Magnitude 80 repeats in Newport to Ensenada

Magnitude 80 repeated its first-to-finish performance in the 61st Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race Saturday, but was denied another record for its résumé as the wind shut down in Todos Santos Bay.

Magnitude 80, with its skipper Doug Baker of Long Beach, finished in 16 hours, 52 minutes, 20 seconds, this year’s fastest elapsed time in the 125-nautical mile race, Rich Roberts, the race’s spokesman, reported.

Akela of Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Corona del Mar finished behind Magnitude 80 in 17:03.56. But the early returns had skippers David Janes and Bill Turpin looking like winners on corrected handicap time in the Maxi class, which is the highest division. But results won’t be official until today at 11 a.m. All boats must finish before that deadline to be officially scored as finishing.

When the breeze quit on Magnitude 80 and others it left Roy E. Disney’s Pyewacket record for monohulls (10:44.54 in 2003) safe for another year. Steve Fossett’s standard for multihulls (6:46.40 in 1998) has never been seriously challenged.

Newport Harbor Yacht Club skipper Jim Madden, who threatened Magnitude 80 last year, finished sixth (18:36.49) in Stark Raving Mad III.

The Maxi-class boats were teased by winds as strong as 15 knots along the way, but the wind died toward the end.

— From staff reports