Ferguson Clips Boat and Field in Catalina Race

You could never say Craig Ferguson’s team won Sunday’s 47th annual Catalina water ski race by a nose.

Ferguson’s team, towing Australian skier Mathew Gibbons, won by more than three minutes over Kevin Schoen in rough water and fog at Long Beach.

But only because Ferguson cut off the nose of his boat the night before.

Ferguson’s Fountain 39 did not hold true to its number, measuring six inches longer than the 39-inch maximum length allowed.

So Saturday night he did the only thing he could--he sawed off the excess inches and beat 99 other boats and skiers in 1 hour 8 minutes and 17 seconds for his first title in 14 years of Catalina race competition.

“This means a lot,” he said. “I’ve got bumps on my gooses.”

In the women’s field, favorite Lori Dunsmore won in 1:15:30. The Australian finished ninth overall, almost four minutes ahead of fellow Aussie Leanne Hickey, for her fifth title in six years.