$780 E-Bay schooner competes in Newport-Ensenda race.

A few months ago John Haupt was shopping for model sailboats on E-Bay when he stumbled across a 36' schooner with a starting price of $310. After some last second bidding he won the Fantasma de Navidad (Ghost of Christmas) for $780. The boat was missing an anchor and some rigging and the motor didn't work. Today Haupt and his friend Steve McLaren will be crossing the starting line in Newport on their way to Ensenada; they will be racing against Doug Baker and his crew of 18 on the Magnitude80, a pure bred racer with a 110' mast that won first in its class in last year's Transpac and other races. Does Haupt have a chance at winning? No. But he does have a good luck charm. An empty Corona beer bottle autographed by Jimmy Buffet.

With 390 boats entered in this year's race, organizers claim that the 125-mile regatta is "the largest international yacht race in the world." That claim can certainly be disputed. What's clear is that the race mixes serious racers with party boats - like the one with a crew dressed in tuxedos that projected adult films onto its spinnaker at night on the premise that other boats would stay behind to watch.

Read more about the race here:

61st Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race (official site)
LA Times
Daily Pilot (Newport Beach CA)

Set as favorite

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