2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta

Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Inc., has been chosen as the host organization for the 2012 Combined World Disabled Sailing Championships in January 2012. The regatta board of directors voted to accept the International Association for Disabled Sailing’s offer at a special meeting June 24.

“IFDS is delighted to announce the selection of Charlotte Harbor, Fla., as the site of the 2012 IFDS Combined World Disabled Sailing Championships,” said IFDS President Linda Merkle. ”Charlotte Harbor was named by SAIL magazine as one of the ‘Top 10 greatest places to sail in the United States,’ and we are fortunate to be going there. This promises to be an exciting venue for us and fulfills a long-time wish of sailors to hold a ‘Worlds’ in a Paralympic year. We welcome Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Inc., aboard and look forward to a successful event.”

The regatta will be staged at Punta Gorda’s Laishley Park Municipal Marina and other facilities around upper Charlotte Harbor. The 10-day event is expected to attract some 350 sailors, coaches, family members, race officials and media from all over the world. The IFDS is the governing body for all national disabled sailing organizations. The last time its world championships were held in Florida was 2001 in St. Petersburg. This year’s world championship is being held in The Netherlands.

“Along with numerous existing boating activities and events, such as the Charlotte Harbor Regatta, the Conquistador Cup and the Leukemia Cup, the IFDS World Championships would advance Punta Gorda towards becoming the premier waterfront community and boating destination in Southwest Florida,” said Punta Gorda Mayor Harvey Goldberg. “We appreciate this opportunity being afforded us by the International Association for Disabled Sailing.”

“The board of directors of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta is honored to accept the IFDS’s invitation to host such a prestigious international event,” said Charlotte Harbor Regatta Chairman Brian Gleason. “We look forward to working with our member clubs, volunteers, government partners and local business sponsors to stage a world-class regatta on our world-class harbor.”

Tourism officials expressed excitement over both the direct economic impact such an event will have as well as the international exposure it will generate for Charlotte Harbor as a top sailing and vacation destination.

“From a tourism perspective, this prestigious event will provide an enormous opportunity for us to promote our area as one of the world’s top sailing destinations to a worldwide audience of prospective visitors,” said Becky Bovell, executive director of the Charlotte Harbor Visitors and Convention Bureau.

2nd annual Charlotte Harbor Regatta set for Feb. 3-6, 2011

The board of directors of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta has set Feb. 3-6, 2011 as the dates for the 2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta.

After a super turnout of 65 boats and 120 sailors in the inaugural regatta, including strong, competitive Viper 640, Flying Scot and Hobie 16 fleets, the board of directors is planning for an even bigger showing from classes that participated in the 2010 event, plus additional classes anxious to see what all the buzz was about.

Glowing reviews have been received about the facilities and hospitality at the regatta host sites, Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center, Port Charlotte Beach Park and Fishermen’s Village Resort & Marina. The racing schedule is still to be determined, and the regatta will work with classes to finalize those plans. The Charlotte Harbor Regatta will kick off again with a Thursday reception at the CHYC, with some classes racing Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and other classes joining the action on Saturday and Sunday.

See you in February 2011!

Charlotte Harbor Regatta and the ‘winter circuit’

With all the print and online publications available to sailors, it’s not easy for a newbie to get noticed, but the Charlotte Harbor Regatta has done just that. While we’re waiting for a big spread to come out in SAIL magazine in May, more buzz about CHR popped up on megasite Sailing Anarchy talking about the Charlotte Harbor Regatta’s place in a developing small-boat winter circuit. Let’s let SA say it:

“Twenties Roaring

For a decade, twenty footers were excluded from many of winter’s big events – notably, Miami and Key West – but that has all changed with a vengeance, altering the racing landscape forever.  From this year’s successful Charlotte (FL) Harbor Regatta to the Shake-A-Leg regattas for both Melgi and Vipers, to the marketing and exposure muscle involved in the Bacardi Cup’s inviting the Vipers and Melges 20s and 24s to their dance, to the sportboat explosion in Charleston, a new winter circuit has formed in less than a year.”

The Charlotte Harbor Regatta board of directors is working to capitalize on the success of the 2010 event and the emergence of this “winter circuit” by arranging cheap or free storage so folks participating in two or more of the races can avoid the hassles of long-haul towing. The regatta’s Hobie 16 and Viper 640 classes each stored multiple boat in Charlotte Harbor before and after the regatta. The Hobie 16s arrived from Islamorada after the Tradewinds event and the Viper 640s stayed around after CHR before heading down to Miami for the Bacardi Cup.

CHR also scored big space on Sailing Scuttlebutt, which published a long article and photos about the regatta (www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0302/), providing more exposure for the event and Charlotte Harbor. The regatta also has a fledgling blog at Sailmonster.com where readers can stay abreast of developments and posts get picked up by search programs such as Google Alerts and redistributed to inboxes around the world. Online networking is the secret sauce in the early success of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta. Keep an eye out for us on your favorite Web site, class forum or blog.

For information about classes participating in the 2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta or to inquire about adding your class, call regatta chairman Brian Gleason at 941-206-1133.

Photos from Derrickson slide show available

Regatta photographer Sharie Derrickson chronicled all the action and excitement of the 2010 Charlotte Harbor Regatta with thousands of images of all eight classes on three race circles aboard Jay Buckley’s media boat.

Prints and CDs of photos from this slideshow are available from Derrickson. She can be reached at Sharie@the-write-resource.com.

— BRIAN GLEASON, March 9, 2010

2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta dates set for Feb. 3-6

With the buzz still echoing from a spectacular 2010 Charlotte Harbor Regatta, the board of directors announced Feb. 3-6, 2011 as the dates for next year’s event. Festivities will begin Thursday evening with a regatta reception, with racing set to begin on Friday morning in several classes. The remaining fleets will join the action on Saturday and the event will wrap up Sunday with more racing and an award ceremony.

“We were thrilled with the response from the eight classes that participated in our inaugural event and want to make sure to get on class calendars as early as possible for 2011,” said Charlotte Harbor Regatta chairman Brian Gleason. ” We had 65 boats and 120 participants in our eight classes this year and we expect that number to double in 2011 as we add additional multi-hull and monohull designs and youth Optimist and Laser divisions. Plus, we already know from the feedback we’ve received that we’re going to see bigger turn-outs from our returning classes, such as the Flying Scots, Hobie 16s, Waves, Sunfish and S2 7.9s.”

Charlotte Harbor was ranked by SAIL magazine as one of the “10 greatest places to sail in the United States.” It has hosted the U.S. Olympic Soling trials and the U.S. Olympic windsurfing trials in addition to numerous one-design and PHRF regattas. Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast between Tampa Bay and Key West, Charlotte Harbor is surrounded by miles of undisturbed mangroves. Its shores also are dotted with historic Old Florida towns like Punta Gorda, Boca Grande, Englewood and Placida.

The 2010 Charlotte Harbor Regatta featured eight one-design fleets, including Flying Scots, Sunfish, Hobie 16s, Hobie Wave, S2 7.9s, Viper 640s, Precision 15s and Lasers.

For information about how to register your fleet or to inquire about the fleets already registered to race in the 2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta, please contact Brian Gleason at gleason@charlotteharborregatta.com or 941-206-1133.

Please check back here frequently for updates on the Charlotte Harbor Regatta and we look forward to seeing you on Florida’s Sun Coast next winter.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Feb. 25, 2010

Photos from the front

Fleets fill Charlotte Harbor as regatta wraps up

After two days of heavy winds and high waves, Mother Nature delivered Chamber of Commerce weather for the final day of the inaugural Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Sunday, Feb. 7 on Charlotte Harbor, Florida.

More than 60 boats in eight classes, including two of the three Viper 640 vessels that broke masts on Saturday, started the day in picture-perfect sailing conditions. Shifting winds, not damaging gusts challenged skippers Sunday.

In the Viper 640 class, Brad Boston continued his winning ways to capture the overall victory ahead of Dan Gorman. Bill Abbott took advantage of his competitors’ misfortunes on Saturday to slip into third overall and held on Sunday to stay there.

Fred and Reid Hutchinson went 1-2 in the Sunfish class, while Rita Steele took third. The trio traded spaces in the Top 3 all weekend, but Fred Hutchinson’s consistency – a first, two seconds and two thirds — prevailed.

Randy Payne hangs from his Hobie 16 trapeze as strong winds powered the cat fleet through three days of spectacular racing on Charlotte Harbor. (Photo courtesy of Ron Norvelle.)

With two wins in the Hobie 16 class Sunday, Mike Montague vaulted past Day Two leader Kenneth Hilk, who dropped to third behind Randy Payne.

Rick White started strong Saturday with a win and finished the regatta the same way to take the overall title in the Hobie Wave class. Dave White and Stan Woodruff finished second and third, respectively, separated by a point after six races.

In the S2 7.9 race, Paul Robbins made a strong run at Alan Konegsberg with two wins Sunday, but fell two points short in the overall standings after nine often grueling races over the three days. Peter New took third.

Donna Steele bounced back from a second place finish on Saturday to win all three races Sunday to top Alden Spencer in the Laser class.

Harry Carpenter capped off four seconds with a win in the day’s last race to capture the title in the Flying Scot fleet, followed by John Selldorff and Jeff Penfield, who took third over Ira Perry with a tiebreaker win in the third race.

For full results, click on “2010 Results” in the navigation menu to the left.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Feb. 6, 2010

Wild weather greets Day Two racers

A second day of unusually strong winter winds tested racers and tossed up the standings on Day Two of the inaugural Charlotte Harbor Regatta on Charlotte Harbor, Florida.

The winds forced one class to abandon the course and snapped the carbon-fiber masts of two boats in another. Despite the challenging conditions, six of eight classes finished at least one race and Sunday’s forecast offers picture-perfect sailing conditions for the final day of racing.

Vipers bunch up at the start of of a race during the Charlotte Harbor Regatta. Damage may shrink the fleet after Saturday's punishing race. (Photo courtesy of Tom Ray.)

In the exciting Viper 640 class, winds in the mid-20s off Ponce de Leon Park made for thrilling, but hazardous racing. Brad Boston, who won four races Friday, was forced out of the action with a broken mast Saturday, as was Day One runner-up Dan Gorman. Into the void sailed Bill Abbott, who picked up a first place, followed by Jonathan Nye and David Guggenheim in the only race the Vipers could to get in.

Boston retained his overall lead and was working on a replacement rig in the parking lot of regatta host sponsor Fishermen’s Village Resort & Marina Saturday afternoon to get back into the fray on Sunday. By mid-afternoon, winds exceeded 25 and gusted higher and spectacular sea spray flew over the marina’s breakwater.

Five robust Sunfish racers took advantage of only slightly calmer air in the ironically named Peace River, to complete a wet and wild race on their first day of action. Fred Hutchinson took top honors, with Reid Hutchinson finishing second and Rita Steele third.

Twenty-one boats in both classes on the multihull circle completed two races, as the Hobie 16 and Wave skippers muscled their ways around a triangle course designed to account for the blustery conditions. In the Hobie 16 class, Ken Hilk retained his Day One lead over Mike Montague, but the latter got within a point of the leader with a win in the day’s final race.

The Hobie Waves joined the action Saturday morning and Stan Woodruff and Rick White traded firsts to stand at 1-2 going into Sunday’s racing. With many racers arriving after long drives in the wee hours of the morning, the fleet drew on coffee and bracing waves to fight through two races.

In the S2 7.9 race, Paul Robbins turned the tables on Alan Kanegsberg for his first “bullet,” or first place, of the regatta. Through two days, Kanegsberg leads Robbins, 9-6.

Alden Spencer, a recent high school graduate who crammed through a crash course in Laser sailing on the drive down to Charlotte Harbor from wintry Massachusetts, won the Laser class.

The strong Flying Scot fleet never got going in the face of 3-5-foot seas and squally puffs, their crews perched on the deck at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, nursing refreshments and whetting their appetites for tomorrow’s racing, which start at 10 a.m. on all circles.

For full results, click on “2010 Results” in the navigation menu to the left.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Feb. 6, 2010

Brad Boston (left) and Rob Gorman duke it out on Day One of the inaugural Charlotte Harbor Regatta. Boston took three bullets to claim top honors for the day, while Gorman earned three seconds and a third. (Photo courtesy of Tom Ray.)

Tough conditions, tight racing

Winds gusting past 25 knots rocketed more than 20 teams around two courses on the first day of the inaugural Charlotte Harbor Regatta.

With three classes competing — Viper 640, S2 7.9 and Hobie 16 — steady strong winds and punishing gusts produced hair-raising action and more than a few wipeouts on the Hobie 16 circle.

In the S2 7.9 division, “Bama Slammer” captained by Alan Kanegsberg battled it out with “Soulshine II” skippered by Paul Robbins to take the top spot after day one.

In the Viper 640 class Brad Boston’s “Jackpot” placed first in all three races while “Tijuca,” captained by Rob Gorman, and “Black Mamba,” skippered by David Guggenheim, rounded out the top three.

Kenneth Hilk captured the top spot with Mike Montague securing second and Matt Bounds placing third in the Hobie 16 class.

The regatta continues today with five additional classes joining the action, including the Flying Scot, Sunfish, Hobie Wave, Precision 15 and Laser.

Charlotte Harbor Regatta

Top 3 finishers by class on Day 1 of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Friday, Feb. 5, 2010.

Hobie 16

1st, Kenneth Hilk

2nd, Mike Montague

3rd, Matt Bounds

S2 7.9

1st, Alan Kanegsberg

2nd, Paul Robbins

3rd, Peter New

Viper 640

1st, Brad Boston

2nd, Rob Gorman

3rd, David Guggenheim

— BRIAN GLEASON, JENNIFER HUBER, Feb. 5, 2010

Custom regatta forecast from WRI

Weather Routing Inc. is providing custom forecasts for Charlotte Harbor that offer detailed information participants need. Click on the WRI logo to get detailed information for every day (and night) of the event.

Weather Routing Inc. provides meteorological consulting, including forecasts and route planning for commercial fleets, private yachts and regattas. Six Charlotte Harbor Regatta participants will win certificates redeemable for your own custom regatta forecast for future events.

For more information about Weather Routing Inc., go to their Web site at www.seaweather.net.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Feb. 3, 2010

Charlotte Harbor draws raves as boats begin arriving

With less than three weeks to go before the first horn of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta, boats began arriving in Charlotte Harbor this week.

We spotted this post from Jonathan Nye from the Viper 640 class, who brought in his boat over the weekend just in time for some incredible sailing weather.

“Just dropped my boat off at Charlotte Harbor YC. If the regatta features weather anything like this weekend, it will be a special event. The bay is gorgeous and wide open. Winds in the high teens. All the locals who approached me were super friendly. Seems the Club is keen to make this a success. For anyone on the fence about going, I’d strongly encourage you to make the trip,” Nye wrote on the Viper 640 forum Jan. 18.

Less than a mile away, Greg Raybon and his son, Eric, dropped off a trailer full of Hobie 16s fresh off the multihull event in Islamorada. The Hobies will be one of the biggest fleets in the regatta, as the class is looking to establish another midwinter event for members in sunny Southwest Florida.

Sizable Flying Scot, Melges 24, Laser and Sunfish fleets are expected on three circles across more than four miles of wide open Charlotte Harbor for the three-day regatta, Feb. 5-7, 2010.

The exciting new Weta trimaran will also be on display, with North American distributor Jon Britt bringing in a fleet from North Carolina.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Jan. 18, 2010

Hobie Waves invited to join multihull class

With a growing Hobie 16 class, led by North American class race director Matt Bounds, in the Charlotte Harbor Regatta’s multihull class, and a number of Waves already in Florida for the Tradewinds event next weekend, the board of directors invited the Wave class to participate in our Feb. 5-7, 2010 event on Charlotte Harbor, Florida.

The Waves will race Saturday, Feb. 6 and Sunday. Feb. 7.

Charlotte Harbor was recognized by SAIL magazine as one of the Top 10 greatest places to sail in the United States. We have played host to numerous Soling Olympic trials and one-design regattas, including the International Sunfish Midwinters. We will have nine classes on three circles and nightly “regatta parties” at world-famous Fishermen’s Village Resort & Marina. Low entry fees and affordable hotel accommodations make the Charlotte Harbor Regatta, the fun, affordable regatta.

For information, go to www.charlotteharborregatta.com or call 941-206-1133. We look forward to seeing a fleet of Waves on Charlotte Harbor next month.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Jan. 4, 2010

Need crew/want to crew list added

Need crew or want to crew for someone in the Charlotte Harbor Regatta? We have added a “Crew list” page to the Web site where sailors and skippers can post their credentials and crew needs. Just click on “Crew list” in the menu to the left.

We will also take names, e-mails and phone numbers of available crew and boat owners to help match up available crew with available rides. Send crew requests or contact info to gleason@charlotteharborregatta.com. Check back often to find crew or a ride.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Jan. 4, 2010

CHR Day at West Marine, Jan. 30, 2010

West Marine will donate a portion of all sales at its Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor stores on Jan. 30, 2010 to the Charlotte Harbor Regatta. Support the regatta and stock up on all your sailing, powerboating and angling products all in one stop.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Dec. 16, 2009

Early bird drawing for Charlotte Harbor Regatta

Planning to race in the Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Feb. 5-7, 2010? If you register before Dec. 31, 2009, you’ll be eligible for a drawing for a three-night hotel stay. Join the hundreds of sailors expected to participate in this event on a SAIL magazine “top 10 greatest places to sail in the United States” harbor. Touted by organizers as the “fun, affordable regatta,” it doesn’t get more affordable than free. For information, go to www.charlotteharborregatta.com or contact regatta chairman Brian Gleason at 941-206-1133 or gleason@charlotteharborregatta.com.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Dec. 8, 2009

Regatta added to Viper 640 midwinter schedule

The Charlotte Harbor Regatta has been added to the exciting Viper 640 class association schedule, bringing the number of participating classes to eight on three circles.

The Viper 640 class is one of the fastest-growing fleets racing today. At Charleston, S.C. in April and Annapolis, Md., in September, there were 35 or more boats on the line.

Class president Justin Scott posted a glowing note on the calendar entry: “Between the Midwinter Championships and the NAs in Miami, please don’t forget to mark your calendar for a charming regatta at Punta Gorda on Charlotte Harbor on the Gulf Coast of Florida, from February 5-7.

There is a Viper start and this will be a rendezvous regatta with an emphasis on meeting friends and sharing tuning tips. The scenery is beautiful, the sailing is stunning, the accommodation is inexpensive and the [harbor] used to host the Soling Olympic trials. We have been promised a warm welcome.”

We couldn’t have said it better. Welcome Viper 640 racers and thanks for helping us make the Charlotte Harbor Regatta an awesome event.

The Viper 640s will join the Melges 24s and S2 7.9s on a fast and exciting outer harbor circle, while a multihull middle harbor circle will feature Weta trimarans and Hobie 16s and the third inner harbor circle will include Flying Scots, Sunfish and Precision 15s. We expect 100 boats or more to compete in this inaugural event, making it the largest regatta ever to be held on Charlotte Harbor.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Nov. 25, 2009

Boaters Alliance joins regatta as major sponsor

The Punta Gorda Boaters Alliance voted Thursday to become a major sponsor of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta. At its monthly meeting, alliance members approved a $500 donation to the regatta.

The Boaters Alliance is comprised of all the boating organizations in the area and works to improve safety, boating amenities and cooperation between marine organizations.

Outgoing president Len Harris, incoming president Sarah Buck and the alliance’s officers presented to the check to regatta chairman Brian Gleason at the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association.

“The idea for the regatta was presented first to the alliance in February,” Gleason said. “The response was overwhelmingly positive and gave us the confidence to move ahead with this regatta. This contribution further demonstrates the alliance’s commitment to staging a world class regatta and fulfilling our common missions of promoting boating on Charlotte Harbor.”

The alliance joins other major sponsors of the regatta, including Fishermen’s Village, Mosaic Fertilizer, PG Insure, Sun newspapers, West Marine, Microtel, Everglades Farm Equipment, Salon Arts Works, Webb, Lorah & Company CPAs, Place in the Sun Vacation Properties, Sleep Inn and Hotel Management of Port Charlotte.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Nov. 17, 2009

WRI to provide custom forecasts

Weather Routing Inc. will be providing custom updated forecasts for the Charlotte Harbor Regatta, scheduled for Feb. 5-7, 2010. The company’s Yacht Race Forecasting Service will provide a detailed synopsis of current and forecast weather conditions, as well as forecast wind and sea conditions. They also will provide precise information on currents and other weather phenomena which may affect your route during the Charlotte Harbor Regatta.

Click here to go to WRI’s home page and learn more about their forecasting services. The race forecasts will be posted on a dedicated Charlotte Harbor Regatta page that will be linked to our Web site.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Oct. 6, 2009

Charlotte Harbor Regatta gear now available online

Official Charlotte Harbor Regatta gear is now available for purchase online via our gear sponsor Coral Reef Sailing Apparel. From microfiber long-sleeve shirts to canvas totes to sunshield caps to neck gaiters, choose from dozens of items from the comfort of your living room or cabin — and support the Charlotte Harbor Regatta with every purchase. A portion of all sales will directly support the Charlotte Harbor Regatta and our clubs’ youth and adult sailing programs.

Click here or on the CHR 2010 Store link to the left to visit the Charlotte Harbor Regatta store and browse through top-of-the-line gear and apparel from suppliers such as Gill, Marmot and Columbia.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Aug. 17, 2009

King Fisher Fleet to offer regatta cruises

King Fisher Fleet, based out of Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda, will offer 90-minute spectator cruises on each day of the 2010 Charlotte Harbor Regatta. The cruises will begin at noon and cost only $14.95 (half price for children under 12 years of age). The regatta is scheduled for Feb. 4-7, 2010. Races will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

To get a “front row” seat for some exciting one-design sailing, contact the King Fisher Fleet at 941-639-2628 or email Capt. Ralph Allen at captain@kingfisherfleet.com. Click the King Fisher Fleet link to the right to get more information about fishing and sightseeing cruises.

— BRIAN GLEASON, Aug. 14, 2009

NOR posted, registration open

The Notice of Race has been posted and registration is now open for the 2010 Charlotte Harbor Regatta. Online and mail-in registrations will be accepted, but the best way to get in the race is to enter online by clicking the Registration link to the left. Online registration is being handled by the U.S. Sailing Regatta Network. You may also pre-order Charlotte Harbor Regatta gear through Coral Reef Sailing Apparel at the CHR 2010 Store. Sailing instructions will be posted prior to the race and distributed at the Feb. 4 skippers’ meeting (Feb. 5 for Sunfish).

For accommodations at Regatta Rates, please click the Lodging link at left. For information or questions, please e-mail gleason@charlotteharborregatta.com.

— BRIAN GLEASON, July 20, 2009

Participating classes (as of Jan. 23, 2010)

Flying Scot	S2 7.9	Sunfish
Weta Trimaran	Hobie 16	Hobie Wave

Viper 640	Laser

Sponsors: