Sailors compete for turkeys at 65th Annual Turkey Day Regatta

by Rich Roberts on 9 Nov 2012 The 2012 Annual Turkey Day Regatta, hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, is expecting more than 350 sailors from different ages compete for turkeys and more goodies in the festive two-day sailing event.

Alamitos Bay Yacht Club runs a lot of sailboat racing through the year but none as large or unique as the Turkey Day Regatta that will see its 65th production Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17-18.

There will be as many as 350 sailors spanning several generations racing more than 200 dinghies, keelboats and catamarans on courses inside the bay and outside in Long Beach Harbor---not for trophies but for turkeys and other holiday fare.

A longtime competitor and former event chairman, Glenn Selvin, once noted, 'The regatta has taken on a cult feeling,' like a group holiday in itself. 'It’s grown into our club's largest invitational event. Nobody wants to miss it.'

Few will. Registration may be made online. Early entry through Tuesday, Nov. 13, will earn a $20 discount. Included in the fee is a sit-down Turkey dinner Saturday night for as many as two people per boat.

Despite the autumn timing, the event has endured occasional rain, chill and fog over the years but last year was forced into a rare abandonment of Sunday's racing when a southeast wind gusting above 30 knots forced organizers to keep everyone on shore. No point in ruining anyone's holiday.

The big birds went to Saturday's leaders.

Information on parking and launching is included in the Notice of Race.

Last year's class winners
(Saturday only; no racing Sunday)

Alpha course

CAL 20 (7)---Tie between Keith Ives/Chuck Stevens, Alamitos Bay YC, and Chris Raab/Jamie DeWolfe, ABYC, 1-4-2-3, 10.

FORMULA 18 (8)---Craig Yandow/Terence Seaman, ABYC, 3-1-4-3, 11.

INTERNATIONAL 14 (4)---Jerome White/Manuel Ingele, St. Francis YC, 5-DNC-2-1, 8.

VIPER 640 (8)---Tim Carter/Rachel Ellis, ABYC, 4-1-1-1, 7.
INTERNATIONAL MOTH (7)---Eric Aakhus, Balboa YC, 1-1-2-1, 5.

MERCURY (12)---Chris Messano/Doug Baird, Cabrillo Beach YC, 2-1-1-1, 5.

FINN (7)---Henry Sprague, US Finn Assn., 2-2-2-1, 8.

29ER (16)---Patrick Snow/Storm Brown, San Diego YC, 2-3-1-2, 8.

CORONADO 15 (5)---John Richardson/Mark Brazil, South Coast Corinthian YC, 6-1-1-2, 10.

Bravo course

LASER FULL (35) –Vann Wilson, ABYC, 4-1-2-5, 12.

LASER RADIAL (44)---Mitchell Kiss, Macatawa Bay YC (Mich.), 1-1-1-1, 4.

Bay course

NAPLES SABOT A (18)---Jack Ryan, San Diego YC, 4-3-1-2, 10.

SABOT B (14)---Rebecca McElvain, San Diego YC, 1-4-1-7, 13.

SABOT C-1 (12)---Willem Perry, Mission Bay YC, 2-1-1, 4.

SABOT C-2 (10)---Jack Plavan, San Diego YC, 1-1-1, 3.

SABOT C-3 (18)---Taisei Hatter, San Diego YC, 4-1-4, 9.

LIDO 14-A (14))---Mark Ryan/crew unknown, ABYC, 6-1-1-2, 10.

LIDO 14-B (8)---Tracy Conn/Bill Moore, ABYC, 1-4-1-1, 7.