Charleston Race Week - Friday

A weather front passed through Charleston overnight creating windy conditions and producing some light rain. The sailboat racers that are in town for Race Week will tell you - the windier the better - for race conditions. Offshore racers will depart the docks about 8 a.m. in order to get clear of the jetties and practice sailing before the 10 a.m. start. Inshore circuit racers will depart the docks about 9 a.m. ahead of their 10 a.m. start time. The inshore races will average about 20 boats per class, while the offshore races will average about ten boats per class. Charleston Yacht Club's own Mr. Finbar O'Reilly has his Melges 24 boat named Ardor sailing inshore with a five man crew, a class of sailboat the O'Reilly calls 'the Ferrari of sailboats' because of their speed. Team Wanda from N.C. has their Viper 830 entered in the offshore circuit races. Some other interesting boat names include: Mighty Puffin, Big Booty, Hoodoo, The Jackal, For Sail, Huntin' Tripp and Slingblade! Over 200 sailboats will compete in 15 different classes over three days!!

To view my blog from Thrusday at Race Week click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: The Jackal surveys the competitors for easy prey; Harken sailing is offering a Grinder Competition that has already become quite spirited; Team (A Fish Called) WANDA is in town from North Carolina; Gill technical wear (www.Gillna.com) is what most of the teams will be wearing on the water; No matter how many Dark'n'Stormys the sailors request at the shoreside events each evening - Gosling's Rum (www.Goslingsrum.com) is the premiere sponsor of Race Week and they have brought their Dark Rum over from Bermuda by the barrel!