Wet Wednesday’s bring sailors and community closer

by Rick Roberts on 25 Sep 2007 The end of Long Beach Yacht Club’s Wet Wednesday sailboat racing series generally is thought to signal the end of summer. At the clubs awards ceremony and dinner Wednesday night participants enjoyed each other’s company talking about close races, burger bashes and how they can’t wait until the next race.

Wet Wednesday’s run from early May to mid-Sept. and are broken up into three series ending with the awards ceremony where winners in each class receive awards and congratulations from their peers.

In the Catalina 37 class, sailors race the Long Beach Sailing Foundation’s one design boats in close competition. These finely tuned racing machines, the same boats used in the Congressional Cup, require skill and knowledge to sail.

So it was tremendous accomplishment for the Sailing Foundation Kids from the NAACP, the Boys and Girls Club’s of Long Beach and Artesia High School to take the first place award.

Each group of kids sailed in their own series. Series One was the team from Artesia High School. Series Two was the Boys and Girls Club’s of Long Beach and Series Three went to the kids from the NAACP.

On-the-water training and assistance came from Dick Watkins, LBYC Wet Wednesday Regatta Chairman, Mike Segerblom, Administrator of the U.S. Sailing Center, and other sailing veterans who volunteered their time.

'They were great,' Segerblom said. 'This was our first time winning all three series... a clean sweep! This is a great group with a great attitude.'

'We took some staff from the sailing center and a few veterans to help out,' said Segerblom. 'But the credit goes to Dick Watkins who has worked tirelessly to make sure this began, and tirelessly to make sure this continued to be a success.'

In the Cal 20 class, Keith Ives and Chuck Stevens sailed Rubber Dog to first place overall.

'I’m 37 now,' Ives said, 'and I’ve been doing this since I was 10. The first two series were very competitive but we always have good fun.'

'I’ve sailed with the Ives family for 23 years,' Stevens said. 'Between Keith and myself we have over 55 years of sailing experience. We’re both very competitive and a lot of things have to fall in place to win a series.'

Weather you’re a serious racer, or just want to get out on the water in the middle of the week, the Wet Wednesday series at LBYC offers competitive fun and, through the Sailing Foundation, a chance to reach out to the community.

Overall First Place Finishers by Series

Series I

PHRF A
Sheila, CF37, Bruce Jones, LBYC

Cat 37s
LBYCSF Kids, Artesia High School

Cal 25s
One Time, Art & Scott Melendres, LBYC

Cal 20s
Rubber Dog, Keith Ives/Chuck Stevens, LBYC

Series II

PHRF A
X Rated, IMX38, Dave Fell, SBYC

PHRF B
Sheila, CF37, Bruce Jones, LBYC

PHRF C
Entropy, William Gerhardt, LBYC

Cat 37s
LBYCSF Kids, Boys and Girls Club

Cal 25s
Discovery, Hugh Warnock/Brad Willingham, HHYC

Cal 20s
Lickety Split, Ron & Mike Wood, LBYC/ABYC


Series III

PHRF AA
Emirage II, 1D 48, David Basset-Parkins, SBYC

PHRF A
X Rated, IMMX38, Dave Fell, SBYC

PHRF B
Sheila, CF37, Bruce Jones, LBYC

PHRF C
Entropy, William Gerhardt, LBYC

Cat 37s
LBYCSF Kids, NAACP

Cal 25s
One Time, Art & Scott Melendres, LBYC

Cal 20s
Rubber Dog, Keith Ives/Chuck Stevens, LBYC