California annual races draw thousands of sailors and runners

The 53rd Santa Barbara to King Harbor offshore sailing race took place this weekend, featuring more than 85 teams from across California. Dirk Freeland and his crew on the 31‑foot boat Full Send won the 78‑boat Performance Handicap Racing Fleet with a corrected time of 8 hours 41 minutes, building on a close second‑place finish the previous year.

The 54th Wharf to Wharf road race in Santa Cruz County attracted over 16,000 participants along the six‑mile coastal course from Live Oak to Capitola. Runners enjoyed near‑perfect weather, live music and community support, while the event raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local youth programs.

Both races highlight the strong tradition of large‑scale athletic events in California, drawing significant local participation and charitable contributions.