Top notch sailing crews from throughout California are set to compete in the annual “Crew of 2” Regatta, sponsored by the South Shore Yacht Club, which will sail from Newport Beach July 14 and loop around Catalina Island.
According to John Marshall, Associate Commodore, this race is one of the area’s most traditional, having sailed consistently for the past 60 years.
Sailing crews will depart from Newport Beach at 11:00 a.m. on July 14 and head for Catalina Island. The larger, faster boats, will compete along a 90 nautical mile course that will take them across the channel and around the west end of Catalina, across to the east end then back to Newport Beach.
The smaller, slower boats will compete along a 63 nautical mile course that will have them navigate to Ship Rock near the Isthmus Cove on Catalina and circle back to Newport, said Marshall.
“The actual times will depend on the mariner’s skill and prevailing winds,” he added.
Among this year’s entries is “Warrior,” a yacht owned and sailed by radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger (Santa Barbara Yacht Club), which is expected to be among the fastest in this year’s competition.
“The Crew of 2 Around Catalina is South Shore Yacht Club’s signature double skipper race around Catalina,” said Marshall. There has been a new feature added this year because the event is “getting a bit long in the tooth.”
If the combined ages of the skippers on board any of the yachts reach a combined 120 years, they are allowed a third shipmate to assist.
Marshall said the Southshore Yacht Club is posting lists of boat owners looking for “co-skippers” in an attempt to “increase participation” in the event.
Most of the boats will get back to the dock at some point on July 15.
According to Marshall, a post-race party will be held July 15, 6-8 p.m. at which trophies will be awarded. The post-race event will be held at the Newport Beach Yacht Club clubhouse, 1099 Bayside Drive in Newport Beach.
The South Shore YC race committee can be reached at 814-788-6194 or on radio at VHF Channel 68.
Anyone with questions or comments can also reach South Shore YC at 678-296-4970 or hb_sailor@yahoo.com. Visit southshoreyc.com for more information about the regatta and yacht club.
