Water plays a vital role in the life of Long Beach, a city that is blessed with miles-long strand of the Pacific Ocean coastline. Complemented by clean air and good climate, it is little wonder that all sorts of sailboats have become a permanent fixture in Long Beach.
Long Beach
Long Beach, the fifth largest city of California, boasts of an enviable mix of strategic location, wonderful climate, shoreline beauty, and the southern California lifestyle. Long Beach enjoys the cool sea breeze coming from the San Gabriel River. The river helps channel the breeze from the cool ocean to the hot desert. As the hot desert air rises, the cool sea goes through Long Beach causing the winds to give sails their needed velocity.
Events
Home to Congressional Cup and Olympic trial races, the sailing conditions in Long Beach practically makes it perfect to sail all year round. The city operates the largest municipal marina system in the United States. Offshore breakwaters and a natural bay give boats the needed protection. Sailors also love the quick access to open water, prevailing winds, and close proximity to the Catalina Island. Corporate charters, regattas and skippered charters on luxury yachts are not uncommon sights in Long Beach.
It is not surprising that the downtown shoreline of Long Beach beams with life and activity. This Southern California beach community has literally been at the waterfronts of the city's growing tourism and America's primary gateway for international trade.
Sailinig clubs and schools
Sailing is so much a part of the life of Long Beach that many sailing schools have been set up in the city. The schools do not only cater to adults but also to teenagers and children.
The Leeway Sailing and Aquatics Center in Ocean Boulevard is one of the key municipal instructional sailing programs in the United States. It was founded in 1929 to teach local youth the basics of sailing.
Sailing clubs are also very active in promoting sailing activities in Long Beach. The Marina Sailing is the oldest and largest sailing club in California. It offers affordable sail and powerboat rentals and charters including fishing boats and catamarans. Marina can rent out bareboat charters as well as yachts with a captain. The club also offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced sailing lessons.
Another prominent group is the Long Beach Sailing Club, located in Alamitos Bay immediately south of the Long Beach harbor. Surrounded by Naples waterfront and canals, Alamitos Bay is home to many of West Coast's top sailors. The club's dock is only minutes away to open water or the Long Beach Harbor. Taking advantage of their premier location, the Long Beach Sailing Club offers an array of sailing programs from the most basic to more advance courses.
More than the beach itself, there are more reasons to draw people to Long Beach. One of the main attractions is the Aquarium of the Pacific in Rainbow Harbor. The Water Taxi will take you to the Queen Mary Ship, Russian Scorpion Submarine, and catamaran that travels to Catalina Island several times daily. Trendy shops and restaurants dot the shoreline. It is also filled with beautiful parks, golf, archery, lawn bowling, skateboarding, and other sports activities.
|
