Sail-A-Thon to Help Casa Pacifica Center

Sailors will be out in force Saturday at the Westlake Yacht Club’s third annual charity Sail-A-Thon to raise funds for the Casa Pacifica Children’s Crisis Center.

The marathon features teams of two or more people navigating a course on Westlake Lake from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Prizes will go to winning teams as well as to the individual who raises the most in sponsorships.

Donations collected--based on total laps sailed or on a minimum of laps for the day--will benefit the crisis center in Camarillo.

The first Sail-A-Thon raised more than $14,000 for the center. Last year, the event raised more than $12,500, which was used to purchase a van for the children, said race chairwoman Susan Artof.

Awards will be given in three divisions: adults; juniors 18 and younger; and for the first time, electric boats along a special course. Trophies will be given to the junior sailor who collects the most in pledges before the start of the race, and to the team that sails the most laps.

Registration will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on race day, with a $5 fee. A mandatory skippers’ meeting will be soon after, with the starting flag at 11.

Sailors from the Southern California Yachting Assn. and United States Sailing Assn. are expected to attend.

In addition to the race, participants and the public are invited to a $2 continental breakfast, a $3 lunch and an $8 dinner on the lake.

Visitors may participate in a lottery to guess the total number of laps achieved by all the sailors.