29th Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point - Preview
by Charleston Race Week 8 Apr 03:42 NZST
April 10-13, 2025
One of 18 Classes participating across six courses, the Melges 32 Class is alive and well at Charleston Race Week 2025 at Patriots Point © Tim Wilkes Photography / timwilkes.com
Over the course of nearly three decades, Charleston Race Week 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. They also appreciate that regatta organizers are constantly coming up with ways to improve the regatta experience, periodically introducing new and different elements to keep things fresh.
Tried and true traditions will be bolstered by new innovations during the 29th edition of Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point, being held April 10-13. Competitors can expect another exciting three days of racing with entries spanning 18 classes across six courses.
As usual, there will be a robust turnout in several one-design classes with 29 boats in J/70, 23 in Melges 24, 16 in J/105, 15 in VX One, 14 in J/24 and 10 each in J/22 and Melges 32. Meanwhile, there will be Offshore Racing for the ORC A and B classes and Offshore Pursuit Racing in three divisions (non-Spinnaker, A and B). A PHRF Inshore fleet features five boats that call Charleston their home port.
"Consistency is what makes Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point so iconic. We take pride in always delivering the experience our competitors expect," longtime event director Randy 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 third 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 Chip Till (Circle One), Mark Deguire (Circle Two), Matt Hill (Circle Three), Bruce Bingman (Circle Five) and Ray Redniss (Pursuit Course).
"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."
Staying true to their mission of developing better sailors, Charleston Race Week organizers have brought in National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee and two-time America's Cup winner Ed Baird to deliver the daily debriefs and assist meteorologist Shea Gibson with the morning forecasts.
Both the daily post-race debriefs and weather forecasts are sponsored by Hudnall Financial Advisors. Gibson is a member of the WeatherFlow Tempest Forecasting Team and highly respected in the industry. Baird will be joined for the debriefs by Marty Kullman, a seasoned professional with Evolution Sails.
"I'm looking forward to joining the racing activities in Charleston again this year," Baird said. "It's always challenging to get the strategy right in the current and with the geographical shifts, but it's a ton of fun to be with so many sailors who are ready to be done with winter and get back on the water. I'm very excited to be part of the action."
Additionally, Charleston local Greg Fisher, a longtime professional sailmaker, will be out on the water for practice racing and fine-tuning boats each day. Fisher, a current Evolution pro who was just announced as a National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee, has won 25 national, North American and world championships in seven different classes.
Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point is using Vakaros Race Sense software to manage the starts and finishes, ensuring all races are run smoothly. Featuring the Atlas 2 technology, Vakaros Race Sense has been utilized at more than 300 major regattas.
For the second time, Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point has partnered with the South Carolina Ports Authority to provide launching and hauling service. Last year, the professional personnel with the South Carolina Ports Authority simplified the logistics of attending race week.
Owners can pay for the launch and haul service through YachtScoring and it is important to do so as organizers use the registration list to measure what assets will be needed at the facility. Participating skippers will be notified in advance of the schedule.
Team One Newport returns as the official clothier sponsor of Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point and already has branded gear available online. Preorder now by visiting the Team One Newport Regatta Store, but company founder Martha Parker will have her machines onsite to customize crew gear.
B&G Sailing Instruments will be back with technician Matt Fries available to answer questions about the latest calibration tips and assist with any other inquiries. Fries has great familiarity with the entire range of B&G products.
A reminder to boat owners and crews to order your additional event passes for $150. For that price, you get three meals and an open bar all four nights. To purchase passes, visit here.
Charleston and Mount Pleasant are famous worldwide for the vast array of fine dining options available. Many people come to the area just for the incredible food offerings and a long list of restaurants with international reputations for excellence.
"Mount Pleasant is honored to host such a prestigious international event in our community. Race Week's partnership with Patriots Point makes it the most unique regatta in the world," Mount Pleasant mayor Will Haynie said. "I have many great memories of competing in it myself for years, and our residents love the sight of so many sailboats out on the harbor."