History

NOSA was founded in 1947 and has grown to become the organizer of the world's largest boat rate. The organization has a rich history of race sponsorship under the stewardship of its presidents and committees.

History of Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race | Past Presidents

History of the Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race

Created by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA), the founding members met in 1947 to organize a small, just-for-fun race for sailors coming out of World War II. Newport Harbor Yacht Club hosted the first race, called at the time, The Governor’s Cup. A total of 117 boats paid $22.50 each to compete in the first 125-mile race from Newport Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico on April 23, 1948. With winds estimated at 25–35 knots, only 65 boats finished the race that year.

With an emphasis on comradeship as well as friendly competition, the Cup was renamed the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race and quickly began to attract thousands of well-known racers, fun-seeking novices, and celebrities from around the world. People such as movie producer Milton Bren, well-known actors Buddy Ebsen and Humphrey Bogart, Walter Cronkite, comedienne Vicki Lawrence, and Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Paul Conrad have raced alongside world-class skippers like Dennis Conner, Bill Ficker, and Dave Ullman.

In 1983, a record 675 boats entered the race and with more than 500 boats typically competing every year, the colorful race has earned the title “world’s largest international yacht race.” With more than 20 classes, the race includes a variety of sea-going boat ranging from top ultra-light and maxi-yachts to the non-spinnaker classes. The racing teams compete for the coveted First-to-Finish Honors, the President of the United States Trophy, and the President of Mexico Trophy among many other awards.

In the 1998 51st Annual Newport to Ensenada Race, the winds blew hard and consistent allowing virtually every boat to finish in record time including the world-famous Stars and Stripes on which skipper Steve Fosset set a new course record of 6:46:40. The monohull record was also rewritten by Roy Disney’s turbosled Pyewacket with a time of 11:54:00.

While “the mouse” was away, other sailors had their day in the 55th Tommy Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race. Roy Disney was off cleaning up in the Caribbean and other eastern longitudes with Pyewacket when six monohulls, led by Doug Baker's Andrews 70 turbosled Magnitude from Long Beach, broke the record for the 125-nautical mile race. A steady, reaching breeze blessed the fleet of 452 boats, few of which had to spend more than one night at sea, if that.

Magnitude’s time was 11 hours, 23 minutes, 53 seconds, and even Ernie Minney’s 53-foot, 68-year-old schooner Samarang flew the distance in a personal-record time of 18.25 hours and won the overall prize for corrected time.

Newport Ocean Sailing Association

History of Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race | Past Presidents | Top

Past Presidents & Commodores

Year Last Name First Name Yacht Club Year Last Name First Name Yacht Club 1948-1950 Chapman Cliff BYC/LIYC 1983 Ballew John CPBYC 1951 McKinny, Jr. Harry G. LAYC 1984 Carolan Robert BYC/SSYC 1952 Blodgett Harry L. BYC 1985 Wheeler Robert BYC 1953-1954 Boyd Robert L. BYC 1986 Bordwell Robert CPBYC 1955 Monaco, M.D. Salvatore NHYC 1987 Kane Mike SSYC 1956-1957 Hiller Paul VYC 1988 Kerrigan Jim BCYC 1958-1959 Long Carl BYC 1989 Wall Doug BYC 1960 Sinclair Porter LAYC 1990 Weiss Lorin BCYC 1961-1962 Desenberg Bud BYC 1991 Moulton Jerry SSYC 1963-1964 Zerbe A.L. BBC 1992 Long John BYC 1965-1966 Wurdemann Converse BYC 1993 Woods Rod BCYC 1967-1968 Riesen E.H. BYC 1994 Drury Jim SSYC 1969 Wurdemann Converse BYC 1995 Bain Ernie BYC 1970-1971 Carpenter Ed BYC 1996 McMahon Mike ABYC 1972 Yule George NHYC 1997 Marting Bill BYC 1973 Payne John R. BYC 1998 Cole Don BCYC 1974 Jenness Richard BYC 1999 Cook Wallace BYC 1975 Nugent James BYC 2000 Mahaffy Jim BYC 1976 Zillgitt Preston BYC 2001 Shandera Jerry SSYC 1977 Robinson John BYC 2002 Masterson Ron ALYC 1978 Holcomb John E. BYC 2003 Slocum Fred BYC 1979 Martyn Howard BYC 2004 Johnson Tim BYC 1980 Jerry  Brame VYC 2005 DeCapua Paul BCYC 1981 Moss Don CORYC 2006 Benson Jane BCYC 1982 Oleson Alan BYC 2007 Garcia David BCYC

History of Newport-to-Ensenada International Yacht Race | Past Presidents | Top