Racers with thirst for adventure catch breeze

Eighteen sailboats circled the harbor waters Friday behind the starting line, balancing a desire for strategic position with a fear of crossing the line amid an outgoing tide or crashing in the meantime.

When the cannons fired from the Spirit of South Carolina's deck, the boats sped past, battling for placement as they headed past Fort Sumter and into the Atlantic for the biennial Charleston to Bermuda Race.

With winds averaging 12 to 14 knots, the Charleston-based Kintaro was first to cross the line, but Gryphon Solo from Rhode Island was leading the way out of the harbor, race officials said.

With 777 nautical miles to sail en route to Hamilton, Bermuda, a good start is not imperative in order to win, but then again, winning isn't crucial to a good race either, said race organizer Tripp Fellabom.

"The fun is in the destination, where you are going, and the challenge of three to five days on the water facing whatever Mother Nature can throw at you," he said. "It's more about the experience."

This year's Charleston to Bermuda Race is the sixth one, and it has grown from five boats to 18, with competitors sailing in from around the country. The race is competitive, but most sailors are there for a good time with their sailing comrades. The race can last from three to seven days, depending on the sails, ship build, skill on board and, of course, the weather.

Local sailor Jimmy Dye is navigator aboard the 41-foot-long Rahma and said he didn't hesitate to compete this year after previously sailing the race.

"Because last time we had a blast," he said. The seven-member crew will keep a video journal of their trip to laugh about after the race and plan to fish for tuna and dolphin along the way.

"We're hoping to be there between Tuesday and Wednesday," Dye said. "Well, Tuesday might be aggressive."

As for Teddy Turner, he is scaling back and slowing down in his fourth Charleston to Bermuda Race. To him, that means sailing on a catamaran cruiser, rather than a mono-hull racing boat, and sleeping eight hours a night on the trip, rather than four.

"I'm trying to change my life from flat-out, crazy racing to enjoying it," Turner said. "I'm trying to step back and get with the family. It is really more fun to go fast, but no one believes that in my family."

So instead of taking his boat that makes sailing feel "like camping in the rain," he's chosen a more comfortable ride with a TV and washer and dryer. But even with the cruiser boat, "Reason," the adventure element will be just as strong, he said.

"The most dangerous thing we do is drive to work," he said. "That's kind of silly. There's no adventure in that. When you go into the ocean, you can plan all you want, but the ocean is going to do what it wants to do. You are definitely at the mercy of the seas. I've hit a whale, I've had broken sails, broken halyards, lost two tips of my fingers. It's an adventure, a great adventure."

Reach Jamie McGee at 745-5856 or jmcgee@postandcourier.com.