Nearly Becalmed, Cheetah Wins Race

Cheetah drifted across the finish line in almost no wind but nearly 11 hours ahead of the next boat to sweep the line, IOR-A and PHRF-A handicap honors in the 13th biennial race from Long Beach to Cabo San Lucas.

The Peterson 66, co-skippered by Phil Murray and Dick Penningston of Long Beach Yacht Club, sailed past the cape of Baja California at 10:43 p.m. Wednesday.

Mitchell Rouse’s Taxi Dancer, also of Long Beach Yacht Club, was next at 9:34 a.m. Thursday. All 14 of the ultra light displacement boats--or “sleds”--in those two classes had finished by early afternoon Thursday. Taxi Dancer also was runner-up in IOR-A. Joss, a MacGregor 65 sailed by Dick and Camille Daniels of Long Beach Yacht Club, was runner-up in PHRF-A, more than 13 hours behind Cheetah.