Here's your SpinSheet racing roundup for April 21-23.
Light air and strong currents marked the end of the three-day Sperry Charleston Race Week, yesterday, Sunday, April 23. Chesapeake sailors succeeded again at the popular spring event.
At the awards ceremony on the beach late Sunday afternoon, the overall award for the best performance in an ORC Class went to Mike Beasley and his Annapolis-based crew of Joe Gibson, Ted and Joanna Haaland, Scott Gibb, and Ty Van Dalen on Beasley’s GP 26 Rattle n Rum. Beasley and his crew were awarded the prestigious and historic Palmetto Cup for winning the tightest class in the handicap divisions.
“We have always loved racing here in Charleston,” said Beasley, “and this year was especially fun with more boats, great breeze, and tough competition. We sailed well, but we were pushed all the time, and with ratings giving everyone a fair shot, we could not relax in any race. Starts were important, and finding the right opportunities to dig back if you got behind. We are looking forward to more ORC Sportboat racing in the future.”
CRW’s event director Randy Draftz was optimistic about the new rating rule after speaking to the competitors. “I feel the system performed well, giving us fair racing, good results and a level of transparency we could not get from other systems. This was a valuable addition to our event,” he said.
Further enforcing Charleston’s reputation for setting the trends in US racing, the 2017 edition saw a big influx in the number of all-female teams and all-junior teams, with three crews made up entirely of College of Charleston sailors and three more made up of under-21 teams.
Longtime Race Week competitor and Annapolis racer Kristen Robinson took a break from the course this year, riding a powerboat to watch the crew of 17 and 18-year olds to whom she loaned her J/70 Skyline Racing for the week.
“It was the best thing I’ve ever done with my boat,” said Robinson. “We talk all the time about these young sailors leaving the sport after school, and this could be one solution to keeping them engaged and involved and growing the sport again.”
Chesapeake podium finishers included:
1st place ORC C Mike Beasley on the GP 26 Rattle n Rum
3rd place ORC C Hawk Caldwell on the Henderson 30 Short Bus
1st place ORC B Gerry Taylor on the Cape Fear Tangent
2nd place ORC A Robin Team on the J/22 Teamwork (Chesapeake crew)
3rd place ORC A Ian Hill on the XP 44 Sitella
3rd place ORC D Steve Young on the B35 Project Mayhem
3rd place in J/24 Tony Parker on Bangor Packet
2nd place in J/80 Ken Mangano on Mango
2nd place in Melges 24 Travis Weisleder on Lucky Dog/ Gill Race Team
1st place in J/70 Joel Ronning's Catapult (coached by Fuzz Spanhake)
2nd place J/70 Gannon Troutman on Pied Piper
*** If we have missed a boat filled with Bay sailors, email [email protected], and we’ll add it to the list. If you have a tale to tell about CRW, tell us about it.
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April 29 Annapolis YC Spring One Design
April 30 NASS Spring Race
*** Did we miss a regatta your club is hosting? Why not tell us about it? We’re happy to put it on our calendar.
What's up next?
You know what! The Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta May 5-7. See ya on the water!
