Millionaire yachts vs. the EBay schooner -- who are you rooting for?

There's a bunch of millionaires racing their fleet and fancy yachts down the coast to Ensenada today, and then there's John Haupt, who bought his boat for $780 on EBay. Susannah Rosenblatt reports:

Newly painted red and green, the aging metal-and-cement boat, he said, needed some work -- to put it mildly. He is aiming for the brass spittoon that is awarded to the last-place finisher in the annual competition.

"You don't have to be a millionaire to race against these millionaires," Haupt said.

One of the crew's good-luck charms? An empty beer bottle autographed by -- who else? -- Jimmy Buffett.

Haupt's vessel is one of 390 boats in the Newport-Ensenada yacht race, a 125-mile regatta with an entry fee of just $145. (That's last year's race in the photo, which the story calls "... a cross between ballet and bumper cars -- but with fewer collisions.")

So what kind of guy bids for a boat, sight unseen, online? And how did he turn his bargain-basement find into a sea-worthy schooner? Details in Susannah's full story.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Maddisen]

Who cares about a bunch of fat cats playing while I'm sitting at home on my behind because of being laid off due to the on again off again recession.

People are losing their homes in record numbers, commmuting is easier because so many peole are losing their jobs and you feature millionaires playing. Poor taste.

[Tyrell]

Go, little EBAY boat, GO!!!

[buzz]

Fun article and to the laid off guy... go down to Ensenada and welcome them in. Afterwards go over to Husong's Cantina and a have a few beers your life will seem better. What we don't need is a bunch of depressing crap designed to scare the hell out of everyone. In fact here's an idea to make some money. Take a batch of T- shirts to Ensenada with a picture of the brass spittoon on it and under it say Sailing isn't about coming in first, its about enjoying the ride. Or some such nonsense. Oh and sincerely, good luck on the job hunt.

[Mel Otero]

It would have been nice to show a picture of the EBAY boat with your online artivle. Kind of missed the point of the article to only have pictures of the rich guys's boat

[Veronique]

Hi Mel -

I agree! Unfortunately, the boat owner took a trip to Mexico and we were left wtihout anything to photograph. If we get a photo, we'll post it - and let you know.

Veronique

[Rob E]

Mr. laid off due to the on again off again recession: Stop blaming the world for your poor career choices.