Santa Barbara and King Harbor yacht clubs connect again for 46th annual race

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Medicine Man, Wahoo, Mexican Divorce and Vesper are among the more than six-dozen entrants already registered for this year’s Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race, the 46th such installment of the annual regatta.

The 2018 Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race will be held July 27-28; teams will depart out of Santa Barbara Harbor and race downwind to Redondo Beach’s King Harbor.

Competition will be held in several categories: Cruising Class, ORCA, PHRF and ULDB. Several yacht clubs are represented at this year’s race. Most are from the Southern California area but there are entries from Minnesota (Wayzata Yacht Club) and Arizona (Arizona Yacht Club).

Racing officially takes place on July 27, but there are events before and after the regatta. Santa Barbara Yacht Club will host its Wet Wednesday Races on July 25. A post-race party and barbecue will follow; no entry fee is required to participate in the race or party.

Festivities continue on June 26, with a racer’s cocktail party and live band on the beach (also at Santa Barbara YC). The cocktail party begins at 5 p.m. followed by a barbecue and buffet at 6 p.m.

A racers breakfast will be available on race day at Santa Barbara YC, followed by the first warning signal at 11:55 a.m.

Post-race snacks will be available at King Harbor Yacht Club as racers arrive at the Redondo Beach waterfront.

King Harbor YC hosts the trophy presentation dinner on July 28; appetizers and music will be on tap at 3 p.m. The trophy presentation will be at 4 p.m., followed by the King Harbor YC jumbo shrimp feed at 5:30 p.m. (first seating). The second seating is set for 7 p.m.

Reservations for the jumbo shrimp feed must be made in advance. Tickets are $22; contact King Harbor’s club manager at 310-376-2459 for reservations.

Both yacht clubs will offer their club facilities to race entrants, including showers and galleys. Parking is not available at either club.

Questions about the regatta should be directed to the following contacts: Santa Barbara YC Regatta Chair David Sadecki, david302dz@gmail.com; King Harbor YC Regatta Chair April Pitcairn, april@ppl4all.com; Brad Schaupeter (Santa Barbara YC race office) at 805-965-8112 or racing@sbyc.org; or, Jerry Martin (King Harbor YC finish boat) at 310-968-4426 or jerry.norie@verizon.net.

Santa Barbara YC is located at 130 Harbor Way in Santa Barbara; King Harbor YC is located at 280 Yacht Club Way in Redondo Beach.

Photo: sbycracing.org