(Charleston, SC)- Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week has a reputation
for consistent, solid breeze. In fact, Charleston’s great wind is one
of the big reasons this event has grown so spectacularly over the past
decade. It was on the eve of the regatta when most weather models
predicted big breeze for the start of racing on Friday, with Sunday
promising similarly apocalyptic conditions. And that is exactly what the
2013 edition received.With the 287 teams scattered about on harbor and offshore courses, race organizers were eager to seize the day, completing 3 to 4 races in Friday’s 15-30 knot winds. Saturday’s moderate breezes and calm seas allowed for some recovery, but it was another 3 to 4 race day to insure each fleet was given the chance to sort out the pecking order in the standings. With the podium positions far from certain, Sunday looked to be the determining factor if not for one thing: the forecast. If Friday’s winds were “monster”, there really wasn’t an appropriate superlative to describe what happened Sunday morning. Rapidly increasing winds and huge seas offshore (8 feet at the mouth of Charleston Harbor) prompted the principal race officers to cancel all competition offshore. Inshore, the race committees set up courses and attempted to get races going on all three courses, but the action was quickly cancelled for everyone.
Marking
its debut in dramatic fashion, the 55 boat J/70 fleet was the largest
at the regatta by nearly 50%! The level of competition was incredibly
close and positions could change dramatically leg to leg as entire packs
of boats would gain and lose on each shift, such was the tightness of
the fleet. While upwind speed for most boats was quite close, it was
off-the-wind, particularly in the planing conditions, where
boat-handling and pure speed were permitting some teams to make dramatic
gains even on the short 0.7 to 0.9 nm downwind legs. In the end, Key
West Race Week winner, Tim Healy skippering HELLY HANSEN, sailed an
excellent regatta, staying out of trouble and out of the corners to
compile a consistent series to take the J/70s with all top five finishes
as counters. Just behind them was Jud Smith sailing RELATIVE
OBSCURITY, themselves also counting top five finishes in their scoreline
to finish second with 21 pts net, just two back from Healy. Sailing in
their first big J/70 regatta, Henry Filter dragged "Moose" Mclintock
aboard as tactician to put together a great series to finish third
overall with 36 pts. The balance of the top five saw St Pete NOOD
Regatta winner, Joel Ronning on CATAPULT, take fourth overall and the
team on STAMPEDE led by Bruno Pasquinelli (2nd at Key West Race Week)
took fifth. 
In
the J/70s Corinthian Division (amateur teams), it was Heather
Gregg-Earl and Joe Bardenheier aboard the beautifully color-coordinated
MUSE/ TEAM ATLANTIS that took the honors over sixteen other teams.
Second was Brian Elliott sailing B-SQUARED and third was Mike Glover and
Robbie Wilkins sailing LUCY, the top local Charleston team in the
regatta.Congratulations to all for job well done! Sailing photo credits- Meredith Block. For more Charleston Race Week sailing information
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