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BORDER RUN2 - After four very successful editions of the Border Run International Sailboat Race, organizers got itchy to put on another event while the sun was warm. So a couple of months ago they got to the task of putting together a sister event they dubbed The Border Run2.
The idea was founded upon the same principles and tenets that have made the The Border Run1 the most attended race in Southern California – inclusion, course flexibility, various opportunities to trophy and lots of parties.
“We saw an opening in the calendar around the Fourth of July holiday and thought – we should promote a race in there for people who want to get some sailing in during that window,” said co-founder Bob Long. “A nice trek down the coast in a summer breeze is not a bad way to spend a weekend.”
Long and his partners were also pleased to start the race from the shores of Long Beach where there is often a decent amount of breeze. With very little promotion they were able to sign up 73 boats who had a choice of four different courses. Smaller boats could choose to sail to Newport or Dana Point while the others could pick from two different routes to a San Diego finish.
“When asked to be the Organizing Authority for the event we were excited at the opportunity” said Warren Wolfe of Shoreline Yacht Club of Long Beach.
“73 entries for the first year with 2 months notice shows the potential of this race. Next year, with it being on the 2013 calendar, we hope to make this the event a summertime tradition that sailors will not want to miss”.
The event had a great turnout of all kinds of boats ranging from Multihulls, PHRF monohulls, Cruisers, Dinghy’s, Beach Cats, Kiteboards and even a Hobie Mirage Sailing Kayak.
“It was great to see a little Hobie Mirage [essentially a kayak with pedals and a small suit of sails] go for it and sail the 31 mile course down to Dana Point,” said co-founder Randy Reynolds. “That’s what it’s all about for us – getting all kinds of different people and boats out on the water.”
Reynolds and Long confess that this inaugural edition of the race was something of an experiment to see if a sailboat race could in any way compete with the holiday. And now, with the experience behind them, they believe that this race can be a tradition for the many racers who want to make the most of the summer weather.
“We were actually encouraged by the turnout,” Reynolds said. “Now we have something to build on and we’ve already started formulating what we’ll be doing next year. There have been some really interesting ideas kicking around about how to make it a race that blends with the holiday – sort of a family event and competitive race, all in one.”
The Newport Course saw Hydrogen II sailed by John Sangmeister of Gladstone’s set the elapsed time record. The San Diego course elapsed time record was set by Chris Slagerman’s Go Cart. And the Dana Point elapsed time winner was Elixer, a speedy PHRF boat rating –30.
“It was a great race and a great time at Dana Point YC” said Dan Hodge of DPYC. “It was especially exciting as everyone cheered for the Hobie Mirage as it crossed the finish line, an accomplishment skipper David Stivers can be proud of.”
The 2012 Border Run2 is organized by XS Sailing.com, Shoreline Yacht Club of Long Beach (the organizing authority) and Dana Point Yacht Club; sponsored by West Marine, Gladstone’s Long Beach, Ullman Sails and outfitted by Pirates Lair.
For full results and photos of the weekends events go to TheBorderRun2.org.
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