Newport, Balboa tied

Balboa and Newport Harbor yacht clubs are each within four wins of

first place heading into the final day of racing in the Pacific Life

Yacht Club Challenge off Newport Beach.

The team from Balboa tallied four wins Saturday to move into a tie

with Newport and defending champion St. Francis, which all have 10

victories after three days of the match racing event, which began in

1984, that features amateur sailors from 10 of the premier yacht

clubs in the United States.

San Diego Yacht Club made the largest leap with five victories

Saturday to move into first with 14 victories.

Winds averaged 6-8 knots for the first half of racing and slowed

slightly to 4-6 knots in the afternoon. Winds came from the

south-southwest and races were delayed 40 minutes in the late

afternoon as the officials re-set the course.

Event host Newport Harbor has twice won the event outright and

shared the championship with California Yacht Club in 2000. Balboa

claimed the title in 2002.