Yacht Race Tightens When Cheetah’s Lead Cut in Wind

Onrushing rivals cut into Cheetah’s lead in the 13th biennial yacht race from Long Beach to Cabo San Lucas as winds increased to 12 knots past the halfway point.

The Peterson 66 skippered by Dick Pennington and Phil Murray of the Long Beach Yacht Club logged only 198.3 miles on the fourth day, while Pat Farrah’s Santa Cruz 70 Blondie covered 214.4 miles to close to within 29.2 miles at Tuesday morning’s roll call. Ed McDowell’s Grand Illusion from King Harbor YC was only four miles farther back.

The best day’s run was by Roy Disney’s Nelson-Marek 68 Pyewacket at 230.9 miles, which is still 60 miles behind Cheetah. The leaders are expected to finish Thursday morning, although reports from Cabo were of temperatures in the 80s and no wind.