Newport sails for Ensenada, one boat at a time

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Under clearing skies, the ORCA class Voyager (7275), Wahoo (27070) and Kastor Pollux (57218) take off as the horn sounds for the start of their race, at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race, off of Newport Beach, on Friday, April 26, 2019. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Jerry Fiat’s AC45 picks up quick speed at the start of its 125 nm unlimited class race, at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race, off of Newport Beach, on Friday, April 26, 2019. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Shadowfax (7187) leads a large group of boats as they out at the start of their PHRF_D class race, at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race, off of Newport Beach, on Friday, April 26, 2019. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Mas Alegre (46608), right, heads out for the CRUZ-NON-SPIN class race, at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race, off of Newport Beach, on Friday, April 26, 2019. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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A crowd gathered at the Balboa Pier for the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race, in Newport Beach, on Friday, April 26, 2019. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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A large contingency of boats get ready for the start of the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Jerry Fiat’s AC45 picks up speed at the start of its 125nm unlimited class race at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Heartbeat (USA 35212), center, along with Blue Blazes (USA 5055), left, and Annapurna (USA05) stay tight seconds before the start of their N2SD-PHRF-A class race at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Sir Tuffy lines up for the start of its N2SD-PHRF-B class race at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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From left, Fire Water (7123), Cool Man Cool (46734) and Beaver (16875) prepare for the horn to sound at the start of their N2SD-PHRF-SPIN class race at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Holo Kai (USA 7205) brings up the rear, with Privateer II (46730) at left, as Chubasco (USA 7033) heads out in the lead at start of their PHRF_A class race at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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Chubasco (USA 7033) gets ready to head out in the for the PHRF_A class race at the 2019 Newport To Ensenada International Yacht Race on Friday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

By Daily Pilot staff

April 26, 2019 4:38 PM PT

About 200 sailboats went with the wind, such as it was, on Friday morning at the start of the 72nd annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race.

The tradition featured boats departing in staggered starts near the Balboa Pier for about two hours, most of them bound for Ensenada, Baja California, about 125 nautical miles south. Smaller fields took short courses to Dana Point and San Diego.

88-year-old boat and its 91-year-old skipper bring dash of cheer to Newport to Ensenada yacht race »

Skies were blue for the start, but other conditions might not help sailors set records, with light winds forecast at 6 to 9 knots from the south or southwest.

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