Amazingly close

NEWPORT BEACH — The First Team Real Estate Regatta for the Hoag Cup ended Sunday with a finish so close that first place was determined using a calculator.

But in the end the real winner at the close of the day was Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. More than $400,000 was raised in donations from the event, which far surpassed the roughly $260,000 raise in 2005, event spokesmen said.

The grand prize went to the Grand Illusion which came in first overall for the race. Skippered by Patrick O’Brien and Ed McDowell, the 70-foot boat from Redondo Beach came in first for the beginning races, but came in fourth for the final race.

Grand Illusion also came in first for the class B boats. Securing the title in Class A, Rosebud skippered by Ft. Lauderdale resident Roger Sturgeon just barely squeaked past the Peligroso, from Long Beach, for the win.

“It was so close, it was exhilarating,” Sturgeon said.

It was quite a win, considering it was Rosebud’s maiden voyage. Although, Sturgeon, 63, is no stranger to the Newport Beach race having done well in the race’s first year in 2005.

“If the chemistry of this race could be captured and shipped elsewhere” it would be phenomenal, Sturgeon said.