Linda Elias Memorial Women’s One Design Challenge

by Rick Roberts on 20 Oct 2008
Casey Hogan and Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Women’s Sailing Team won the 2008 Linda Elias Memorial Women’s One Design Challenge Sunday hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club and sponsored by the Long Beach/Los Angeles Women’s Sailing Association.

Sailing on the same Catalina 37s used in the Congressional Cup match race held every year at LBYC, Hogan, who was third at the end of the day’s racing Saturday, fought back Sunday in a building breeze of 10-12 knots to take the win.

'It was a steep learning curve,' Hogan said, 'where we kept improving every race. We don’t sail these boats very often but today [Sunday] it went really smooth. We just sailed conservatively trying to improve every race… avoiding any major mishaps around the marks.'

Not able to avoid a mishap at a mark was fourth place finisher Karla Moreno and her team 'Dreadnought' from the Opequinar Yacht Club, Mexico.

Moreno’s boat was struck hard by another boat at a leeward mark rounding, knocking her foredeck person off her feet and backward on to the deck. The crew member – who did not wish to be named – briefly lost consciousness but was revived quickly by fellow crew members, assisted by race committee members. She was checked out at the dock by paramedics, but declined to go to the hospital.

Second place finisher Andrea Cabito and team Novias Del Mar successfully worked through a team building process coming back from fifth at the end of the day Saturday.

'Yesterday [Saturday], we still had issues we were working on,' Cabito said. 'But from the first race today our boat handling skills started getting better every race.

'We have sailed these boats for the last five years and every year we have gotten better. My team is very willing to learn and now they are some of the best sailors I have ever sailed with.'

Taking third in the regatta was Samantha Treadwell and the San Diego Yacht Club Women’s Sailing Team. Treadwell was in the lead after racing Saturday, having a five point lead over second and third place.

'Yeah, I kinda blew the first two [races] today,' Treadwell said. 'We sat down after the second race and did our little team Pow Wow.

'We have a very young team and have never really sailed together that much. I think they did great out there and we are fired up to come back next year.'

Also planning on coming back next year, Hogan said, 'In every aspect this was a well run regatta and I think everyone had a good time.'

The event is named after the late Linda Elias, one of Southern California’s most successful female sailboat racers.

Elias sailed in the Transpac in 1989, ’91, ‘93 and ’99 and won the Women’s One Design championship three of the first five years. When she passed away in 2003 after losing a nine-year battle with cancer the Long Beach/Los Angeles Women’s Sailing Association rededicated the event to her memory.

Final Standings
1. Casey Hogan, Newport Harbor YC Women’s Sailing Team, 6-4-1-5-3-1-1, 21 points
2. Andrea Cabito, Little Ships Fleet YC 'Novias Del Mar', 5-1-5-8-2-3-2, 26
3. Samantha Treadwell, San Diego YC Women’s Sailing Assoc., 2-6-2-1-4-8-4, 27
4. Karla Moreno, Opequinar YC, Mex. 'Dreadnought', 3-3-8-3-5-2-8, 32
5. Susan Taylor, Cal YC Women’s Sailing Assoc., 1-10-3-2-1-6-11(DNF), 34
6. Sue Senescu, Dana Point YC 'Nauti Chicas', 4-7-4-6-9-5-3, 38
7. Gwen Abel, Women’s Sailing Assoc. of Santa Monica Bay, 7-5-7-7-7-9-5, 47
8. Kathy Reed, Navy YC 'Sailing Chicks', 9-2-9-9-8-4-7, 48
9. Colleen Cook, Southwestern YC Women’s Sailing Team, 8-8-6-4-6-10-6, 48
10. Christina Baum, Ventura YC Team WAVE, 10-9-10-10-10-7-11(DSQ), 67

Race information and official standings at www.lbyc.org