Spectacular M32 catamarans coming to Charleston Race Week
Spectacular high-performance catamarans will be racing around Charleston Harbor next month – blasting past Patriot’s Point Marina at speeds approaching 30 knots.
Spectators watching from the water, marina docks or onshore will be thrilled by the sight of 32-foot multihulls flying around a short course set in the area approaching Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.
The M32 is coming to 2019 edition of Charleston Race Week, adding another thrilling element to an already action-packed event. Class organizers brought two of the high-speed catamarans to last year’s regatta to assess the logistics and came away determined to add Charleston Race Week to the annual racing schedule.
“Charleston checks so many of the boxes we look for in venues – nice conditions, easy logistics, a fun city with great night life and a rocking beach party!” said Dave Doucett, Director of M32 North America. “We did some test racing there last year and absolutely had a blast. We are looking forward to bringing a strong fleet and enjoying some exciting racing in a beautiful locale.”
New “Hybrid Pursuit” Course in the Works at SCRW
There has been much discussion over the years regarding the offshore race courses at SCRW. Many former offshore boats have been choosing to race in the Pursuit class versus the offshore circles. This could be due to a variety of reasons - a later start time; a more flexible course; and an earlier finish time in the harbor, convenient to the regatta headquarters.
To accommodate the suggestions and desires of offshore boats, the regatta organizers have created another pursuit course called “Hybrid Pursuit.” This course will replace offshore Circle Five and be open to racer/cruisers using ORC and One Design. The new course will provide up to three individual races per day as conditions allow. The first race will be a pursuit race starting at the pursuit course starting line (inshore) and finishing out in the ocean where a windward/leeward course will be set up for race number two. Race number three will be a race back into the harbor, finishing at the pursuit finish line, in close proximity to the regatta headquarters. (Sample course diagram below.)
RS21 Charters Avaliable For Charleston Race Week
Over the next two months RS are excited to offer RS21 charter opportunities for Charleston Race Week.
The RS21 is the newest model from RS Sailing, the world’s largest small sailboat manufacturer with a mission to get more people sailing. The RS21 provides a high stability hull, user-friendly rig and well-balanced helm for between two and four people to race. Not only is the RS21 a pleasure to sail, RS Sailing dramatically reduced the carbon footprint associated with production of the boat by building a hull made from eco-friendly materials.
Sailing World editor, Dave Reed, expressed his enthusiasm towards the introduction of an RS21 fleet: “As a boat that’s designed and built for fleet racing, match racing or team racing, it’s a perfect fit for our regattas. The charter and coaching concept is an excellent and economical way for teams to come and race, to learn and experience a truly modern keelboat.”
Charlseton Race Week, 11-14 April, is the premier multi-class sailing regatta in America and offers three days of excellent competition, evening debriefs and parties. You can now enter with an early registration discount and book your RS21 charter boat via the RS Sailing store website for $2,500.00 per boat. This will also include on day of training on the 10 April.
This is a great opportunity for sailors to experience world-class racing in a rewarding and exciting environment with the RS21.
Best Practices for Race Management Forum
The Best Practices of Race Management Forum was held on January 12, from 9-5 at Charleston Yacht Club. The forum can be attended via Zoom Web-conferencing at zoom.us/j/401266410.
Topics covered included: Starting Best Practices; Course Management; Mark Management; On Water Safety; On Water Umpiring; and Race Management Operations.
It's a Wrap!
There was an interesting dynamic taking place on the docks Sunday morning.
Some of the boats competing in Sperry Charleston Race Week 2018 were getting ready to go racing with sailors pulling on foul weather gear in anticipation of heavy air and rough seas. Meanwhile, a bunch of other boats were in breakdown mode with sailors packing up gear and carrying sails down the dock.
That unique dichotomy was the result of a split decision by event organizers in response to a severe storm that was due to hit Charleston on Sunday afternoon. After carefully reviewing weather reports and consulting with overall principal race officer Hank Stuart, event director Randy Draftz decided to conduct racing for certain classes while cancelling the final day of action for others.
Sperry Charleston Race Week organizers announced in the morning that competition in nine of the 10 one-design classes along with ORC C, which is comprised of smaller sportboats. Meanwhile, Stuart and his team elected to allow the two Pursuit Race classes to complete a condensed course out into the Atlantic Ocean and back. Meanwhile, the three classes on Circle 5 (J/105, ORC A, ORC B) came into Charleston Harbor for a windward-leeward course of approximately nautical miles.
Draftz said the main reason for cancelling competition for the smaller boats was concern about the haul out process. Draftz had to consider the possibility of a severe thunderstorm hitting Charleston just as boats were beginning to be lifted out of the water and put onto trailers.