Photo by Rich Roberts

Last weekend, crews from across California and Arizona took to SoCal waters for the 84th annual Midwinter Regatta, hosted by the Southern California Yachting Association to promote the region’s “paradise” winter conditions for the sport.

In Long Beach, more than 17 classes of boats competed over two days at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and the Long Beach Yacht Club, officially kicking off the 2013 sailing season. Boats from Catalina 37s to C-15s raced in waters both inside and outside the bay with many locals eventually winning top ranks. 

Recently joined Alamitos Bay Yacht Club member Jim Sears, for example, won the eight-boat Viper 640 class by a single point at his yacht club’s share of the Midwinter Regatta. Sears is an Emmy-nominated co-host of the talk show The Doctors who bought his boat only two years ago.

Asked if his TV career interfered with his racing, crew Rachel Ellis interjected, “It may be the other way around.”

The city’s two yacht clubs were among 26 that hosted races for Southern California’s longest-running regatta with other nearby clubs such as the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club in San Pedro and the Seal Beach Yacht Club also hosting classes. 

On March 2, ABYC will be hosting the E.E. Manning Regatta and on March 24, the LBYC will host their Butler Regatta. 

Click here to read the full results from the entire competition.