As outrigger races continued near the Belmont Pier, a new record was set Saturday morning in the popular annual Long Beach to Catalina Race in which water skiers travel behind boats to the island. The roundtrip that ended at the Queen Mary is about 50 miles.
Todd Haig of Redlands won with a record-setting time of 49:38 before dozens of spectator boats that bobbed off the Queen Mary, said race spokesman Kevin Wilkerson. He said Haig tied with Chuck Stearns for 11 race victories.
The race that began in 1949 involves water skiers being pulled by high-powered boats from Long Beach to Santa Catalina Island and back, a roughly 50-mile roundtrip journey.
Other water sports will be underway this weekend as part of Long Beach's summer Sea Festival. Also on Saturday:
Colorful Hawaiian outrigger canoes will compete in an all-day tournament of sprint races. Teams from all over Southern California are participating. Categories include both adults and children. This year, the event also includes the highly popular sport of Stand Up Paddling (SUP). There will be more than 1,000 participants, with 500 kids. The SUP events are an open competition and the public is invited to participate. Boards are provided and the entry fee is $20. The event lasts until 4 p.m. around the Belmont Pier in Belmont Shore.
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