New Race Village Venue Announced for Charleston Race Week
Organizers of Charleston Race Week are excited to announce a new venue for the Regatta Village, coming up April 20-23, on the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant. A mixture of history and modernity, The USS Yorktown is one of the most beautifully unique event venues in Charleston, offering unparalleled views of Charleston Harbor and the city skyline from the flight deck. On Saturday night, the popular PRO-AM will use the flight deck for viewing. What’s more, the hangar bays provide ample space for sponsor exhibits and special presentations.
All of the other elements that Race Week is known for will be in place – convenient launch and haul; top-notch race management; 3 days of unrivaled competition among 20 classes; educational opportunities and race debriefs sponsored by Quantum Sails; and regatta parties featuring an abundance of Goslings Rum and craft beer from Plankowner Brewing Co. B&G will be onsite for service and have their latest instruments on display. Team One will be here with all the gear you will need for the upcoming season.
2023 Regatta Registration is now open!
Registration is now open for 2023 Charleston Race Week.
Make plans today to combine world-class racing with a family vacation in America's #1 destination city at a regatta unlike any other - April 20-23! Register by Jan. 31st to save $100
Charleston Race Week Delivered Once Again
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Consistent breeze that ranged from light to medium to heavy? Check. Close competition and exciting racing across the broad spectrum of classes? Check. High-quality race committee work? Check.
Factor in three days of beautiful, warm, sunny weather and the 2022 Charleston Race Week demonstrated why sailors come back year after year. Kevin McNeil, Farr 30 Seabiscuit skipper, was a newcomer to this iconic event and came away impressed. "I thought it was a great regatta. The race committee work was outstanding, everyone was very welcoming, and the weather couldn't be any more beautiful," said McNeil. "It truly was champagne sailing."
J/70 Class - Texas skipper Bruno Pasquinelli repeated as champion of the J/70 Class despite racing with a completely different crew than last year. Morgan Reeser served as tactician aboard Stampede, which won two races and finished fifth or better in five others, totaling 42 points – 14 better than runner-up Yonder (Doug Newhouse). Matt Woodworth (trimmer) and Max Skelley (bow) also crewed for Pasquinelli, who won the J/70 Class a year ago with brothers Charlie and Jonathan McKee.
Sunday Race Highlights
Wild, Wacky, And Windy Day On The Water For Race Day 2
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Competitors at Charleston Race Week encountered winds that started fairly light in the morning then steadily built to the low teens. What made Friday’s racing particularly challenging were the significant shifts that, in combination with the always powerful current, kept skippers and tacticians on their toes.
J/70 Class - “It’s crazy, but exciting because you don’t have any knowledge of what’s going to happen next. Things are changing every minute,” said veteran professional sailor Morgan Reeser, who has encountered these types of conditions at Charleston Race Week before.
Reeser is serving as tactician for skipper Bruno Pasquinelli aboard Stampede, along with headsail trimmer Matt Woodworth and bowman Max Skelley. The team adjusted well enough to win two of the four races completed today, and take over the lead in the J/70 Class. Pasquinelli also posted a third and was able to throw out a 29th suffered in the first race of the regatta and now leads the 48-boat fleet with 28 points. That is 10 better than Day 1 leader Yonder, skippered by Doug Newhouse with Jeremy Wilmot calling tactics.
Reeser said there were some 30-degree shifts and those tended to take place upon approach to the windward mark, which was positioned close to a copse of trees off James Island. “We had a wonderful day, even though it was stressful at times,” Reeser said. “On a day like this, it’s more about sailing the course instead of the fleet. You’ve got to sail your own race the whole time because there is so much happening.”