Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point Celebrates 30th Anniversary
Charleston/Mt. Pleasant, SC (2026 April 16) - by Bill Wagner. Over the course of three decades, Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point has developed a proven reputation that brings elite sailors back year after year.
Beautiful weather, top-notch race management, intense competition, challenging conditions and a destination city are the core components that participants can count on. Those staples have kept Charleston Race Week going strong while many other major regattas have fallen by the wayside.
History is being made this year as the 30th edition of Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point is being held April 16-19. Competitors can expect another exciting three days of racing with entries spanning 14 classes across five courses (three inshore, two offshore).
“We are thrilled and honored to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Charleston Race Week,” longtime event director Randy Draftz said. “Everyone involved is extremely proud of the product we have created and continue to deliver. We have set a standard with this regatta that has earned Charleston Race Week a worldwide reputation.”
As usual, there will be a robust turnout in several one-design classes with 31 boats in J/70, 24 in Melges 24, 12 in J/105 and 11 each in J/24 J/22. Meanwhile, there will be offshore competition for four Pursuit classes (Spinnaker A, Spinnaker B, Main & Jib, Multihull) along with ORC A.
“Consistency is what makes Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point so iconic. We take pride in always providing the experience our competitors expect,” Draftz said. “Exceptional racing conditions, a strong sense of community and a unique blend of competition and celebration are what make this a regatta unlike any other!”
For the fourth straight year, the daily post-race party will be held aboard the historic USS Yorktown, a floating museum berthed at Patriots Point. Participants and guests will have access to the entire ship, while enjoying refreshments provided by Regatta Craft Mixers, Mount Gay Rum and Mount Pleasant-based Westbrook Brewing.
Southern Bear Catering, an award-winning firm and consistent Charleston’s Choice winner, will once again deliver delicious food. Crew members dehydrated from sailing all day or drinking all night will be grateful that Biolyte will be on hand to provide rehydration.
“We can’t thank the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum and USS Yorktown enough for hosting our shoreside activities aboard this incredible museum,” Draftz said.
Charleston Harbor, with its consistent breeze and tricky currents, has a well-earned reputation as one of the finest sailboat racing venues in North America. Skippers and tacticians that have competed at Charleston Race Week many times still find the conditions challenging.
Managing the courses set at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers is a strong team of principal race officers that are among the best in the business — knowledgeable, experienced and extremely professional.
Taran Teague returns as the overall principal race officer and is a proven commodity with so many previous editions of Charleston Race Week under her belt. She is bringing back five trusted lieutenants in Matt Hill (Circle One), Chip Till (Circle Two), Mark DeGuire (Circle Three), Bruce Bingman (Circle Five) and Ray Redniss (Circle Six).
“One of the best aspects of Charleston Race Week is that the on-water management team consists of many current and former racers that know what competitors want,” Teague said. “This is a very experienced race committee team featuring folks from Annapolis Yacht Club, Eastport Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club and the Storm Trysail Club with support from all the Charleston Harbor clubs and officials.”
Once again providing daily wind and current information is Shea Gibson, a member of the WeatherFlow Tempest Forecasting Team and highly respected in the industry. Gibson will be assisted by Charleston local Greg Fisher, a longtime professional sailmaker and 2025 inductee into the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
Team One Newport returns as the official clothier sponsor of Charleston Race Week and has a wide selection of branded gear available online. Company founder Martha Parker will be on site to customize gear crew gear.
B&G Sailing Instruments is back with technician Matt Fries available to answer questions about the latest calibration tips and assist with any other inquiries.
