Here's an article concerning this year's race which is a SoCal tradition and once attracted over 600 boats. Now, however, about 200 participate and this year was particularly challenging given Mexico's IRS "audit" of boats and the attendant bad publicity. Anyway, it was a gear-buster race and while most of us here have some experience in big winds, it was not usual for us to have them for 125 miles. I am told the wind was 52 knots on the Catalina Channel and topped 100 knots in another location.
http://www.mountain-news.com/sports/article_352a2fc6-d57c-11e3-af82-001a4bcf887a.html
http://www.mountain-news.com/sports/article_352a2fc6-d57c-11e3-af82-001a4bcf887a.html