2012 Sperry Topsider Charleston Race Week - Begins

Palmetto Flag spinnaker

Sperry shoe store at CRW

Sailors and a C of C cheerleader at beach party

Impromptu jazz band concert at CRW

The 2012 Sperry Topsider Charleston Race Week kicked off with a Captain's Meeting on April 19th, that was followed by the opening beach party. With 250 boats overall registered to sail, the CRW regatta continues to grow into one of the largest races of its kind. The inshore classes will have the largest number of boats with the Viper class having 42 entries and the Melges class, the largest fleet in 2011, having just a few less sailboats. On the offshore courses, which are located beyond the jetties and into the Atlantic Ocean, the larger sailboats will race during the three-day CRW competition. Speaking with John Watkins, who sails on a a Beneteau OC37 named the Andiamo, he said that the ones to watch are Diana C., Bliss and Island Flyer. Furthermore, he tells me that the top competitors in these races know each other very well from past competitions which keeps things interesting on the water. For all the latest CRW results visit the Internet at Yacht Scoring. A special multimedia presentation of the America's Cup races will be presented to the public at 6:30 at Charleston Harbor Marina on Saturday afternoon during the Gosling's Rum Beach Party. The College of Charleston cheerleaders have made their presence known at CRW, and one never knows what kind of fun will break out next!

To view past blog entires on CRW click here.