(Charleston, SC)– From the newly, massively, dynamic J/70 fleet to the
revved-up PHRF classes, there was a tremendous amount of racing activity
across Charleston area waters for Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week
on April 11-13; the 19th edition hosted racing for 16 separate classes.The growth of the event drew competitors from 27 states and five continents, from as far away as New Zealand, Scandinavia, Brazil, Guatemala, Australia and Peru. Many of these foreign sailors are among the sport’s top names, including Vasco Vascotto from Italy (in the J/70 Class), 2013 College Sailor of the Year Juan Maegli of Guatemala (in the J/24 Class), Jordan Reese from Australia (in the J/70 Class), and Peruvian Olympic Laser hopeful Stefano Peschiera (in the J/24 Class).
This pantheon of stars notwithstanding, the majority of the competitors racing in Charleston are folks whose faces wouldn’t catch notice on the pages of a sailing magazine, yet they’re definitely capable of scorching up the race course. Elsewhere across fleet, the competition for first in class was much tighter even though the offshore competitors weren’t able to race on Sunday due to a lack of wind. In PHRF A class, the J/111s and J/122 were having an extraordinary battle for the top three. The fight was fought all the way until the final leg of the last race on Saturday. Rob & Ryan Ruhlman’s J/111 SPACEMAN SPIFF again reigned supreme (like they did at Key West Race Week), as not only the top J/Team but also taking 2nd overall in class. Third was Robin Team’s famous J/122 TEAMWORK from North Carolina. Fourth and fifth were J/111 class newcomers Rob Stein on KINETIC and John Yonover’s EVONNE.COM/3. Sailing Photo Credits- Priscilla Parker and Allen Clark/ Photoboat.com. For more Charleston Race Week sailing information
