For the first time since 2004, the Coos Bay Yacht Club is hosting this year’s San Juan 21 Western Nationals on Tenmile Lake. About 30 of the 21-foot boats will begin a series of races through a course on the lake Friday starting at noon. The final two races of the event are scheduled for Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.

Several local crews are entered in the event, and members of the Coos Bay club have a long history of placing high in the Western Nationals, which rotates to different locations each year.

“We have a pretty competitive group here,” said event organizer Sam Roth.

Last year when the race took place at Huntington Lake near Fresno, Calif., for example, three teams from Coos Bay placed high: Tom and Jean Kyle took second; John and Kathy Richards placed third; and Sam and Debbie Roth were fourth. The Coos Bay contingent was outdone only by former Olympian Robert Anderson.

The races will feature two kinds of boats: “working sails”  class boats, with just a main sail and jib, and “all-sails,” which also have a spinnaker sail.

In the past, the race has been a popular excuse for people to get out to the lake — bringing about 70 spectators in 2004.

“A lot of people like to go out on their boats and watch,” said Roth. “Others watch from the point.”

The yacht club will be open to the public throughout the races.

“We invite people to come out. And, of course, we’re looking for people interested in boating who want to get involved.”

More information is available by calling the Coos Bay Yacht Club at 756-1768 or logging on to www.coosbayyachtclub.org.