Craig Reynolds stood at the end of the Balboa Pier, pointing out to the boat Tango.

“That’s my boy,” said Reynolds, Jr. Staff Commodore for the Balboa Yacht Club, as his son’s boat joined about 30 others preparing to set sail on an 800-mile voyage. “I should be out there.”

Check out this video on the race, put together by our partners over at KDOC.  

Spectators lined the end of the wooden pier and the sand to watch today’s start of the Corona del Mar to Cabo san Lucas sailboat race. On Saturday, about a dozen of the bigger boats are going to start the race from the same location.

“Those are some of the fastest boats in the world,” said Reynolds of Saturday’s starters. “They are top-notch sailing yachts.”

Big names have signed on to join the race – hosted by the Balboa Yacht Club -  including Doug Baker’s Magnitude 80 and America’s Cup winner Dennis Conner.

Among today’s racers are the Nauti Chicas, an all-women’s team that is preparing for the 2009 Transpac.

The Nauti Chicas are in their element – they picked their names because of their love for Mexico races, and frequently compete in races to Puerto Villarta and mainland Mexico.

“We do have a good time, but we’re very serious too,” said coach Sue Senescu of Dana Point.

Vicki Sovereign, of Iowa, just happened to be checking out the beach and enjoying the nice weather when she stopped to watch the race.

“I’ve never seen one, so it’s pretty cool,” she said. “There was snow on ground when I left Iowa.”

Gary Olson and girlfriend Alixandra Kim came prepared with binoculars for the race.

Kim said she enjoys checking out the beauty of the boats, to see the various designs up close.

“We’re living vicariously through them,” she said, about half an hour before the race started.

“It’s not going to be fast,” Olson said. “It’s going to be a typical Southern California start.”

Sailboats maneuvered their spots before the horn sounded, trying to find wind and inch close to the start.  Most boats opted to take the offshore route, heading away from the coast rather than south. Winds were moderate, clocking about 8 knots.

“Go Tango!!!!” the crowd on the deck of Ruby’s Restaurant cheered as the boats slowly passed beginning their journey south.

The race is more challenging than the Newport to Ensenada race, so it brings out serious competitors. 

Balboa Yacht Club commodore Art Mitchell said two years ago only 24 boats entered.

“We really got some great boats, good crews,” he said. “It should be an outstanding race.”

To follow the boats using iboat during the race, click here.

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