CHARLESTON, SC (April 11, 2012)
America’s largest and fastest growing keelboat regatta
Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week
prepares to welcome more than 2,000 sailors and support staff to Charleston next week.
“More than one hundred volunteers are putting the last pieces in place
for another huge year,” said Randy Draftz, Event Director of Sperry
Top-Sider Charleston Race Week 2012. “Every year we have to work a
little harder to accommodate the growing fleets, and every year, the
payoff is entirely worth it.”
While the inshore courses for smaller racing craft have been operating
at near capacity for the past two years, Draftz and his fellow
organizers are gratified to see the offshore sections for larger yachts
continue to grow – both in size and competitiveness. “We’re excited to
have 11 offshore racing classes now, including a class of grand-prix
racers from 50 to 72 feet,” said Draftz.
He added that the regatta’s new Cruising Class has also provided a huge
draw. Thirteen boats already entered. “Charleston has always been known
for its hospitality, and that means giving our competitors exactly what
they want. In the case of the Cruising Class, that’s a more engaging,
cruiser-friendly race course that will feature a pursuit-race format,”
he explained.
With more than 90 boats expected to participate on the offshore race
courses, there’s excitement all around. One of Sperry Top-Sider
Charleston Race Week’s most successful veterans says he’s anxious for
some grand-prix level competition. Anson Mulder, the tactician on board
Tim Tucker’s Florida Based C&C 115 Rock Star, is the only tactician
ever to have won this regatta’s overall trophy, the Palmetto Cup, three
times in a row.
“I wasn’t able to participate in Charleston for a few years, but when I
came back last year, the level of competition had absolutely
skyrocketed,” said Mulder, who was speaking from St. Barths in the West
Indies, where he had just won his third Caribbean regatta of the
season. Mulder said that Charleston offers the vibe of the big
Caribbean regattas, but with bigger crowds and top-quality
windward-leeward racing thrown in. “Most well-practiced teams love good
windward-leeward courses, and the race committees in Charleston do a
great job of setting good courses and getting lots of races in,” he
added.
For professional sailors like Mulder, Charleston is the place to be in
April. But it’s also the perfect spot for more family-oriented
competitors such as Toronto-based Rob and Sandy Butler, who will bring
their brand new, 38-foot, all carbon-fiber craft – Carbonado – to town.
“We can’t wait to experience Charleston’s offshore courses for the
first time,” said Sandy Butler, who has competed in previous editions
on the inshore courses. “The McConaghy 38 is going to absolutely love
Charleston’s sea breeze, and the bonus is that my son will be sailing
with me.”
Butler’s son Riley, who at age 14 will be attending his first Sperry
Top-Sider Charleston Race Week this year, shares his parents’
excitement. “Sailing really brings us together, especially when we stay
in the RV like we’ll be doing in Charleston. Racing and hanging out
together for the entire event really teaches you a lot about the
character of your crewmates, and I’m just lucky to have the chance to
do it with my family,” he said. Riley is ranked as Canada’s top Laser
sailor under 16.
Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week takes place April 19 - April 22
and is open to all monohull sailboats 20 to 80 feet in length. The
event is owned and managed by Charleston Ocean Racing Association and
is supported by its title sponsor, Sperry Top-Sider, as well as the
Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, Vineyard Vines, and Gosling’s Rum.
Additional sponsors include The Town of Mt. Pleasant, Gill, Coral
Reef Sailing Apparel, Newport Shipyard, North Sails, South Carolina
State Ports Authority, Interlux/Awlgrip, Marlow Ropes, Ltd., and
Charleston Community Sailing, along with West Marine, Pierside
Boatworks, College of Charleston Community Sailing, Harken Yacht
Equipment, Sail Charleston, B&G Simrad, Azalea Moving and Storage, Zip
2 Water, and Lewmar Navtec.
For full scores, photos or additional information regarding the
regatta, log on to the event’s website www.charlestonraceweek.com or
email info@charlestonraceweek.com.
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