SAILING : Field Is Off in Cabo San Lucas Race

Twenty boats left Newport Beach in light, seven-knot southwest winds Saturday in Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s biennial race to Cabo San Lucas.

Six larger, faster ULDB 70s are scheduled to start at noon today. The 24-hour gap poses a challenge to the sleds to see if they can overtake the early starters in the 790-nautical-mile race.

The race record is 2 days 22 hours 2 minutes 40 seconds by the sled Blondie in 1987.

Chayah, Oscar Krinsky’s Vallecelli 50 from Alamitos Bay YC, was first over the line Saturday. Mel and Bud Richley’s Choate 49 Amante flew a protest flag against Jim Emmi’s Swan 431 Pele, which did one penalty circle.