Nauti Chicas win Caroline Starr trophy!!

With a corrected time of 28:5:00 the Nauti Chicas won the Caroline Starr trophy for the best performance of an all-female crew in the 125-mile Newport to Ensenada yacht race! For more details, read the news reports in the San Diego Union Tribune and NOSA website.

Next stop: Ensenada!

The Nauti Chicas will compete in the 61st annual Newport to Ensenada Race, this Friday April 25. The 125nm race is one of the largest and longest-running international yacht races, with over 400 boats entered.

Our team aboard the J/35 Predator includes owner/co-skipper Terri and navigator/co-skipper Sue, Barb, Jennifer, Su and Betsy. Pray for wind and check for race news HERE.

May 20 - Lin & Larry Pardey speak ...

Uber-cruisers Lin & Larry Pardey are the guest speakers at the LB&LAWSA - aka SAILING CHICKS - meeting Tues. May 20 at Seal Beach YC. For tickets to see their talk on "The Compelling Power of Adventure" click HERE or contact our own Judy Rae.

DON'T WORRY, BE NAUTI

All-gal team says ‘Nothing to worry about!’
in 800nm race to Cabo

OCEANSIDE, CA – The J/35 Predator, hailing from Oceanside and Dana Point Yacht Clubs, was erroneously reported as DNF in the Balboa Yacht Club Corona Del Mar to Cabo San Lucas Yacht Race.

BYC Cabo Race PRO Doug Campbell explained that Predator was inadvertently lumped in with three retired boats, instead of designated as "still racing" at press time. "Certainly Predator finished the race and I apologize to all the many Predator supporters and fans," said Campbell. "They are a helluva group!"

At one point during the race, Predator’s skipper/navigator Sue Senescu, a four-time Transpac veteran, wrote from the race course, “The weather and sea conditions were more than anticipated but our crew handled them perfectly. The most detrimental thing to our performance has been the complete shredding of our heaviest kite.” The team, known as the Nauti Chicas, had been clocking 10+ knots of boat speed in 25-30 knot winds and big seas until they blew up their heavy spinnaker in the early hours of March 30. Subsequently they tallied an average Speed Over Course of 6.11 knots for the race (reflecting the lack of a suitable spinnaker) while their D-class rivals logged 7 to 8.2 knots.

Responding to reports that the J/35 was ‘struggling’ and comments that other racers were ‘worried about them’ the crew laughed it off. “Although we are the last of the boats to sail into the finish line, our spirits our high!” said Senescu. “We’re disappointed with our results, but very proud of our team and our boat, the second smallest and second highest rater I believe in the fleet.” The Cabo Race was the inaugural long-distance offshore race for four of the six crew: yacht owner Terri Manok, Helena Cannady, Denise Eldredge and Judy Rae Karlsen.

Meanwhile three other race boats – Muneca, Aeolos, and Bad Pak – were forced to retire due to gear failures in the heavy seas and windy conditions.

Predator’s six-woman team finished Wednesday evening April 2, with an elapsed time of 127:07:16 -- well within the published cut-off time of noon April 4. “We had two full days of barbecues, swimming, snorkeling and working on our fantastic tans before celebrating with our friends at the trophy presentation Friday,” said crewmember and Transpac veteran Betsy Crowfoot.

Next on the agenda for the Nauti Chicas is the Newport to Ensenada Race, and all-women one-design regattas in Puerto Vallarta and Long Beach.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Cabo Pics

A smattering of Cabo Race photos are available here on Shutterfly. Enjoy!

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Thank you everyone...

Thanks John for keeping everyone posted while we are recovering poolside. Haha. We had a wonderful crowd to welcome us at the finish, all giving us huge cheers and serving great food and beverage dockside. Then we moved our operation to a set of casitas on the beach north of Cabo that belong the the Montage Corporation. Terri's Husand Tom is one of the a manager of a new resort they are building here and these houses are used for the management team. Aweseome semi private beach/cove, pool, maid service, just absolutely awesome and so relaxing after so much stress/excitement.Tonight we are going to a race party, then having dinner back here with close family and friends, and then tomorrow night is the Trophy Dinner. Sat we go home.
Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm and support. We are definitely doing this race next year. The feeling of taking the challenge and just the accomplishment is "something special" that we all will never forget.We plan to put together a slide show or something so share with everyone later.
Sue and the Chicas

Hello all from Tom Manok

Hello all,

Here’s an update you may or may not have received from the Nauti-Chicas. Based on last evening, I must say the ladies recovered quite well from their adventure.

The amount of support from our friends, fellow racers…..and my employers has been overwhelming. It has been a challenge to get the boat ready and make sure the team had every advantage they could possibly have. I am happy to report the boat made it threw in flying colors and I have been gratified by the teams’ comments relative to Predator being up to what ever they threw at her.

The delivery crew has reconfigured the boat into delivery mode and should be leaving tonight or tomorrow morning depending on the weather window. Last night, the Chicas insisted on making “an appearance” at a lovely reception thrown by Balboa Yacht Club, pool side at the old Hacienda Hotel. While I shuttled them around, the delivery crew, John Henke, Les George and Rob Keith, assisted by Chica Chaser Barry Senescu cooked up a wonderful dinner for us. Yes, “some” cerveza, rum and taquilla was consumed too. Most of the ladies are still in bed catching up on some well deserved rest.

I want to acknowledge the folks I work with in Cabo, especially Vista Serena’s president, Erich Kaufman and his team who provided me with the opportunity to offer such a great “winding down” environment for the Nauti-Chicas. I’m not forgetting you guys in SD or Laguna either, you’re support and understanding relative to my moments of distraction over the last week are certainly appreciated as well.

See all of soon,
Tom

www.montagelagunabeach.com

The Nauti Chicas have finished !!!!

While there is no official posting on the BYC website, I just received word a few moments ago that the Nauti Chicas have finished !!!!

The arrival host team was headed to the docks with 'bebidas' in hand. It's way early enough for lots of partying tonight. While the girls are probably exhausted, the adrenalin gets going once you've reached the finish and with a little encouragement the party will blast!

Here's to the Nauti Chicas, their perseverance, determination and Corinthian spirit!

Salud!

John Berry
"Official Chica Chaser"

Almost there

As of this morning they are about 83 miles from the finish and doing 7.3 knots. Right now there’s little wind down here at the tip, it should pick up but, then lighten up around 10 tonight.
The delivery crew is here, we started provisioning last night will finish this morning and be on the dock when the gals get here. We’ll take the cooler and have rum cokes and margaritas waiting for them.

All is well.

Although their spirits seem to remain high .... there were more issues for the Chicas on the water. They still have about 165 miles to go and at the pace they have been averaging should finish about 6PM tomorrow.

Message from Terri relayed through Tom, the #1 Chica Chaser.

John

"Official Chica Chaser"

Hi Babe!

All is well. This has been a fun and interesting journey. Miraculously the mast head light is back on as of last night. No idea why it crapped out or suddenly came on again. Couldn't see any issues re: wiring at all. Jib top pulled out of the foil and now has a crimp in the bolt rope which is not a concern for putting it up but could be a problem getting it down so we're on the #1. Far too much wind and nasty sea angle for the spins so it's slow going.

Thanks so much for your responses and your support! It's finally starting to warm up. Have lived in foulies for 4 days now! Looking forward to shorts and sandals! See you soon! I love you!

Cabo Race on TV

For those of you who may be interested KDOC TV (channel 12 on Cox if you are in OC) will be showing highlights of the Cabo Race on the early morning show, OC Daybreak, 6 AM to 8 AM weekdays. They started the showing on Monday of this week.

John Berry