29.05.2009
Meaghan Van Liew
Charleston to Bermuda Racers Get Underway
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (May 29, 2009) - With moderate southwesterly winds and
partially cloudy skies setting the stage, the six vessels entered in the Charleston
to Bermuda Race got under way at noon today. All of the entries, including the palmetto
state's own traditional tall ship - the Spirit of South Carolina - made their way
seaward against a waning flood tide, beating out through the Charleston Harbor jetties,
and then bearing away slightly to sail due east toward Bermuda.
With Captain Tony Arrow manning the helm, the Spirit led the fleet, starting 10
minutes ahead of the other boats because she is competing in her own division (the
Exhibition Class). Then, as the second cannon report echoed across Charleston Harbor,
the reindexing competitors harnessed what they could of the light breezes and made
their way across the starting line at the Charleston Maritime center with a shoreside
crowd of well wishers cheering them on.
Many regard this event as much more than a sailing competition. Speaking at A Celebration
of Sail on Thursday night - a reception in honor of this race - Charleston Mayor
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and Bermuda's Deputy Governor Mark Capes in turn described
the race as a catalyst that has cemented the "unique relationship" between their
two communities.
At the reception, Riley reminded listeners that Charlestonians and Bermudians have
much in common. He pointed out that the C2B sailors will be tracing a historic course,
following a "well-traveled route that has long connected people, commerce and culture
between Hamilton and Charleston....It's exciting to be reestablishing this relationship
with Bermuda," continued Riley. "And most exciting that two weeks from now, the
Spirit of South Carolina will be sailing back to Charleston, side by side with the
Spirit of Bermuda, for the first time" both ships with students on board from their
respective countries. Capes echoed those sentiments, calling the "very rich common
history" shared by the two communities "extraordinary."
Capes' description would also fit the collection of entries competing in this biennial
race. Apart from the Spirit, there's Jay Cook's Beneteau 423 Tohidu, which will
be serving as an instructional platform for the Charleston-based Ocean Sailing Academy
with four students on board. Ken Johnson's C&C 40 Grateful Red - the smallest
boat in the fleet - may be crewed by inland sailors, but there's plenty of offshore
experience among that group. Mark DiStefano and his crew on board his 56-foot Swan
Nova, are hoping to settle some unfinished business. They competed in the 2007 edition
of this race, but opted to drop out at the halfway mark. Another C2B veteran, Lee
Edwards and his team on board the chartered Little Harbor 63 Spray, will be sailing
in superb comfort (Spray is equipped with beaucoup amenities and a full-time captain).
And Shelly and Dave Warters, who are sailing aboard their Able Apogee 50 Cadence,
have done plenty of doublehanded sailing but chose to compliment their own sailing
expertise with four friends for a total of six aboard.
As the fleet heads offshore, the boats stand to get a small but significant boost
from a minor frontal system that was sweeping west to east over the Carolinas as
of early Thursday morning. Though thunderstorms were forecast to accompany that
system, more concerning to most of the fleet's navigators is the first tropical
depression of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which had formed on Thursday
some 300 miles east of Cape Hatteras. Regular updates of the fleet's progress will
be available online at the C2B website (www.charlestontobermuda.com)
and those hoping to follow the boats more closely can click on the iboattrack.com
link on the race website.
The Charleston to Bermuda Race is sponsored by Bermuda Tourism, Gosling's Rum, the
Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel, and Bauer International. The event receives vital
support from The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. The race is open to all seaworthy sailboats
30 feet and longer.
The owner and organizing authority for the Charleston to Bermuda Race is the South
Carolina Maritime Foundation (SCMF). SCMF is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose
mission is to offer unique experiential education for South Carolina students, encouraging
responsibility, teamwork, and other attributes that are necessary for developing
future leaders. The foundation's other programs include Charleston Race Week, Charleston
Harbor Fest, The Spirit Ball and the Captain's Cup Golf Tournament.
Official Local Times Across the Start Line:
Spirit of South Carolina 12:00:00
Cadence 12:11:22
Nova 12:11:53
Spray 12:11:58
Tohidu 12:13:00
Gratefully Red 12:17:56
South Carolina Maritime Foundation | PO Box 22405 | Charleston | SC | 29413
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