2016 Charleston Race Week - Saturday Sailing

Inshore Race Start on Saturday morning

Here is the Charleston Race Week press release after Saturday Sailing:

Race Director Randy Draftz on Saturday afternoon

Friday’s wintery conditions were barely a memory after today’s picture-perfect Day 2 at Sperry Charleston Race Week, with 15-20 knots of wind inshore and over 20 outside the jetties. The conditions allowed for racing across all the courses at the spring’s premier event despite seas that ranged from ‘bumpy’ to ‘scary’ according to crews returning from the offshore race course.

Sailing in handicap racing Class B, Frickie Martschink and Bill MacKenzie’s crew on board their J/105 RumFront out of Charleston said the racing was great “The ride out was pretty rough, but once on the course, conditions were not easy, but good for racing,” said Martschink, who said the highlight of his day was rounding the top mark and setting the asymmetrical spinnaker. “Once we got that set, we were smoking, and what a blast…well, until we had a little issue getting the kite down.” 

Among Martschink’s competition in the 10-boat class is his brother Miles, who helms an identical J/105 named Skimmer.  “We’re going to make sure our crew work is clean and quick tomorrow so we can be sure to beat my brother,” said Martschink.

Overhead waves against the tide caused problems for even the most seasoned sailors, but it was the crew of the Circle 5 Race Committee boat that faced the biggest challenge on Saturday.  After the first race of the day, a huge wave launched the 36-foot offshore fishing boat into the air, seriously injuring two crew. With transfer to a safety boat impossible in the rough water, the race officials were forced to return to shore, ending the day for Circle 5 after one race. 

Event Director Randy Draftz expects to move the racing deadline to help get in as much racing on Sunday as possible. “While we’re extremely sorry that racing was called early on Circle 5, we’re glad our on-course volunteers are safe and sound on shore after a freak accident,” said Draftz.  “Sunday we'll make up for it with three great races – I guarantee it!” he added with a smile. More importantly, Draftz says his race management team will learn from the incident. “When the waves are up, patient transfer is a real problem offshore, so we’ll need to work with our safety experts to come up with a solution to today’s issues without a loss of racing time.

Different size boats mix on Course Two

To view blog entries from 2016 Charleston Race Week click Sailing Begins

To view past blog entries from Charleston Race Week click on 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Daily Winners on Saturday

Shoreside crowds at the Charleston Harbor Resort