Women's One Design Challenge

The inaugural Women's One-Design Challenge was held in 1991. The two-day racing event was conceived and organized by the Long Beach Women's Sailing Association as an opportunity for women to compete on the Catalina 37s. Its mission is to raise funds and awareness of women's achievements on the water. Linda Elias - the namesake for the current regatta - won the challenge three of the first five years. Elias passed away in 2003 at 52 after a hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer... Long Beach Yacht Club and the LB Women's Sailing Association, the organizing authorities for the event, honored her by rededicating the event to her memory. The Long Beach Sailing Foundation Established the Linda Elias Sailing Scholarship Fund the same year.