44th OCR Marks 20th Anniversay Of Long Beach Olympic Sailing

Early-spring weather and good competition was on tap for the 44th running of the Olympic Classes Regatta, a three-day event for Olympic classes held in Long Beach, Calif., March 26-28 and hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 1984 Olympic sailing, sailed in the same waters as this regatta and staffed in part by veterans of the 1984 Olympic Games. ABYC's OCR was the nucleus of the Sailing Olympics, and the 1982 and 1983 OCRs were held as pre-Olympic regattas to help volunteers and sailors prepare for the Olympic event.

Competition will take place on Olympic-style courses laid in the waters of San Pedro Bay off the Seal Beach Pier. Racing is scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and ends with the awarding of medals in gold, silver and bronze hues in an Olympic-style medal ceremony on Sunday.

The regatta looks to be a great one for weather as sunny skies and fair winds are in the forecast. The regatta itself, however, will be a small one, perhaps the smallest in a decade.

"In Olympic years we expect a smaller turnout," said Jim Bateman, ABYC fleet captain and regatta co-chair. Bateman cited the fact that several U.S. Olympic Trials, including those for the 49ers, Europes and Finns, have already been completed, making this regatta less important to Olympic hopefuls, and the Star trials will end as this regatta starts. Fewer than 50 boats were entered as of the last day of pre-registration.

The major difference in this regatta over years past is on the water. "We are down to a single (racing) circle from our usual three," Bateman said.

With only four classes established as of the end of pre-registration---Lasers, Laser Radials, Europes and Finns---the organizers chose to downsize the on-the-water portion of the regatta while keeping the flavor and traditions of Olympic Classes Regattas of the past.

Daily releases will be sent out as soon as possible after the end of racing. Photos, if any, will be posted on the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club website, www.abyc.org.

For more information, contact Alamitos Bay Yacht Club website.

Alamitos Bay Yacht Club
562-434-9955
abyc@abyc.org
www.abyc.org