One of the longest continuous running regattas in Southern California, the "Around Catalina" race held over the Memorial Day Weekend is co-sponsored by the partnership of Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club and Dana Point Yacht Club. In addition to our historical 75 mile course around the island, we are adding a new Transpac qualifier course for ORR, ORR-Ez, PHRF and Multihull boats. The new “Qualifier 175 Course” at 175 miles is designed to provide a start and course angles that Transpac racers experience and a legitimate tune-up course for those racers, as well as a challenging offshore course for all competitive racers. A new start line location off Pt. Fermin, 75 mile leg to Mark 1, followed by a 20 mile leg of sending it deep with the strongest breeze and swell on the course, a jibe at Mark 2, and reach into the Virtual Finish 10 miles off Dana Point. The new Qualifier 175 Course is set to start on Friday, May 22 and the traditional 75 mile “Around Catalina” course starting on Saturday, May 23. The race began when Commodore, Frank Dair of Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club and Commodore, Barbara McCarthy of Dana Point Yacht Club met and brainstormed the idea of a "Historic Mariners Race" (Richard Henry Dana and Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo) with both clubs participating. CBYC Rear Commodore, Dave Shutte along with DPYC Rear Commodore, Steve Franta pursued this plan. The first "Historic Mariners Race" was held over the Memorial Day Weekend in May 1981. It was a successful beginning with over 60 boats participating. After a few years, the name was changed to the "Around Catalina Race" to preclude the impression that it was an "old classic boat" race.