Charity Regatta
Join us in supporting VNA Health at the 19th Annual Santa Barbara Yacht Club Charity Regatta
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Charity Regatta History
At the end of the twentieth century, the Santa Barbara Yacht Club decided to take a focus as an organization to help other deserving non-profits in the community that were non-marine related. This began in the 1990's when several regattas were held to benefit local organizations, VNA Health (formerly Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care) and Villa Majella.
In 2005, a major milestone was achieved when the entire Yacht Club got behind creating the SBYC Charity Regatta, which had some thirty-five boats participating and raised $50,000 for VNA Health of Santa Barbara. The following year, the success and popularity of the event had attracted nearly double the number of participants - with some sixty skippers signed on. Each participating boat paid an entry fee, which became a contribution to VVNA Health. An exciting feature of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club Charity Regattas was the Special "Charity Regatta Handicapping System." Usually, some sort of handicapping system is required to score a sailboat race. Fast boats have high handicaps and slow boats have high handicaps. Handicaps are expressed in seconds per mile. If boat 'A' has a handicap of 30, and boat 'B' has a handicap of 60, 'A' owes 'B' 30 seconds per mile. On a five-mile course, 'A' would need to finish about 2.5 minutes before 'B' in order to win.
To make it fun, competitors in the Yacht Club Charity Regattas can secretly change their rating and the rating of other boats by purchasing seconds per mile. 'B' could buy down 'A's rating by twenty seconds per mile, and could buy up its own rating by twenty seconds per mile. 'A' would now have to beat 'B' by almost six minutes. However, since the purpose of the Yacht Club Charity Regatta is about raising money for the community and having fun in the process; the sailors remain good sports.
In 2006, Mayor Marty Blum presented the Santa Barbara Yacht Club with a Proclamation from the City of Santa Barbara declaring the day as SBYC Charity Regatta Day, which ultimately raised $75,000 for Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara. The following year, the Yacht Club raised even more money for VNA Health of Santa Barbara, and the US Coast Guard cutter Blackfin joined the fleet of spectator boats.
As of date, the Charity Regatta Day has garnered over $2,200,000 for the Visiting and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.
For more event info click here.
