Three-island race will go clockwise

When it comes to serious races for serious sailors, organizers hope this one avoids the usual hassles.

The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club has created its first Around the Islands yacht race, a 125-mile sail around three islands off the California coast, starting and ending in Newport Harbor.

“I wouldn’t miss this race for the world,” said Paul DeCapua, chairman of the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. “We went into this wanting the first year to be a success. Such a success that people will automatically plan for it on the race calendar the next year as soon as it comes out.”

While events like the Newport to Ensenada race require a passport, and races to San Diego involve hauling the yacht back up to Newport, this offers the competitiveness without some of the obstacles, DeCapua said.

Unlike traditional races, this venture around Catalina, Sutil and Santa Barbara islands goes clockwise, organizers said.

“We wanted a serious race that ended in Newport,” said yacht club commodore Don Bernard. “I think it’s just going to be a wonderful weekend.”

DeCapua said the course has challenges for every type of sailor. The route around the islands will make sailors deal with broad winds, head winds and tail winds, he said.

“Because we got three different points of sail, it’ll probably equalize the competition,” DeCapua said.

The competition, though, is only a third of the yacht club’s effort to raise its profile with a world-renowned signature race.

Around the Islands is sandwiched between an island-themed party the night before and a concluding party, also island-themed, the day after.

The event will also mark the first time that Oakley, the sunglasses and clothing company, is sponsoring a sailing event.

“We’ve done sponsorships before, but we’ve never done an event, and we’re excited,” said Alan Janc, Oakley sports marketing manager for sailing. The company will give away Oakley products for the race winners.

The race will take place on one of the few summer weekends free of a sailing event: July 16 to 18. While it’s the first of its kind, DeCapua said, it probably won’t be the last.

“The goal is to make the 2010 event one that is so memorable, so good, that it will survive another 50 years,” DeCapua said.