Yacht Blondie Sets Elapsed-Time Record

Blondie, a Santa Cruz-70 skippered by William Martin of St. Francis Yacht Club, breezed across the finish line at Cabo San Lucas at 3:46 p.m. (PST) Tuesday to claim an elapsed-time record in the 800-mile Long Beach-to-Cabo San Lucas race.

Blondie’s elapsed time was 3 days 3 hours 46 minutes, knocking 14 hours 14 minutes off the record of 3 days, 18 hours set by the yacht Saga in 1984.

Citius, another Santa Cruz-70, skippered by Don Clothier, Long Beach Yacht Club, finished 46 minutes behind Blondie, also beating the old record.

It was a slow finish as the leaders in the International Offshore Rule fleet ran into the customary light airs around Cabo Falso. It took Blondie about seven hours to sail the last 31 miles.