25th annual Yacht Clubs of Long Beach

Charity Regatta

Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011

Benefiting The Children's Clinic Serving Children and Families

72 years of service to the greater Long Beach area

Artwork by Taj Jones, age 5

Sept. 21, 2011
LONG BEACH, Calif.
Silver anniversary of Charity Regatta is Sunday
A quarter-century ago the commodores of four Long Beach yacht clubs got together not for a round of beer after a day of racing but for a more worthwhile purpose beyond the sport. On that day they created the Yacht Clubs of Long Beach Charity Regatta for The Children's Clinic, “Serving Children and Their Families” (TCC), which will celebrate its silver anniversary Sunday.
Over time, while countless trophies for other events have been awarded, cherished and ultimately misplaced, the benefits of this one for TCC have had an enduring effect on six non-profit 501c (3) licensed community health clinics serving low income, uninsured and underinsured children and their families in the greater Long Beach area.
All entry fees and proceeds from related events, such as a swap meet in July and a golf tournament in August, go to TCC. Following the racing Alamitos Bay Yacht Club will host a burger bash, silent auction and drawing.
Entry information is available on the event website. There is no online entry.
Long before the regatta came along,TCC, first organized in 1939, waswell on its way to serving, by actual count to date, 23,443 children and adults to age 95, marking more than 70,000 visits to TCC for high quality health care Services. What happened in 1987 just made sailing more meaningful.
Three of the four commodores who met on that historic day---Pete Ives of the Long Beach Yacht Club, Tom Ramsey of Alamitos Bay YC and Hans Vogel of the Shoreline YC---will be present Sunday to commemorate the event. Larry Lewis of Seal Beach YC is now living in Florida.
Also, a key leader as a former chairman and treasurer of the regattasince it started has been Norma Clapp of ABYC, who promises that open heart surgery two months ago won't discourage her presence.
"I wouldn't miss it," she said. "I will be there."
Penelope Leon, Director of Development and Communications for TCC, said, "Norma has been a long-time friend and supporter of RCC. She's quite an amazing woman, and TCC is fortunate to have here on our side."
Thanks largely to her organizational involvement and liaison with the clinic, entries grew to a record 169 boats last year with kids and grownups racing on four venues inside and outside of Alamitos Bay—mostly Naples Sabots but also Farr 40s, Catalina 37s and assorted keelboats.
Participating clubs are Alamitos Bay YC, Cerritos Bahia YC, Little Ships Fleet, Long Beach YC, Navy Yacht Club, Seal Beach YC, Shoreline YC, Long Beach Singles YC and Blue Gavel District 10.
Racing, starting at noon, will be based at ABYC for Sabots, Lido 14s and Lasers, at LBYC for one-design ocean classes and other keelboats, at SlBYC for PHRF spinnaker and non-spinnaker racers and at SYC for the Cruising class and Predicted Log powerboats.
The event has raised more than half a million dollars for the clinics over the near-quarter century. Clapp said after last year's event,
"It's been incrediblewith so many people sailing and also contributing. Considering the economy, it's awesome."
Supporting benefactors are Murphy Industrial Coatings, the Van Dyke Family and the International Order of the Blue Gavel
Humanitarian Foundation. Sponsors are Alegra Print & Managing, CEBA Inc. Pensions Consultants, Screen Gems Silk Screening, a tribute to Howard Tait and Michael and Susan Christmas.
Regatta NORand contribution information
Downloadable hi-res photo gallery
All about The Children'sClinic
2010 results: ABYC LBYC SlBYC
MEDIA CONTACT
Rich Roberts
310.835.2526
cell 310.766.6547
/
Dr. Elisa Nichols checks charts with patients at The Children's Clinic

Dr. Maria Chandler with patient
Hi-res 2011 photo gallery
Snapshots from 2010


Hi-res 2010 photo gallery
Regatta NOR and
contribution information
2011 Supporters
Benefactors

The Van Dyke Family

International Order of the Blue Gavel
Humanitarian Foundation

Sponsors




Michael & Susan Christmas
Charity Regatta hosts
Alamitos Bay YC
CerritosBahia YC
Little Ships Fleet
Long Beach YC
Navy Yacht Club
Seal Beach YC
Shoreline YC
Long Beach Singles YC
Blue Gavel District 10