The Cal 20 Class will hold its 64th annual Class Championships at Long Beach Yacht Club from Friday to Sunday, Aug. 14-16, with racing in Long Beach Harbor, on the same waters slated to host kites and IQ foils during the LA28 Olympic Games.
The regatta currently has 30 Gold Fleet and six Bronze Fleet entries, a two-tier format that lets sailors compete by experience level and has helped the championship average about 35 boats in recent years, according to Todd Smith, Cal 20 class secretary.
The Gold Fleet is expected to be especially competitive, featuring past Cal 20 champions Keith Ives, Chuck Clay, Chris Raab, defending champion Chris Vilicich, Bill Schopp and Jeff Ives, along with several recent top-five finishers.
LBYC will also host post-race social events for sailors, friends and family.
Big Gay Flotilla
About 150-175 beachgoers proudly met for the annual Big Gay Flotilla event on Saturday, Aug. 8. (Courtesy of Sal Flores-Trimble)
About 150-175 beachgoers proudly met for the annual Big Gay Flotilla event on Saturday, Aug. 8. (Courtesy of Sal Flores-Trimble)
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About 150-175 beachgoers proudly met for the annual Big Gay Flotilla event on Saturday, Aug. 8. (Courtesy of Sal Flores-Trimble)
About 150-175 beachgoers proudly met for the annual Big Gay Flotilla event on Saturday, Aug. 8.
People parked at 72nd Street and entered in the nearby beach on the bay side, according to organizer Sal Flores-Trimble.
There were floatie unicorns, dinosaurs and the other inflatable beach toys, making the day more festive.
“It was a safe space,” Flores-Trimble said. “There was a good police presence everyone was able to mingle.”
The next event is the Big Gay Picnic at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Bluff Park.
Toyota Beach Water Polo
The 19th annual Toyota Beach Water Polo event took place in Alamitos Bay near Bayshore, between Second Street and Ocean Boulevard.
There were about 1000 competitors, according to organizer Nick Baba.
“Toyota came on as sponsor, which helped us bring more staff to help make operations go a bit smoother and allowed us to have overnight security on the beach, in addition to the anchored boat security on the water,” Baba said in a text message. “Next year will be 20 years! Looking forward to it! Calculating dates over the next couple of days.”
Founded by Robert Lynn in 2007 and later developed with Baba and Kahuna Events, the tournament has continued to grow while using modified rules and equipment to keep play safe, organized and fun.
Held between the summer club season and the fall scholastic season, the event gives athletes a relaxed setting to enjoy the sport outside the traditional pool environment.
Olympic Class Racing OCR
The second week of San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta concluded on Sunday, Aug. 9, with Olympic-class titles awarded on the future LA28 sailing venue. Sweden’s Vilma Bobek and Ebba Berntsson won the 49erFX, Germany’s Richard Schultheis and Fabian Rieger won the 49er, and Sweden’s Emil Järudd and Hanna Jonsson won the Nacra 17.
Medal races were held inside the breakwater for the top 10 teams in each fleet, with leaders largely maintaining their positions through the final day.
The regatta provided sailors with valuable experience in the conditions and race areas expected to be central to Olympic preparation for 2028.