The man at the helm

Sean Kirwan

Commodore Jim Mahaffy isn’t skippering a boat and he doesn’t control the

weather, but if the 53rd annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht

Race is nothing but smooth sailing, he will get a lion’s share of the

credit.

Mahaffy is the commodore of the Newport Ocean Sailing Assn. and president

of the Newport to Ensenada Race committee. His job is to coordinate the

sponsors, activities and the various committees charged with organizing

the largest international yacht race in the world.

Aside from organizing the start of the race in Newport Beach, Mahaffy has

made four trips down to Ensenada since November to organize festivities

for the end of the race.

The responsibilities south of the border include working out the

technical details of bringing nearly 400 ships into a foreign port in a

single day.

“You have to deal with Mexican customs and immigration. ... there are a

lot of normal immigration and customs procedures that they don’t enforce

for the participants, but we have to make sure it’s OK,” Mahaffy said.

Mahaffy got into sailing in the 1960s and has been involved in the race

since he joined the Balboa Bay Club in 1980. He’s worked on the committee

since 1986 and has been acting chairman since 1997.

The job can be trying at times, Mahaffy said, citing the 1988 race when

nearly 300 boats crossed the finish line within one hour.

“It has its trying moments, but most of the time it’s enjoyable,” Mahaffy

said. “With the pay being what it is, it better be enjoyable, and there

are an awful lot of nice people involved.”

Mahaffy will be sitting on the VIP boat with dignitaries from Mexico and

other special guests when the race gets underway at noon Friday. Two

hours later, he’ll be in a car heading to Ensenada to prepare for the

finish of the race -- and the fun times that always follow.

“This race has been called The Tequila Slide and the Race to Hussongs in

years past,” Mahaffy said. “We’re trying to get away from that a little

bit, but there’s always a good party.”