The Border Run

Send-Off Party Moves Location!!!

Monday April 19, 2010 - Due to the overwhelming support of the upcoming Border Run Race, South Shore Yacht Club and XS Racing have changed the venue for the Pre-race Party to be held on Friday April the 23rd. With over 180 boats entered and still growing, we expect a very large crowd. The new location for this party is the beautiful Balboa Inn Resort located at 105 Main Street, Balboa which is right at the base of the historic Balboa Pier.

The Balboa Inn Resort is centrally located and has plenty of parking which is located adjacent to the resort in the public lot next to the pier. If you are coming by boat, Sea Tow will be offering shuttle service to the public dock in the Balboa Fun Zone, just a short 3 minute walk to the party. Sea Tow can be reached on channel 11 and for a nominal charge of $2.00 per person, will pick you up and deliver you to the dock.

The party starts at 5pm and there will be a Skipper’s Meeting at 7:00. “Surf’s Up” a Beach Boys tribute band will be performing from 5:00 until 11:00. They are a great band and play all the tunes you know and love from your younger days! We will also be holding a raffle to support the race charity, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, so bring extra money! There will be food available with a full bar and plenty of fellow racers to party with before the big race. For location of the party go http://www.balboainn.com/ or click on our ‘Parties’ page.

April 5th 2010 - The Border Run International Sailing Event has been popping with news as of late. First, what was formally the fastest design on the planet, the Hobie Trifoiler, entered in the developmental class, then, seven sleds, some of the most prominent racers on the West Coast, entered and now the Editor of the most influential sailing website in the world has thrown his hat in the ring. Scot Tempesta Owner/Editor in Chief of Sailing Anarchy will be sailing his Flying Tiger 10m, "Anarchy".

"Anarchy is looking forward to and participating in an alternative to the Ensenada race," Tempesta said. "Whatever allure that race used to have has dissipated and we are happy to support the Border Run event and look forward to a good race. It said on the entry form that you are guaranteeing at least 10 knots of breeze, right?"

Border Run organizers were more than pleased to see the renowned and sometimes controversial editor of www.sailinganarchy.com enter the race. Tempetsa has almost single-handedly grown the Flying Tiger fleet to the substantial numbers it boasts today and has been a main proponent in maintaining the interest and popularity of the sport of modern sailboat racing.

March 11, 2010 – With their battle cry “Everyone’s Invited” organizers of the 2010 Border Run are holding true to this vision as two Hobie Trifoilers have entered the April 24th 2010 race to try to break the 69-mile short course record of 6 hours 7 minutes and 36 seconds set by Randy Reynolds in his R33 catamaran, CAT ATTACK II. Co-founder of the event Bob Long, had this to say about the entries:

“I have friends racing their Catalina 30’s, multihulls and sleds and now I can say ‘Hydrofoils!’ - I am excited at the response from sailors of all kinds that want to be part of this race.”

So who are these intrepid sailors testing their skill and sailing craft? They are Jamey Wagner of Santa Barbara and Dan Ketterman from Oceanside, co-designer of the Hobie TriFoiler with his brother Greg. When asked how fast do you think you can sail the 69 mile short course from Newport Beach to San Diego, Dan responded:

“It all depends how much wind and what time it starts to blow. I pray for a minimum of 10 mph at the start, which for a 70 mile course as the crow flies, it will take only 3.5 hours to finish. I know that I can do two times wind speed in this range, so I can theoretically go 20 mph. The wind angle also makes a big difference, a true wind from the West will create a beam reach, however this boat creates so much apparent wind, it is very similar to an iceboat, I will have the sheets in completely tight as if beating to whether.”

When asked, what is like to sail a Hobie TriFoiler? Dan further commented,

“One way to explain the sensation is to relate the experience to a race car. Imagine being given the keys to a NASCAR race car and you have a closed track to drive it on. The sensation is a feeling of guilt, because it shouldn't be so easy, but it is. Given ample wind strength a Hobie TriFoiler can zip across the water at 35 mph.”

Beginning on Saturday, April 24th, 2010, the second annual Border Run run by XS RACING and South Shore Yacht Club will start hundreds of sailors from Newport Beach, to the Coronado Islands and finish in San Diego to party at the Kona Kai Resort that is set on San Diego Bay at the tip of Shelter Island. For first timers and smaller boats a short course option allows a more direct route to San Diego. To help novice and seasoned sailors alike, a race tactic and safety seminar for all upcoming southbound races will be held on March 31 at SSYC at 7pm. For more information call 800-366-8584.

A Better Day for the 2010 Border Run

Press Release: December 4th, 2009 – With the inaugural race now in the books, XS Racing, organizers of the The Border Run Yacht Race, were satisfied that the event surpassed expectations for entries and overall interest. With over 100 racers on the Newport line and a front page story in the Los Angeles Times, the talk about the new race kept the internet forums and yacht club conversations buzzing. Since then, XS has been busy making alterations and modifications aimed at making the event more unique and attractive to local racers.

With the 2010 event with 118 pre-entries to date, the 2010 Border Run is about improvement for the sailors. With South Shore YC coming aboard to help make the Border Run better, another prominent revision for next year’s event will be a date change. The 2010 Border Run will now start on Saturday, April 24th instead of Friday.

“The primary reason for the change was how the date affected the long-term growth of the event. With the goal of making the race accessible to as many participants as possible, the Saturday start makes it much easier for the average racer to attend.” said XS event manager Steve Byers. “We also considered crew availability with weekend crew being easier to procure. In addition, for sailors coming from distant harbors, slips and moorings will be very easy to attain. Lastly, a Saturday start provides for a Friday night Send-off party allowing most partygoers to enjoy the festivities on a work free night.”

The Border Run is the new exciting international sailing event that is attracting both novice and expert sailors alike. The 2nd annual Border Run will start and send hundreds of sailors from Newport Beach, around Coronado del Norte Island in Mexican waters and finish in San Diego to party at the beautiful Kona Kai on Shelter Island with no need for passports or customs. For first timers and smaller boats a short course option allows a more direct route to San Diego.

The Border Run also allows sailors to race to San Diego the week before SDYC’s famous and long running Yachting Cup. With inclusion and ‘growing-the-sport’ as their rallying cry, The Border Run allows all classes and sailors to participate from Sleds, Farr 40’s, and a variety of racing and cruising monohulls and multihulls including a new Shadow Boat class, soon to be announced.

As 2010 nears, with SSYC onboard and the new start date in place, XSRACING.org is confident that the 2nd edition of The Border Run will be an experience that will satisfy what sailors are looking for in a modern event and will be one of the hottest races of the year.

Oct 23 2009 – South Shore Yacht Club of Newport Beach has come aboard to co-host with XSRACING.org the second annual 2010 Border Run to be held next year on April 24-25, 2010. SSYC will organize both the send off party and the race including the start, finish, protests and results with the trophy party to be held at the Kona Kai Resort in San Diego.

“We are very pleased and excited to have SSYC become a major part of the Border Run” said Border Run co-founder Bob Long. “With their long history of being a part of the West Coast sailing and racing scene, SSYC will help make the Border Run an even better event than last year.”

SSYC History: For over 50 years, SSYC has been providing its members and guests a long tradition of fun, friendliness, and camaraderie through its sailing, boating, cruising, racing and social events and programs. Located on Yacht Club Row just walking distance from BCYC and BYC on Bayside Drive, SSYC and their affiliation with the exclusive Newport Beach Yacht Club has beautiful views overlooking the harbor with a full-service restaurant and bar with food service seven days a week and a full calendar of events, buffets, dances, live music and more to enjoy.

SSYC is also the proud sponsor and host of the popular Hibachi Series (Summer and Winter Regattas) as well as the Crew of Two Around Catalina, as well as other races. SSYC is a fully accredited organization with memberships to US Sailing, Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) , Yacht Racing Union of Southern California, and the Association of Orange Coast Yacht Clubs (AOCYC). For more information on SSYC go to www.southshoreyc.org

With already well over 100 entries, The Border Run is attracting both novice and expert sailors alike. The second annual Border Run will start sailors from Newport Beach, to the Coronado Islands and finish in San Diego to party at the beautiful Kona Kai, the private beach resort that is set on San Diego Bay at the tip of Shelter Island. For first timers and smaller boats a short course option allows a more direct route to San Diego. The Border Run also allows sailors to race to San Diego the week before SDYC’s famous and long running Yachting Cup. For more information, great sailing videos and current Border Run news, go to www.TheBorderRun.org

Aug 2nd 2009 - Congratulations to Rick Blethen owner of an 1974 Cal 29 Jane Doe! Jane Doe was our 77th entry for the 2010 Border Run. Rick entered Jane Doe in the 2009 Border Run Long Course but was unable to get to the start due to engine problems. But Rick is determined to get to the line next year. Richard wins a free Border Run Entry, valued at $99!!!

The Border Run 2010 entries have already exceeded 100 boats. We will continue to grease the wheels with a chance to win free stuff and the promise of a great race. The new drawing for August will be a prize from West Marine. Enter to win AND for future drawings.

Of course the real grand prize is when we're all on a start line loaded with boats and if we get it going now, there's no doubt this will be the most formidable race on the West Coast. Early entries spawn great events. Enter here! The next Drawing will be Sept 1st - winner announced on Sept 2nd. Enter today and pay by March 1st to earn early-entry discount.

July 2nd 2009 - Congratulations to Richard Navarro owner of the beautiful Hylas 40 El Corazon !!! El Corazon was our 55th entry for the 2010 Border Run and finished 3rd in the CRUZ Non Spinnaker C Class last April in the inaugural BORDER RUN race. Richard wins a great pair of Steiner binoculars, retail value listed at $449 and was sponsored by Pirates Lair.

The Border Run 2010 is now up to 113 boats. We will continue to grease the wheels with a chance to win free stuff and the promise of a great race. The new drawing for July will be for a free Border Run entry valued from $69 to $159 dollars! Enter to win AND for future prizes.

Of course the real grand prize is when we're all on a start line loaded with boats and if we get it going now, there's no doubt this will be the most formidable race on the West Coast. Early entries spawn great events. Enter here! The next Drawing will be August 1st - winner announced on August 2nd. Enter today and pay by March 1st to earn early-entry discount.