This past weekend in South Carolina, Charleston hosted its annual race week regatta and conditions could not have been better. Temperatures in the high 70’s, warm water, great winds, and a fun atmosphere at the regatta headquarters in the Charleston Harbor Marina made for an outstanding event. For three days, 115 sport boats raced near the intersection of the Cooper & Ashley Rivers. Offshore and outside the Charleston jetties, the larger boats raced in windy Atlantic Ocean conditions. This event is growing each year and is looking to be one of the major events on the East Coast sailing circuit.

Quantum had a very strong presence with many customers from around the country in attendance as well as Quantum representatives from several lofts. Quantum Charleston’s John Bowden was on hand to service and help deliver new sails to race week competitors. Terry Flynn ran a one design clinic on a breezy Thursday, and was on hand to help customers all week with pictures and feedback.

Quantum sails dominated the J/24 fleet, with 4 out of the top 5 finishers. Chip Till and the Murder Incorporated crew edged Joe Macdonald and his team on Rex by 1 point to take first place. Tim Healy (Quantum Newport) sailed with Till and also helped run a pre-regatta tune-up clinic. See our J/24 fleet report for more.

Quantum-equipped boats posted solid finishes on the Melges 24 line. Finishing third, and just three points out of first place, was Layline with crew George Peet, Brian Janney (Quantum San Diego), Amy Ironmonger, Scott Nixon (Quantum Annapolis) at helm and boat owner Travis Weisleder. In fourth place, also with a full Quantum inventory, was Blur owned by Steve Kopf.

Twenty J 80s participated at this year’s CRW and the weather was picture perfect: winds from 10 to 20 and sunshine every day.  The fleet was packed with talent including two former World Champions.  The B-Team USA 655, with a full set of Quantum Sails and sailing with Yandell Rogers and David Whelan, tied for first and lost on the tie breaker. Check out Terry Flynn's article after this!

Another Quantum customer, Michael Kiss, on Bacio, a Melges 20, won his class with Mark Hollerbach on Fu placing sixth in a strong fleet. Wally Cross sailed with the fleet and was there helping Melges20 clients have a great experience. Great work by the class to get 14 boats in attendance!

Quantum Sails also fared well in the offshore divisions. John Cooper’s Cool Breeze, a Mills 43 Custom in IRC, placed second. Little Booty Jackson Benvenutti’s J/105 won their class and so did Dauntless a Beneauteau 47.7 in PHRF A. Steve Thurston, owner of Quantum’s Bristol Rhode Island, placed second on his J/29 A Mighty Puffin in PHRF D.