Race to Bermuda: Colbert, college of building arts president among participants

It all started back in 1996 with an old racing boat, a few beers and dreams of adventure.

Today, the Charleston Bermuda Race is an international event, a 777-mile journey that attracts cowboys, college presidents and even famous TV talk show hosts.

On Saturday, a fleet of 11 boats will set out from Charleston Harbor and tackle the fickle waters of the North Atlantic in what has become a Lowcountry tradition.

"This type of race is not just about getting a trophy, it's to have a good time, enjoy the camaraderie of open-ocean sailing and have a great experience," said Bjorn Johnson, the race director, himself a veteran open-ocean sailor. "It's about getting to start in Charleston and ending up in Bermuda, a couple of pretty nice places. We just want people to go out there and be safe."

The race is open to any sailboat of at least 30 feet. In its past seven editions, the race has attracted as many as 20 boats and as few as six. Local skippers Dave Scully and Robbie Freeman won the inaugural race in 1997. And in 2001, a local crew sailing "Grins" set the course record, sailing the course in three days, three hours, 41 minutes and three seconds.

This year's competition is about as varied as it comes. Local attorney and businessman Rob Turkewitz will sail his 44-foot First Light with a crew of six others, including American College of the Building Arts President Colby Broadwater. Turkewitz is using his campaign to raise money and awareness for the college, which promotes a message of sustainability that he finds particularly appealing.

"I'm a big supporter of the college's mission and so we pulled together a crew that has attracted friends and colleagues to become honorary crew members," Turkewitz said. To donate or become an honorary crew member, go to www.buildingartscollege.us.

Wyoming ranchers Dan Alonso and Kathy Reckling will sail their 49-foot sloop, Halcyon. Although Alonso has raced offshore in the past, it will be the first double-handed competition for the couple.

"Although Halcyon is an offshore, cruising yacht, we thought that participating in racing events would be a lot of fun and that the Charleston Bermuda Race would be a great way to get the boat back to Newport (R.I.) for the summer," Reckling said.

Several locals are coming back for another Charleston Bermuda Race. Local skipper Hank Hofford will make his fifth run in the race, and former resident Stephen Colbert will make his second attempt. In 2005, just before the comedian's show "The Colbert Report" hit the air, he sailed as crew aboard a boat that lost its sanitation system, ran out of fuel and reached Hamilton, Bermuda, two days after the race's awards ceremony. The crew had to listen to the festivities on the radio.

This time, Colbert will skipper the Spirit of Juno, a yacht owned by OnDeck Group US, the race's title sponsor.

Of course, the fact that Colbert is the host of a popular political talk show on Comedy Central has brought a great deal of attention to this year's race.

"We've seen a remarkable increase in interest regarding the race, both from the public and potential participants," said Richard Speer, CEO of OnDeck US. "Much of that interest is due to the fact that Stephen Colbert ... will be competing, yet it's also due to the fact that both Charleston and Bermuda are exceptionally beautiful places to visit."

The race has its origins with two local sailors, David Browder and Rick Hennigar. While refitting a 40-footer Browder had bought, they talked about racing it.

"At some point, we stumbled upon the idea of creating a race of our own," Hennigar said, "and that's about when David said, 'Bermuda, that's where we should go.' "

It has grown from those humble beginnings into a race sponsored by the South Carolina Maritime Foundation and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, with OnDeck managing as title sponsor. The idea, Johnson said, is to eventually turn Charleston Bermuda into one of the premier offshore races in the Southeast, a competition that attracts 30 or 40 entrants for the biennial race.

And the race director believes Charleston Bermuda is on its way.

The race starts at 1 p.m. Saturday in the harbor near James Island. Right now, the weather appears to hold light to moderate winds for the fleet. Johnson figures most of the boats should arrive within a week, well in time for the May 29 awards ceremony.

And that means Colbert will likely not have to listen to the ceremony over the radio this time.