Charleston Race Week welcomes support from new community partnership

The popular J/70 Class is one of several international fleets to be featured at Charleston Race Week 2024 at Patriots Point © Priscilla Parker / CRW2023

Between April 18-21, hundreds of sailors from all corners of North America and beyond will descend on one of the finest sailboat racing destinations in the US - Charleston, South Carolina — for world-class racing and fun parties.

A new partnership between Charleston Race Week and Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum was recently announced and we are excited to share with our competitors, friends, and supporters the following video which highlights the partnership.

Now in its 29th year, many of our regular competitors are already signed up for the 2024 edition of Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point. For those of you who haven't yet, be sure to take advantage of Early Bird Pricing which ends January 31. To date, over one hundred boats are registered and we're aiming for two hundred!

You can't win if you don't race. In 2023, Matthew Schaedler from Toledo, Ohio skippering his J/122 Blitzkrieg won best in class in the highly competitive offshore ORC A division - photo © Joy Dunigan / CRW2023

We welcome those who are competing for the first time and assure you that Charleston Race Week will not disappoint: challenging conditions, varied breeze, warm weather, and excellent race management are the hallmarks of this internationally acclaimed regatta. The event supports many different classes of boats and last year, it was exciting to have a Melges 32 fleet return. Charleston sailor Chris Beckwith and Melges 20 owner, is hoping for a strong turnout in that fleet.

"I've raced Charleston race week about ten times in various classes from J24, J80, VX One and now Melges 20!" Beckwith shared. "Hands down, race management is always top notch with a social program that's outstanding to complement it off the water. Charleston is the perfect setting for on-the-water-racing action at a convenient venue and off-the-water fun! The Melges 20 is a perfect boat for a venue like Charleston as it's a fast boat that's not a logistics drain. Racing in Charleston harbor with viewable vantage points means family and friends can get close to the action and see why we race this exciting boat!"

Patriots Point Development Authority Executive Director Allison Hunt, alongside of Mayor of the Town of Mount Pleasant, SC Will Haynie and Charleston Race Week Event Director, Randy Draftz announced a brand new partnership agreement on January 11th - photo © Joy Dunigan / CRW2024

In 2024, competitors will have full access to the USS Yorktown where all CRW social activities will be held - we don't know of any sailing event anywhere in the world held in such a unique venue! Given that the event draws competitors from over 27 states and 12 countries to become one of the largest keelboat regattas in the Western Hemisphere, the scale of CRW requires a large venue to accommodate the 1000+ sailors, families and friends who come to Charleston just for this regatta.

The Melges 20 Class is back and coming on strong in 2024 at Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point - photo © Helen Galli Photography / Melges 20 Class

It's been a challenge to find the space that the event needs to both entertain and provide a solid operational base for the race committee, media, and some two hundred volunteers; our partnership with Patriots Point/USS Yorktown offers us a great new home central to the water. We acknowledge unforeseen issues that occurred during the first trial at the event's new home last year; the CRW team have worked hard to ensure that in 2024, CRW hospitality will be at its usual standard.

Charleston Race Week 2024 at Patriots Point will not disappoint! - photo © Joy Dunigan / CRW2023

"After 29 years, my own passion for the event remains strong, given the opportunities the scale of this event provides like our new partnership with Patriots Point," Randy Draftz, Regatta Chair commented. "Charleston Race Week sets the standard for race management and overall competitor experience, and we're thrilled to support charitable causes: youth sailing, environmental education, and maritime heritage."

Follow media support about CRW's new partnership:

www.postandcourier.com/moultrie-news/news/annual-race-finds-new-full-time-home-at-patriots-point/article_10ccc45c-b0b1-11ee-92ac-0bb99fa905cb.html

abcnews4.com/news/local/charleston-race-week-organizers-set-to-announce-new-partnership-wciv-abc-news-4-boat-racing-patriots-point-charleston-harbor

www.postandcourier.com/business/patriots-point-charleston-race-week-sailing-sports-mount-pleasant-south-carolina-yorktown/article_9b1a4f76-b0ca-11ee-ae36-5b0e7720fffb.html

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