ABYC Memorial Day Regatta commences this weekend

by Rich Roberts on 22 May 2013 Sailors will meet in Long Beach this weekend for the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club's annual celebrative event, the Memorial Day Regatta, taking place this Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26.

The first of ABYC's traditional regattas for small towable but, in some cases, exceptionally fast boats will be followed by the Fourth of July Regatta in early summer, preceding the Labor Day Regatta in September and Turkey Day for Thanksgiving in November, drawing competitors from San Diego to San Francisco.

Last year's event, blessed by typical breeze of 11 to 15 knots both days, drew 154 boats in 21 classes. That turnout could be topped this year with large fleets of Laser Full Rigs and Laser Radials for the Area J Semifinals of the 2013 US Singlehanded Championship for sailors 17 years of age and older. US Sailing's Area J is comprised of the southern parts of California and Nevada plus Arizona and Utah.

Racing will be outside on Long Beach Harbor behind the Federal breakwater for most classes, with Lido 14s and Naples Sabots inside on Alamitos Bay.