Santa Barbara Yacht Club to host Sweetheart’s Race

SANTA BARBARA ¾ The American Rivera serves an ideal backdrop for a Valentine’s-Day-themed regatta, as Santa Barbara Yacht Club will host the Sweetheart’s Race, Feb. 11.

Teams competing in the Sweetheart’s Race are encourage to maintain an equal number of men and women aboard. Teams without such gender balance will be allowed to compete but, according to Santa Barbara YC’s Sailing Instructions, “will be penalized 10 seconds per mile for each crew member over an equal ratio of men and women.”

Children younger than 13 years old as of the date of the regatta are allowed to be aboard a team’s vessel but won’t be counted as part of the crew.

The Sweetheart’s Race is open to Santa Barbara YC members. Teams from other yacht clubs who are also members of U.S. Sailing can join the regatta as a guest of Santa Barbara YC.

PHRF rated vessels are eligible to compete in the regatta; one-design boats are also permitted to enter with the following standard and non-spinnaker ratings: 204 and 224 (Harbor 20); 168 and 183 (J/24); 114 and 152 (J/70); 90 and 114 (J/105); and, 90 and 117 (Melges 20).

Trophies will be awarded to all fleet members; the exact number of trophies awarded will be based upon final participation.

More information about the regatta is available on the Santa Barbara YC website, which is at sbyc.org.