Turkey Day Regatta at Alamitos Bay YC – Day 1

by Rich Roberts on 25 Nov 2013 Alamitos Bay Yacht Club's 66th annual Turkey Day Regatta is being held on 23rd and 24th November in Long Beach, California. A light and chilly breeze shifting left and right on a crystal clear afternoon was not typical for Long Beach, but it fit right into Simone Staff's plan.

'I loved it,' said the 17-year-old girl from California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey after sailing into a commanding lead on the first day, Saturday, without winning a race.

'I've sailed in Long Beach a lot (but) this was a very tactical day. Keeping my mind strong is a good thing to do. I'm happy to see that it's paying off.'

Consistency often does. Staff logged three seconds and a third among 37 Laser Radials, the largest fleet, giving her an eight-point lead with three races remaining Sunday.

Last summer she won the Open 5.60 class in Long Beach Race Week in more typical conditions, along with the U.S. Adult Women's singlehanded championship in New Jersey earlier this year.

But she may have to share some glory with her younger sister, Phoebe, who is crewing on Thomas Amarante's leader in the Lido 14 B fleet inside on the bay course.

There are 147 boats from the length of California competing in 17 classes---a satisfactory turnout for the last and most popular of ABYC's four annual holiday regattas despite the inconvenience of no docks, launching ramps or boat hoists at ABYC basin because of an ongoing reconstruction project.

First day leaders also included Pease Glaser, an Olympic silver medalist, in Formula 18 catamarans, with Damon LaCasella as crew.

Also competing: Pete Melvin, a longtime ABYC member who was lead designer for Emirates Team New Zealand in the recent America's Cup. He is second to unbeaten Matt Struble in the singlehanded A-Class catamaran fleet.

There won't be any trophies, but that's standard for Turkey Day. Instead, winners receive pies and birds ready to roast. Participants also enjoyed a Thanksgiving theme feast Saturday night, included in the entry fee.

The larger boats, including Vipers, Finns, Lasers and A-Class and Formula 18 catamarans, are racing on the outer Long Beach Harbor inside the breakwater; Lido 14s and Naples Sabots are inside on the bay.

The regatta includes two events of the Southern California Youth Yacht Racing Association (SCYYRA) 2013-2014 season for sailors under 19: the Ullman/Frost Series for Lasers and Laser Radials and the Hamlin Series for 29er skiffs.

Quinn Wilson and crew Riley Gibbs of the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Fleet lead the 29ers after winning two of three races.

Class leaders
Ocean courses
LASER FULL (18 boats)---Brian Cottrell, King Harbor YC, 3-3-2-2, 10.
LASER RADIAL (37)---Simone Staff, California YC, 2-3-2-2, 9.
29ER (13)---Quinn Wilson/Riley Gibbs, Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Fleet, 1-6-1, 8.
VIPER 640 (10)---Jay Golison/Marissa Golison, ABYC, 2-1-1-1, 5.
FINN (11)---Philip Toth, no club, 4-1-3-1, 9.
FORMULA 18 (7)---Pease Glaser/Damon LaCasella, ABYC, 1-1-1-4, 7.
A-Class Catamaran (6)---Matt Struble, USACA, 1-1-1-1, 4.
HOBIE 16 (3)---
PORTSMOUTH (3)---Brad Ruetnik, San Diego YC, 1-1-1, 3.

Bay courses
OPEN BIC (10)---Erik Hou, Newport Harbor YC, 1-2-(3)-1-1, 5.
1-1-1-1-(2), 4.
LIDO 14 A (7)---Stuart Robertson/ Sammy Elshahawry, ABYC, (1)-1-1-1-1, 4.
CFJ (2)---Brian MacLean/Eric Carpenter, ABYC, 1-1-1-1, 4.
LIDO 14 B (6)---Thomas Amarante/Phoebe Staff, California YC, 1-1-1-1-(2), 4.
SABOT B (2)---Alex Van Dyke, Long Beach YC/ABYC, (1)-1-1-1-1, 4.
SABOT C1 (5)---Brett Peoples, ABYC, 1-1-(2)-1-2, 5.
SABOT C2 (4)---Christine Van Dyke, ABYC/Long Beach YC, (1)-1-1-1-1, 4.
SABOT C3 (11)---Emma Peets, Newport Harbor YC, 1-1-(3)-3-21, Complete results