Report From Rich Roberts

Ask past winners in Alamitos Bay Yacht Club’s annual Turkey Day Regatta what they did with their prizes and they may start salivating.

 

By tradition dating back to 1948, competitors race not for hardware but for the main course and dessert of their Thanksgiving dinners to follow a few days later.  

The two-day event is scheduled Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21 and 22, and includes a turkey dinner after Saturday’s racing in the entry fee—one dinner for singlehanded boats, two for doublehanded and more.

Online entries (below) will be accepted until noon Friday, Nov. 20. Thereafter entries may be made only in person until 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. No entries will be accepted by mail or fax. A $20 late fee applies after midnight Tuesday, Nov. 17.

 

Last year’s event drew a record turnout of 319 boats in 19 classes, from 8-foot Naples Sabots and Lido 14s on theinside bay to Cal 20 and Olson 30 keelboats and high-performance A-Cats, International 14s, 29er skiffs and Formula 18 catamarans on two courses on the ocean and outer harbor. They were sailed by participants ages 8 to 80 from throughout California, plus Germany, Italy and New Zealand.

 

Racing will start at noon each day, conditions permitting.

All classes are scheduled for three races each day.

 

Online registration, current entry list and Notice of Race