At Regatta, They Hoist Sails to Raise Funds to Fight Cancer

The Sunkist American Cancer Society Cup, was a sailboat race held on San Diego Bay Sunday. The event generated some friendly competition and about $75,000 for the fight against cancer.

A laborious fund raiser this was not. In fact, it had the flavor and pageantry of a parade at Disneyland.

One of the competitors was Roy Disney, son of Walt. Disney and his fellow competitors seemed bent on having fun and competing to the hilt.

Fun and competition?

When applied to sailing, those words have seemed as far apart as New Zealand and the United States during the complaint-filled proceedings leading to next month’s America’s Cup here.

But after the race, Disney, whose boat’s spinnaker was emblazoned with the world’s most famous mouse, looked like a kid who had just ridden the Matterhorn.

“God, we had people yelling and shouting at us, singing ‘Mickey Mouse,’ ” Disney said. “There were so many kids out there, following us on powerboats. It was incredible.”

Disney’s 68-foot boat was leading the ultra-light division about 12 miles into the 16-mile race. But another Los Angeles businessman, Mitchell Rouse, passed Disney--whose boat was slowed by kelp--and went on to win. Disney finished fourth.

“It was for fun,” Disney said, “but I’m ticked because we lost.”

Bill Bannasch of the San Diego Yacht Club guided his 68-foot Nelson Marek boat to victory in the Class B division. Bannasch benefited from his nifty leeward start and his familiarity with the shifty harbor winds, which ranged from 10-16 knots and which are unfamiliar to most skippers from outside the area.

Bannasch’s boat, Eclipse, fulfilled its name. It streaked to a comfortable lead by the halfway point and coasted to victory. Bannasch’s prime competitors were ranked in a higher class and thus had to beat Eclipse by a minute per mile to win, according to handicapping rules.

“We were gone (off to a good start) and we knew it--so we sat around and drank a little bit,” said Bannasch, a local attorney. “You don’t expect to see all these spectators, it was a kick.”

More than 100 boats followed the 26 entrants around the course. The regatta offered a sweeping, multi-colored relief, and many of the 20,000-plus spectators clapped in appreciation from shorelines along Seaport Village and Harbor and Shelter islands.

The event generated twice as much money as the inaugural one of a year ago, said Bill Stephens, race chairman.