Frustrated fleets of high-speed boats on Alpha course waited in vain for brisk wind to arrive Sunday

2008 Turkey Day Regatta Alamitos Bay Yacht Club Long Beach, Calif. Nov. 22-23, 2008

Nov. 23, 2008 A turkey for Germany, double helping for Glasers

LONG BEACH, Calif.---Michael Zittlau of Germany had never sailed in the USA and probably never celebrated Thanksgiving in his homeland, but he's glad he sailed in Alamitos Bay Yacht Club's annual Turkey Day Regatta, anyway.

But when his peers back home asked what kind of trophy he collected, they may be puzzled when he tells them: "A turkey."

Zittlau, 20, of Ueberlingen, outsailed 29 other Laser full-rigs in conditions far less than ideal, with dense fog Saturday and winds so light Sunday that photography looked more like oil paintings. Laser winner Michael Zittlau of Germany accepts his turkey from "I like strong winds," Zittlau, 20, said after suffering with his ABYC commodore Merle Asper peers.

Nevertheless, he figured out that the key to success when the zephyrs dip to 2-3 knots and swing left and right by up to 60 degrees "the most important thing is to keep the boat moving. When the wind is so light and shifting like that you have to look ahead to where the water is stirring to know where to go."

Zittlau came over to visit a cousin San Diego and hooked up with Andrew Campbell, the U.S. Olympic Laser coach who arranged for him to borrow a boat from the San Diego Yacht Club.

He has been sailing a Laser five years and won the Europe Cup for the class earlier this year, lifting his hopes for representing Germany in the Olympics in England in 2012. Jay (r.) and Pease Glaser won a double helping of birds "I'm trying to get there," he said. "I'm in a youth group in Germany and am sailing as much as I can."

A turnout of 319 boats---believed to be a record for the event launched in 1948---

The 19 fleets included sailors from four countries---one each from Germany (Michael Zittlau, Laser), Italy (Stephen Fuccillo, Finn) and New Zealand (Nigel Morris, Laser).

Class leaders Naples Sabot-A boats run the line Alpha course

29ER (8 boats)---Max Fraser/David Lienberg, San Francisco, 1-1, 2 points.

A-CAT (9)---Jay Glaser, ABYC, 1-2-1, 3.

FORMULA 18 (5)---Pease Glaser/Damon LaCasella, ABYC, 1- 1-2, 4.

HOBIE 16 (8)---John Hauser/Linda Hauser, Huntington Beach, 3-1, 4. Dan DeLave and Eileen Haubl chase F- 18 winners Pease Glaser and Damon INTERNATIONAL 14 (11)---Paul Galvez/Guillermo Leon de la Casella Barra, ABYC, 1-1, 2.

OLSON 30 (7)---Allan Rosenberg, ABYC, 2-1, 3.

Bravo course

Cal 20 (11)---Patty Nash, ABYC, 2-2-6, 10.

LASER FULL (30)---Michael Zittlau, Germany, 4-2-7-2, 15.

LASER RADIAL (65)---Chris Barnard, NHYC, 1-1, 2. Conrad Brown of California YC coaxes his Finn to first place MERCURY 18 (13)---Chris Raab/Kenny Dair, ABYC/NHYC, (3)-1-1-2-1, 5.

CORONADO 15 (4)---Vincent Paternoster/Pat Soria, Marina Sailing, 2-1, 3.

FINN (12)---Conrad Brown, California YC, 2-(3)-1-2-1, 6.

Bay course

NAPLES SABOT A (25)---Connor Kelter, NHYC, 3-3-(6)-1-2-3, 12.

Paris Henken and Nina Malingri SABOT B (25)---Steven Hopkins, ABYC, (5)-2-1-1-3-2, 9. finished third in 29ers

SABOT C-1 (16)---Richard Bell, ABYC, 3-1-(4)-1-2-2, 9.

SABOT C-2 (17)---Ryan Ratliffe, Mission Bay YC, 7-(12)-1-2-1- 7, 18. SABOT C-3 (23)---Max Brill, Mission Bay YC, 3-2-4-1-1-(10), 11.

LIDO 14-A (12)---Whit Batchelor/Erin Robertson, San Diego YC, 2-1-8-1-(11)-1, 13.

LIDO 14-B (16)---Dave Smith/Jeanne Smith, ABYC, 2-2- (7)-2-5-1, 12.

Complete results, photos and other information

ABYC's Ryan and Ross Butcher raced MEDIA CONTACT in Lido-B with autographed sail from Rich Roberts the class champs 310.835.2526 Cell 310.766.6547 [email protected] High resolution photos

Complete results