25th anniversary regatta celebrates the return of grand prix racing

Charleston Race Week is back and excited to finally celebrate its 25th anniversary after not being able to do last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We have been thrilled to the response from the national sailing community to the return of this iconic regatta and will be introducing several new features designed to enhance the racing experience.

Because of COVID, 2020 was a difficult year for sailboat racing with almost all regional, grand prix regattas getting canceled and many local events also falling by the wayside. We’ve heard from many competitive sailors who are anxious to finally get back on the water and compete.

To help all participants get back up to speed quickly, Charleston Race Week will be providing Trac Trac devices that deliver live tracking using the latest technology. Trac Trac is an innovative analytical tool that records each boat’s performance and displays various metrics online in real time.

This marks the first time Charleston Race Week has implemented live tracking on all five courses. The Trac Trac device will be included in your registration packet along with an instruction sheet.

We will also need a point of contact for each crew to reach out if there are any reception issues. Skippers will be responsible for charging their tracker each night and returning it to the boat the next morning. These devices are not 100 percent fool-proof and sometimes need resetting or swapping out.

In addition to live tracking, Charleston Race Week will also introduce on-course observers to provide expert commentary and analysis. These seasoned professionals will offer interesting insights and observations about various aspects of racing.

Also, Quantum Sail Design Group will have its team of professionals on site to deliver daily weather briefings, discuss tactics and strategy or answers any other questions sailors might have.

While COVID-19 continues to pose a threat throughout the world, Charleston Race Week management is confident social-distancing, mask-wearing and handwashing will allow for a successful and safe three days of racing.

Unfortunately, social gatherings remain risky with state and local government officials advising against such activity. As a result, there will be no post-race events this year. However, bars and restaurants around Charleston and Mount Pleasant are open and ready to welcome sailors for small crew gatherings.

For 2021, the full focus of organizers will be placed on providing top-notch racing on all courses.

Charleston Race Week will not require competitors to undergo COVID-19 testing. However, regatta organizers are asking all sailors to fill out a personal information form that will be used exclusively for contact tracing purposes in the event of a reported positive test. There will also be daily health questionnaire as the management team performs its due diligence to ensure there is no outbreak.

Regatta organizers have already planned a couple of Zoom presentations with plenty more to come, so make sure you are on the Charleston Race Week email list and that your mobile number in Yacht Scoring is accurate so we can keep you updated.

As always, don't hesitate to reach out to Charleston Race Week management with any questions or concerns. Thank you for attending.