Long Beach Race Week spokesperson John Busch made a bold claim recently:
“We’re now the largest regatta on the West Coast,” he said.
I wanted to check that claim out — with a quick online search.
San Diego Yacht Club’s Fox during the start of Long Beach Race Week, which ran from Friday to Sunday, June 26-28. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
The LBRW fleet during the start of Long Beach Race Week, which ran from Friday to Sunday, June 26-28. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
Sailors sit aboard the Vigilante during the start of Long Beach Race Week, which ran from Friday to Sunday, June 26-28. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
Rowers compete in beach sprints during the Long Beach Sprints Regatta, which took place last week. (Courtesy of Greg Shea)
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San Diego Yacht Club’s Fox during the start of Long Beach Race Week, which ran from Friday to Sunday, June 26-28. (Photo by Jo Murray, Grunion Gazette/SCNG)
San Diego’s Yachting Cup had 50 entries this year, while the St. Francis Big Boat Series, which will take place in September, had 61, as of the end of June. Race Week Bellingham, which will take place this month in Washington state, has 25 entries, Cleveland Race Week had 79 and the Southmost Regatta — the former Key West Race Week — has a mere 21 entries.
Long Beach Race Week, meanwhile, saw 97 teams compete in 10 fleets from Friday to Sunday, June 26-28.
Winning the largest fleet was California Yacht Club’s Allie Blecher and Katie Moran in the 17-boat Melges 15 division.
Coastal rowing
Last week, the Long Beach Sprints Regatta, during LBRW, was hosted by the Long Beach Rowing Association and modeled directly on the 2028 Summer Olympics beach-sprint format, bringing together athletes from across the U.S., along with competitors from Spain and Great Britain.
“Sunday’s racing featured fast-paced, exciting, head-to-head competition that showcased the energy and future for coastal rowing,” LBRA President Hanne Chupik wrote in a text message. “With approximately 35 entries and spectators from a variety of aquatic sports, the event demonstrated the growing excitement surrounding this new Olympic discipline.”
One of the weekend’s highlights was the incredible spirit of the rowing community: Volunteers, athletes and coaches worked together to move boats and rigging equipment, and help wherever needed. Their teamwork, along with the patience and support of the competitors, made the event a tremendous success, Chupik said — and reflected the strong traditions of the Long Beach Rowing Association.
Chupik also expressed gratitude to race Director John Wojtkiewicz and chief referee Eric Chiang
Interest in coastal rowing has surged since the International Olympic Committee confirmed beach sprints as a 2028 event.
USRowing has been running training camps in Long Beach, drawing athletes from around the country who want to transition from flatwater rowing to the dynamic coastal format. The city is becoming a national training hub. Great Britain and Spain sent their national beach sprint teams to Long Beach in June for the inaugural Long Beach Sprints, using the venue as an early preview of the LA28 Olympic course.
Spain arrived with five world champions, and Great Britain sent medalists from the 2023-24 world championships.
Long Beach coastal rowing is in a major growth moment, and right now, the headline development is the Long Beach Sprints, a beach-sprint coastal rowing regatta that’s becoming the West Coast’s showcase for the LA28 Olympic discipline.
“The city is rapidly positioning itself as the beach sprints capital of North America,” said Aquatic Capital of America Foundation official Greg Shea, “with international teams already arriving to train and compete on the same shoreline that will host Olympic coastal rowing.”
Water polo
Boathouse on the Bay restaurateur John Morris, in partnership with Long Beach Waterfront and Visit Long Beach, will host a beach water polo showcase on Thursday and Friday, July 2-3.
The showcase, dubbed “The Breakwater Battle at Horny Corner,” will be an Olympic preview with exhibition matches, athlete demonstrations and spectator viewing from the beach. The event has been described as Morris’ passion project.
The celebration is a fundraiser with the Eminent Giving Initiative and will benefit local charities — much like Morris’ previous “Big Bang on the Bay” event.
Swap meet
The 2026 Charity Regatta Swap Meet will take place on July 11 at the Seal Beach Yacht Club parking lot, 255 N Marina Drive.
Marina Yacht Club of Long Beach will offer a pancake breakfast to help raise money and Seal Beach YC will serve pulled pork sliders for lunch.
There will be a large selection of boating items and fishing items available for purchase.
Vendor spaces are still available. To reserve a spot, contact Chair Kelly Walsh at 714-865-4585.