1st Annual Charleston Sunfish Scramble (O) Hobcaw Yacht Club, SC
A Hybrid Distance Race
For over a year the sailors in the weekly Sunfish Racing Series at Hobcaw Yacht Club have been discussing how tremendous it would be to host a distance race on Charleston Harbor. We have an ideal location with fantastic conditions, awesome scenery and a spectacular town to visit for a race. We put the plan in motion at HYC and we’re happy to announce the First Annual Charleston Sunfish Scramble on June 1, 2024.
We looked at the options for the race, then looked again, and we’ve come up with a unique race format that is going to be a fun one!
Most distance races see the fleet depart and they aren’t seen again until they return. On the Wando River adjacent to the Hobcaw Yacht Club we enjoy what can be described as “stadium like” viewing of our course in the Wando River between the 526 and Ravenel Bridges. It’s an easy course to sail however it’s not an easy course to sail faster than the fleet which we expect to produce exciting racing with opportunities for lead changes and position shake ups throughout the fleet.
Sounds great but how is this a hybrid race format?
Due to the unique location we have at HYC with tremendous viewing of the course on the water from the club, we decided to separate our distance race format from others while adding “front row” viewing for our spectators.
We have created a starting box on the Wando directly adjacent to the club that will contain the starting line AND a traditional windward / leeward course that is integrated into the distance race. Our start enters the fleet into a traditional racecourse and then without stopping, the fleet will round the final mark of this section of the race while continuing on to the distance legs of the course. The finish line is back at HYC between a mark set on the Wando and the tip of our River Dock where spectators will be able to view the finish just a few meters away from the action.
We’re excited and we look forward to seeing you all out there on June 1!
