Welcome to the 2016 Rum Runner Race!
Enjoy sailing in Southern California's beautiful ocean swells and sea breezes this Fall! Competitors will depart from Balboa Pier in Newport Beach and head west to the 14-mile "Laussen Knoll" bank. After departing "Laussen Knoll", boats will continue south to the finish in San Diego's Point Loma.
The 2016 Rum Runner Race marks the 3rd year of the event developed in partnership between San Diego Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club. Entries so far this year are fairly diverse, ranging from a Hobie 33 to a Reichel/Pugh 63 and everything in between.
This year, race organizers will be using the ORR rating system, and small boats without a ranking will receive a free certificate just by signing up for the race. All of those boats will compete against each other as one fleet.
Steve Meheen, SDYC, participated in the 2015 race and is registered again this year on ASZHOU, his RP 63. Meheen says, "We look forward to having some wind this year and hope a good field of boats turn out. It's a short race and a lot of fun. Beats the heck out of trick or treating!"
The Rum Runner is commonly used as a feeder race for San Diego Yacht Club's Hot Rum Series scheduled for November 5, November 19 and December 3. Conveniently, the awards ceremony for the 2016 Rum Runner will be held a week after the race on the day of the first Hot Rum, November 5.
San Diego Yacht Club Rum Runner Chair, David Servais, invites racers to partake in the event and experience the energetic race course. “It’s a great final offshore race of the year that combines boats from Newport Beach to San Diego in a course that takes us far enough off the beach to get better breeze and more tactical options coming south.”
Online Registration is open and the Notice of Race is posted. Be a part of the 15+ boat fleet competing offshore this Fall! Please note that there will be a $50 late entry fee applied to boats who register after Sunday, October 23