Entries for ocean race formidable

Will Haynie

Special to The Post and Courier

Friday, February 22, 2008

The tremendous changes in sailing technology and sailboat design since the last iteration of the Fort Lauderdale-Charleston Race will be graphically demonstrated by some of the latest entrants in this year's re-inauguration of the once-popular ocean race.

Now the fleet boasts the entry of Roger Sturgeon's boat Rosebud, the new STP 65 that just won the world famous Sydney-Hobart Race in Australia. This new class of boats is built under the box rule created by leading offshore racing clubs the Storm Trysail Club and the Transpacific Yacht Club. The Storm Trysail Club is one of the host clubs of the race to Charleston. The box rule was created to encourage high-performance, light-displacement, fixed keel yachts within set parameters for both inshore and offshore racing. Sturgeon formerly raced a Transpac 52 by the same name, and the new STP class was modeled after the Transpac class of boats.

Fort Lauderdale-Charleston is an official leg of the 2008 US-IRC Gulf Stream Series, in which IRC boats earn points for placement in a series of races. Charleston-based race organizer Crayton Walters is pleased with the latest entrants. "Our goal for this first year has been 12-15 boats, and it looks like we'll be close to that number," he said. "STP 65s like Rosebud represent he latest design and sailing technology, and though this race may be relatively small, as part of the IRC Gulf Stream series, it will grow. It has all sorts of potential. Decades ago, it used to be a really big deal."

The latest entry list from www.fortlauderdale-charlestonrace.org shows the range of boats set to compete. At least three more grand prix thoroughbreds are expected to enter the race.

1. USA 42725, Bandana, David Wallace, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., USA, Oyster 48

2. USA 715, Chasing Rainbows, Del Wiese, Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., USA, Hunter Legend 37

3. USA 52359, Esprit, Floyd Bryan, Indialantic, Fla., USA, sloop 41.3'

4. USA 28533, Mostly Harmless, Chris Woolsey, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA, SR 33

5. USA 55155, Rima2, John Brim, New York, N.Y., USA, RP 55

6. USA 60065, Rosebud, Roger Sturgeon, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., USA, STP65

7. USA 20200, Time..., David Burnham, East Palatka, Fla., USA, Camper & Nicholson 3/4 Ton 32'

8. USA 28600, Tyche, Tony Magee, Redondo Beach, Calif., USA, Swan 57 CB Ketch

9. USA 50789, Willy Nilly, Lowell Cox, Prestonsburg, Ky., USA, Beneteau 30

Mt. P Sailing Center

About 30 people committed to a sailing program in Mount Pleasant attended Wednesday's Fair Winds Forum at the Creek Club in I'On. Organizer William Hamilton III stated that several people noted the age of active sailors in Charleston Harbor had increased and that the number of boats at local regattas had declined in the past 25 years. George Wood, former head of the top-flight sailing program at the College of Charleston and a veteran of 30 years of sail training and coaching, spoke to the group.

After retiring from the College a year ago, he has been working as a consultant on sailing programs nationally. Wood said the concrete pier constructed at Waterfront Memorial Park is a safe and functional place for a Town Sailing Center. The current there is not a problem for sailors in a properly run and supervised sailing program operating with motorized safety boats. Wood led an exhaustive study of Charleston Harbor 10 years ago, which concluded sailing on the East Side of the harbor, outside of the commercial shipping channel, provided the best conditions. That study supported the decision to make a $600,000 investment in the College's sailing center at Patriot's Point Marina.

Support CCS

Charleston Community Sailing, Inc., and Charleston Ocean Racing Association second annual Sailing For the Future Benefit Regatta on March 8. Choose your favorite high school sailing team and fill your boat with the freshest sailors in town. A PHRF harbor race will be followed by a reception at Salty Mikes. Racing starts at 1 p.m., for more information or to register, visit www.charlestoncommunitysailing.org or call 607-4890.

Reach Will Haynie at willh@thepickledish.com.