ancasta race yachts

Alex Higby to Head Up Ancasta Race Boats New US Office

Although the competitive yacht racing scene is on hold, Ancasta Race Boats has not sat by twiddling their thumbs. They’ve decided to open a new US office and have appointed the high-experienced Alex Higby to lead it.

This year has caused havoc across almost every industry, and one in particular that has experienced a particularly tough time is the boating industry. Like most high-end industries, boat and yacht sales rely on consumer confidence and this has been lacking across all sectors.

Ancasta Race Boats is one of the UK’s leading companies in the field of performance yachts and has some big plans for the future. To ensure it is best-placed to deal with the wave of new business expected to return once the pandemic is under control. They’ve decided to open a new US office and have appointed Alex Higby to head it.

Modern technology means the world is now more connected than ever. Many businesses over the past six months have embraced this and discovered that not everyone needs to be in the same place to achieve an end-goal.

The new Ancasta Race Boats office is located in one of the most iconic racing venues in the world – San Francisco, USA joining the company’s existing 17 offices across Europe.

Alex Higby is far from a stranger to the world of high-performance yach racing and brings more than a decade of high-profile experience to the company, including America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race campaigns, as well as extensive yacht brokerage experience.

“Alex will be an asset to the company and connect our large European and Australasian client database with the USA,” says Sam Pearson, who leads the European operation.

“With the complex and niche nature of our business, outreach and product knowledge is everything, and this new addition will only open more doors for our clients.”

Yacht racing will soon be back on the calendar, and with a globally-connected team of brokers, Ancasta Race Boats is ready to help owners on their next yacht racing journey.

For further information on Ancasta Race Boats and Alex Higby, visit https://ancasta.com/raceboats/.

Read more yachting and boating-related articles in our dedicated section here .

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Antarctica21 Unveils Magellan Discoverer, A Vessel Designed for Antarctic Exploration

Iris Blue is the First Delivery for Heesen Yachts in 2024

Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design’s Sarissa Wins at Boat International Awards

Editorial Team

The independent luxury magazine showcasing the finest and most luxurious things in life. Luxurious Magazine travels the world visiting the best resorts, hotel and restaurants to see whether they warrant the 'Luxurious Magazine' seal of approval. We also feature the latest news, finest products and services, luxury events and talk to leading personalities and celebrities.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Interview with Sam Pearson of the Ancasta Race Boat sales team

Related articles.

Upcoming Events

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Ancasta Race Boats appoints new US broker to support expansion

Related Articles

Catalina Crossing

History of the Catalina Channel Crossing

The first outrigger race held in California was on September 20, 1959. This first race was a long distance race from Avalon on Catalina Island to the Newport Dunes inside the California Coast.

The famous Duke Kahanamoku served as the Grand Marshall of the first California Outrigger event and founded the Catalina to Newport Dunes race – the original California Outrigger Classic. The subsequent races were underwritten by the Balboa Improvement Association and Ira Dowd, part owner of the Newport Dunes.

The first race involved two canoes shipped to California from Hawaii through the efforts of Albert Edward “Toots” Minvielle. Both of them were koa wood canoes with the names Malia meaning calm waters and Niuhe, meaning shark.

The malia team was composed of Hawaiian All Star outrigger paddlers organized by Toots. Some of the members of that first Hawaiian team to paddle the Catalina Channel in 1959 were Chris Bodie, Blu Makua, Archie Kuana, Joe Gilman, Sonny Heniques, and Dougie Carr. The California team paddled the Niuhe. This first mainland team included George Kopa, Tom Johnson, Dan Uadis, Frank Saddler, Mike Johnson, Dave Arne, Doug Wood, Ron Druman, Lorrin Harrison and others.

The Hawaiian team won the race in a time of 5 hours. The newly formed California team in the Niuhe finished close behind in a time of 5 hours, 11 minutes. Lorrin Harrison – Part of first California outrigger team, and founder of Dana Outrigger Canoe Club (Est. 1972) Lorrin Harrison, the steersman and original member of the first California team had the following remembrances of the early beginnings and that first race, “when I first heard about canoe racing here, I had a dugout canoe that I built in 1950. We were surfing it down in Doheny. Noah Kalama came by, he knew my sister from Hawaii, and I knew him from body surfing. He said, “Lorrin can you get a team together of guys down here you think would like to paddle? We’ll have a race with a Hawaiian team.”

“I said, ‘Yeah, we can do that!’ So we started coming here to the Dunes, paddling here till 9 o clock every night. There were about 15 guys all paddling. Other guys would build a fire and we’d stay here and paddle when the wind was howling. We worked for two months. We were so sick of paddling there. I thought we would never get out and see the ocean. Finally Noah let us go out and it was rough outside, too. That’s the way it all started, right here in these Newport Dunes.”

Then they brought the Hawaiian team over so we all hooked behind some big boat, towed all the people and the two boats over to Avalon. The race started the next morning after we were there. It was just two boats in the race from Avalon. Coming across we were making changes.

We had about 25 people to draw from. About half-way across, the escort boat ran ahead to drop people in the water and made a big wake. The wake flipped the boat straight up on edge with the ama (outrigger) straight out of the water. I stayed – stuck in, but my number one man was about 20 feet off the stern and it threw all the other men out too. So Noah put a whole new 5 guys in and we kept going. At that time we were right even with Blu Makua and the Hawaiian team. When we came into the south end of the Newport Dunes, they finished 11 minutes ahead of us. I had been in the boat for 5 hours and 11 minutes with no drink of water and I thought I’d just die when we hit the beach ’cause of the paddle Noah gave me, he said ‘You gotta have a big paddle for this race’. That sucker weighed 10 pounds at least. I still got the paddle, I got the proof, if any one wants to paddle 30 miles with it, they can have it.”

While the first Catalina to Newport Dunes Race was a culmination of efforts and farsightedness on the part of several outstanding persons in canoe paddling, the spirit behind the spread and development of outrigger canoe paddling as a sport, both in Hawaii and California, is the famous Albert “Toots” Minvielle.

Toots Minvielle and 1958 were pivotal points in the history of outrigger canoeing, especially for California. In 1958 Toots met Tommy Zahn from Santa Monica, shortly after Tommy had paddled the Molokai Channel on a surfboard.Tommy Zahn responded immediately – there was sufficient interest. He arranged a luncheon meeting in early 1959 with Ira Dowd, the owner of the Newport Dunes, Sam Miller, (then commodore of the Balboa Bay Club), and Al Oberg, Harbor Master of Newport Beach in 1959. All the right people were there and California’s Outrigger racing history had begun.

Noah Kalama, sent to California by Toots Minvielle to coach the first California Outrigger team, and Tom Johnson, an original member of the first California outrigger racing team, were the first to perceive the need for California-based canoes. The boats used for that first Catalina race were scheduled to be shipped back to Hawaii after the competition was completed. Noah Kalama and Tom Johnson, realizing the development of California outrigger racing would hinge upon a local boat supply, were quick to act. They made a mold of the Malia hull – and California outrigger boat building was born.

Although Toots Minveille initiated efforts to bring Hawaiian Canoe Paddling to the mainland in 1958, 1959 was the year paddling arrived – the same year that Hawaii joined the United States of America. What may have been initially seen as merely a gesture – sharing a facet of Hawaiian culture with the mainland through the Aloha Celebration and the aloha spirit of Toots Minveille- has given mainlanders, especially Californians, a tease, a feel and a love for Hawaiian traditions.

Mahalo Hawaii, Mahalo Toots Minveille for outrigger canoe paddling – a wonderful slice of Hawaiian life.

– Excerpts from article written by Michael (Jake) Jacobs

• New Inventory
• Brokerage Inventory
• Used Inventory
• Home Appointments
• Concierge Service
• Platinum Concierge
• Yacht Management
• Our History
• Our Reviews
• Our Magazine🔗
• Experiences
• Sun Country Yachts

Sun Country Coastal

Sun country inland, of excellence in boating & customer care.

Sun Country Coastal in Newport Beach , Dana Point , San Diego and Jacksonville Beach, FL represent four premium boat and sport yacht brands – Prestige Yachts , Riviera , Boston Whaler , Sea Ray and certified pre-owned brokerage inventory.

Sun Country Inland in Irvine , San Jose-Campbell and in Lake Havasu City, AZ represent the category leading lines of Cobalt Boats , Nautique Boats and Bennington Pontoons .

The best Selection, Sales & Service of boats and yachts in the West. 9 convenient locations. 8 world-class brands. 35 years helping families enjoy time on the water.

Featured Models

yachts found

Used yachts for sale, lagoon 450 s 2018.

• Make Lagoon
• Model 450 s
• LOA 45ft/14m
• Class Multihull
• Hull Glass Reinforced Plastic
• Keel Multi-Hull
• Engine Twin Diesel
• Drive Sail Drive
• Layout Aft Cockpit
• Ancasta Ref 43762
• Name Salty Love

Lagoon 450 s - Ref 43762 has been saved to your account.

Your account cannot save boats.

You must login or register to save boats

Login Register

Lagoon 450 SporTop 2018

• Model 450 SporTop
• Ancasta Ref 43775

Lagoon 450 SporTop - Ref 43775 has been saved to your account.

Lagoon 46 2019

• LOA 46ft/14m
• Ancasta Ref 40518
• Name Lily F

Lagoon 46 - Ref 40518 has been saved to your account.

Vancouver 32 1982

• Make Vancouver
• LOA 32ft/10m
• Class Sailing Cruiser
• Keel Long Keel
• Engine Single Diesel
• Ancasta Ref 43759
• Name Reverie

Vancouver 32 - Ref 43759 has been saved to your account.

JND 39 2015

• LOA 39ft/12m
• Class Performance Sail
• Keel Fin Keel
• Ancasta Ref 42915
• Name Xanaboo

JND 39 - Ref 42915 has been saved to your account.

Bavaria 32 2012

• Make Bavaria
• Ancasta Ref 34079
• Name Merlot

Bavaria 32 - Ref 34079 has been saved to your account.

Excess 11 2023

• Make Excess
• LOA 38ft/12m
• Ancasta Ref 42869
• Name Essence

Excess 11 - Ref 42869 has been saved to your account.

Southerly 115 1986

• Make Southerly
• LOA 11ft/3m
• Keel Drop Keel/Centre Board
• Drive Shaft Drive
• Layout Centre Cockpit
• Ancasta Ref 43758
• Name Sea Seven

Southerly 115 - Ref 43758 has been saved to your account.

Nordia 57 Pilothouse 1980

• Make Nordia
• Model 57 Pilothouse
• LOA 57ft/17m
• Class Motor/Sail
• Layout Deck Saloon/Pilothouse
• Ancasta Ref 40765
• Name Willowtarn

Nordia 57 Pilothouse - Ref 40765 has been saved to your account.

Hanse 315 2007

• LOA 31ft/9m
• Ancasta Ref 43784

Hanse 315 - Ref 43784 has been saved to your account.

J Boats J122 2008

• Make J Boats
• LOA 40ft/12m
• Hull Foam Core Epoxy
• Ancasta Ref 33926
• Name El Ocaso

J Boats J122 - Ref 33926 has been saved to your account.

TP / IRC 52 Botin 2009

• Make TP / IRC 52
• Model Botin
• LOA 52ft/16m
• Hull Carbon Fibre
• Ancasta Ref 43804
• Name Georgia

TP / IRC 52 Botin - Ref 43804 has been saved to your account.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i 2010

• Make Jeanneau
• Model Sun Odyssey 33i
• LOA 33ft/10m
• Ancasta Ref 39386
• Name Tortola

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i - Ref 39386 has been saved to your account.

Sweden Yachts 45 2000

• Make Sweden Yachts
• Ancasta Ref 39556
• Name Lightfall

Sweden Yachts 45 - Ref 39556 has been saved to your account.

Beneteau First 25.7S 2004

• Make Beneteau First
• Model 25.7S
• LOA 25ft/8m
• Ancasta Ref 42459
• Name JayKay II

Beneteau First 25.7S - Ref 42459 has been saved to your account.

One Design Cape 31 2023

• Make One Design
• Model Cape 31
• Ancasta Ref 43411

One Design Cape 31 - Ref 43411 has been saved to your account.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 2003

• Model Sun Odyssey 35
• LOA 35ft/11m
• Ancasta Ref 30336
• Name Moonsong

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 35 - Ref 30336 has been saved to your account.

Hanse 545 2010

• LOA 54ft/16m
• Ancasta Ref 34901
• Name Pierre Lea

Hanse 545 - Ref 34901 has been saved to your account.

Hanse 411 2005

• Ancasta Ref 37553

Hanse 411 - Ref 37553 has been saved to your account.

Hallberg Rassy 40 2002

• Make Hallberg Rassy
• Ancasta Ref 43595
• Name FLORION

Hallberg Rassy 40 - Ref 43595 has been saved to your account.

Amel 64 2011

• LOA 64ft/20m
• Ancasta Ref 42881
• Name Tulasi

Amel 64 - Ref 42881 has been saved to your account.

Jeanneau 53 2011

• LOA 53ft/16m
• Ancasta Ref 30041
• Name Voulez Vous

Jeanneau 53 - Ref 30041 has been saved to your account.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS 2007

• Make Jeanneau Sun Odyssey
• Model 39 DS
• Ancasta Ref 42900

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS - Ref 42900 has been saved to your account.

Hallberg Rassy 53 1994

• Ancasta Ref 43378
• Name Hanuman

Hallberg Rassy 53 - Ref 43378 has been saved to your account.

Stay in touch

Sign up to our e-news, save your searches, save your favourite boats and much more…

MyAncasta: login or create account

Privacy Overview