Linda Elias Memorial Women’s One Design Challenge

by Betsy Crowfoot on 24 Sep 2008 Organizers of The Linda Elias Memorial Women’s One Design Challenge (LEMWOD) announced today that all ten yachts have been chartered for the two-day regatta to be held here October 18 and 19.

Entrants include: Women’s Sailing Association of Santa Monica Bay (WSASMB); Nauti Chicas of Dana Point Yacht Club (DPYC); California Yacht Club (CYC); Novias Del Mar of the Long Beach/Los Angeles Women’s Sailing Association (LB/LAWSA); Ventura Yacht Club (VYC); Sailing Chicks, also from Long Beach/Los Angels Women’s Sailing Association; Team Dreadnought from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC); Newport Harbor Yacht Club, and Southwest Yacht Club (SWYC).

The LEMWOD, in its 17th year, has taken on new life as an informal ‘yacht club challenge’ for all-women teams. Indeed, if the guys have the Lipton Cup, the women have the LEMWOD: a highly competitive two-day regatta raced in a matched fleet of Catalina 37s – now, with a $1,000 prize.

The 2007 champions from CYC will return to defend their title. Said Team Captain Kellie Fennessy, 'All of last year's team -- 100 percent CYC members -- will be returning, as we had a great time sailing together.'

In the 2007 regatta, CYC was neck-in-neck with the Nauti Chicas after Day One. 'I really wanted to go get ‘em on Day Two and we had planned out our attack,' said Nauti Chica skipper Sue Senescu. But they never got the chance: races were cancelled Sunday after Santa Ana winds kicked up to 40 knots, and the CYC team won on the tie-breaker. So now Senescu is back for the rematch, along with eight other teams ready for action. And to pique the competition, organizers have offered an optional pre-race practice day Friday, Oct. 17.

(The LEMWOD is governed by the 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and the Catalina 37 Class Rules. Four windward/leeward races are slated for Saturday, three Sunday; in the unpredictable and sometimes very windy Long Beach/Alamitos Bay.

Afterwards there are nightly parties, including a DJ and dancing Saturday night, and raffle prizes amidst the banter of 150-some competitors, friends and volunteers. In addition to take-home trophies, this year’s winner will be awarded the $1,000 Linda Elias Memorial Sailing Scholarship and an engraving on the LEMWOD perpetual trophy, which remains on display at Long Beach Yacht Club.

Linda Elias, who would have celebrated her 58th birthday Aug. 8, 2008, was a well-known Long Beach sailor in both the offshore and buoy racing circles. A three-time winner of the Women’s One Design regatta (1992, 1994 and 1996) she passed away in 2003, and the regatta was rededicated in her memory.

The LEMWOD is open to all-women teams with a minimum crew of seven; no maximum nor weight restriction. The skipper must be a member of a SCYA or USSA club. LEMWOD is organized by LB/LAWSA; Long Beach Yacht Club hosts the event and will provide their internationally acclaimed Congressional Cup race management team.

For results and additional information visit the website at www.lemwod.com or http://lemwod.blogspot.com. Races, which begin at 11:55 am each, can be viewed on the water and from the Belmont Pier, Long Beach.