which traditionally culminates in a party in the Mexican border town.
Due to recent drug violence in towns such as Ensenada, Tijuana, and Rosarito, many sailors and fans have scaled back their plans, or decided not to participate at all.
The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert earlier this month warning because of the increase in carjackings and armed robberies in the area.
David Beek, the port captain at Balboa Yacht Club, normally travels to Ensenada and gets a room at the Hotel Coral and Marina to enjoy the race festivities.
But he decided to stay home for the first time in 10 years because of the border violence. Beek said he’s been hearing the same sentiment from others stopping by his fuel station on the water.
“I talked to hundreds of people who aren’t going,” Beek said. “It’s 100% the conditions at Ensenada north. I know a lot of boats that would just go down and party, but a lot of them are just crossing the finish line and coming back.”
In the last two days, Beek said he’s fueled 300 boats involved with the race.
“I’m on the water all day, every day and the fuel dock is like the barbershop of the marine industry,” Beek said. “You just sit around and talk and hear all the gossip. If you ever wanted to find out what was going on in a small town, you go to a barbershop. If you ever want to find out what’s going on on the water, go to the fuel dock.”
Unfavorable wind conditions were another reason for the drop in boats this year, said Bill Long II, the spokesman for Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, the host of the event. The Newport-Ensenada race usually fields about 475 yachts on average. This year, that number dropped to 388.
Boats started the 125-nautical-mile race in about six knots of wind, which dropped to four. Still, most boats had their spinnakers up before sailing out of view.
