Annual Gathering of Top Women Sailors

Every October, some of the finest women sailors assemble at the Long Beach Yacht Club to participate in the Long Beach Sailing Foundation’s Linda Elias Women’s Memorial One Design Regatta. The event features 11 of the foundation’s Catalina 37 sailboats, which are also used for the prestigious Congressional Cup. Entry into this regatta is competitive, requiring teams to submit petitions for invitations, with only ten teams ultimately being selected to compete.

This year, two of the ten selected teams were skippered by long-standing South Coast Corinthian Yacht Club (SCCYC) members. Karyn Jones led Team WSA MdR, while Kathy St. Amant skippered Team DRYC. Both skippers are well-versed in this regatta, having participated as skippers on several previous occasions. On Kathy’s team, Catherine Phillips took on the role of jib trimmer, contributing her expertise to the crew.

The regatta showcased exceptionally close competition, especially among the top teams. Standings shifted after each of the seven races, reflecting the high level of skill and determination among the crews. Notably, teams that had previously dominated the event found themselves further down the rankings this year, allowing emerging teams to demonstrate their skills and ascend the leaderboard.

Team WSA MdR delivered a strong performance throughout the regatta, ultimately finishing in 7th place. Team DRYC faced challenges during the two days of racing but managed to secure a third-place finish in one race on Saturday and a fifth-place finish in another race on Sunday.

Regardless of final standings, every sailor left the regatta with a profound sense of accomplishment, having competed in one of the premier events for women’s sailing. The spirit of camaraderie among the teams is unmatched, serving as a compelling reason for sailors to strive for an invitation to next year’s regatta.

Results and over 500 pics on Flickr posted by LBYC