The future of big boat sailing in one of the world’s best venues is assured with Long Beach and Alamitos Bay Yacht Clubs combining resources to expand LBYC’s long-running Long Beach Race Week event, scheduled to commence June 24-26 2005.

For 25 years Long Beach Race Week has been a staple of the venue’s peak racing season, running a week or two ahead of the independently produced and popular event known in recent years as North Sails Race Week. However, after his 20th regatta in June producer Bruce Golison announced he was closing the operation.

Now there will be one instead of two major regattas in June – but according to the organisers it’ll be bigger and better than either.

Randy Smith, co-chairman and LBYC’s point man on the executive committee that includes three members from each club commented: “We’re upgrading our regatta to fill the void, utilizing the facilities, regatta management and infrastructure of both clubs, the goal is to become the largest, most prestigious yacht club-run event in Southern California.”

As before there will be three days of racing, overseen by competition chairman Mark Townsend and Sandy Toscan of ABYC. Post-race activities will be at hosted at both clubs with water taxi service available.

Organisers anticipate participation by approximately 150 boats, including Transpac 52, Farr 40, J/Boat one-design classes, 1D35, Schock 35, Catalina 37, Express 37, Cal 25, Santana 20 and other invited or approved classes. Buoy and random leg classes will be offered in PHRF competition.

Smith continued: “We hope to create a ‘Grand Prix’ Random Leg class for larger yachts in town for the 2005 Transpacific Yacht Race. They won’t want to bash around a two-mile buoy course, but they may wish to do some 25-mile random leg stuff to get tuned up for Transpac.”

Entry details from: raceoffice@LBYC.org