Home Team wins Baldwin Cup

Newport Beach, CA (April 8, 2016) – The third and final day of the Baldwin Cup Team Race saw 136 total races completing the 10th edition of the series that saw host Newport Harbor Yacht Club Lightning take first with St. Francis securing second.

Sailing in heavy breeze of 18 knots with gusts up to 20, a departure from the previous days, the Harbor 20 teams started the day with an abandoned race due to lack of wind to a mid day wind hold, reefing mains and a change from a digital end to a port box course.

Today’s conditions were the epitome of classic Southern California. Baldwin Cup’s stadium style set-up treated over 200 spectators once the wind shifted South blowing directly over the main dock, meaning racers were sailing lay lines within feet of the dock.

When asked how it feels to be this year’s Baldwin Cup Team Race Champion on a scale from one to 10, Mac Mace of Newport Harbor Yacht Club Team Lightning said, “It feels like a 12, especially with the stellar competition.”

The Corinthian spirit of sailing was alive and well: as Larchmont couldn’t be caught in the silver class, the entire fleet forfeited their remaining races in stage 2, races 54, 56, 58, 60. Since organizers lost time this morning to lack of wind, and this afternoon due to too much, they kindly did so to help move the schedule along.

“Today’s breezy conditions brought out the best skills of everyone involved – sailors, the pit crew, volunteers and spectators,” said Staff Commodore Bill Crispin and event director. “Once the wind came up, it was all hands on deck while marks broke loose, jib shackles broke and foul weather gear was on-loaded (not usual in Newport Beach). Everyone quickly stepped up to the plate and we were happy to be able to get back on track quickly putting another regatta in the books.”

Event details – Crew list – Knockout results – Photos

This year’s teams include: Balboa Yacht Club (Newport Beach, Calif.), College of Charleston Yacht Club (Charleston, S.C.), Larchmont Yacht Club (Larchmont, N.Y.), New York Yacht Club (N.Y.), Royal Thames Yacht Club (London), St. Francis Yacht Club (San Francisco), San Diego Yacht Club (Calif.), Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht (Oyster Bay, N.Y.), Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans, L.A.), Yale Corinthian Yacht Club (Branford, Conn.), in addition to two teams from Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Team Lightning and Thunder.

Source: Chris Ann Goddard