PCCSC News


2017 Spring Championships Update #1


Dear 2017 College Sailing Nationals Potential Participant-

Welcome to the 2017 Nationals at College of Charleston J. Stewart Walker Sailing Center, Mt. Pleasant South Carolina.
 
All of us at C of C Sailing are enthused to host a great event off and on the water. Listed below are many of the details about our venue, our boats, our facilities and the event as we have in place at this time. There will be more to come and some adjustment as we get closer to the event.  All informinformation islocated, along with this letter and the NORS for all three events, on the ICSA Nationals web-   http://2017nationals.collegesailing.org/.  If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Regatta Chair- Greg Fisher 410 212 4916  Fishergv@cofc.edu.
 
VENUE
The regatta will be sailed out of the C of C J. Stewart Walker Sailing Center in the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina in Mt. Pleasant. The actual racing will be held in the “Marsh” area of the Charleston Harbor just to the south of the Mt. Pleasant Fishing Pier, 1200’ x 50’, which sits directly under the Ravenel Bridge from the Charleston Peninsula to Mt. Pleasant. If the breeze is north/northwest we may race on the north side of the Pier. Excellent spectating with tents and bleachers, competitor team tent locations and team rotations will be staged from a barge on the Mt. Pleasant Fishing Pier. It will provide an excellent area to view the racing.
 
SCHEDULE
 
Date/Time Event Location
May 22 1100-1700hrs ICSA Annual Meeting Charleston Harbor Resort
May 22 1730hrs Coaches’ Meeting Charleston Harbor Resort
May 23-24All Day Sperry Women's National Championship Semifinals Charleston Harbor
     
May 25-26All Day Sperry Women's National Championship Charleston Harbor
May 26After Racing Women's National Championship Trophies Mt. Pleasant Fishing Pier
May 26 1800hrs LaserPerformance Team Race National Championship Coaches’ Meeting Charleston Harbor Resort
May 27-29All Day LaserPerformance Team Race National Championship Charleston Harbor
May 29After Racing LaserPerformance Team Race National Championship Trophies Mt. Pleasant Fishing Pier
May 29 1800hrs Gill Dinghy National Championship Coaches meeting Charleston Harbor Resort
May 30-31All Day Gill Dinghy National Championship Semifinals Charleston Harbor
     
     
June 1-2All Day Gill Dinghy Nationals Championship Charleston Harbor
June 2After Racing Gill Dinghy National Championship Trophies USS. Yorktown
     
     
 
EXCLUSION ZONE
Please note the pre regatta practice exclusion zone in the NOR as determined by the Championship Committee.
 
HOTELS
The event is fortunate to enjoy the support of the City of Charleston and the town of Mt. Pleasant and their bureau of tourism committees. As a result there are numerous hotel choices at all different prices and levels to choose from.  Check them out here:    http://www.meetcharleston.com/icsa-college-sailing-nationals
Please note that the weeks of Nationals are incredibly busy in Charleston. I would strongly urge you to make reservations very soon and if your team is unfortunate and unable to qualify cancel later. Also note that the Charleston Harbor Resort has numerous deals for competitors and parents/spectators and it is on site and excellent. It will be one of the very first hotels to fill up.
 
Restaurants
Great options to eat here in Charleston from basic team only type to very nice parent treated 5 stars. http://www.charlestoncvb.com/plan-your-trip/dining-nightlife~124/?location=mt-pleasant~451  We will provide more deals/options at regatta time.
 
SPECTATORS
It is our goal to make this event exceptionally comfortable and inviting for spectators/families/friends. The Fishing Pier is huge and provides great coverage from the sun and it is our intent to have food and refreshment trucks on site. There is a snack/gift shop on the pier. There will be a large tent with bleachers on the pier. However, while it is not appropriate to refuse access of spectators to the teams, there will be fences up between the spectator and coaches/sailors areas to make obvious the specific areas intended for each. Parking is free. Fishing is spectacular.
In addition during the ICSA Nationals, Spoleto, a very popular arts and entertainment festival, will take place in downtown Charleston. It is immensely well attended and will make touring downtown Charleston challenging for sailors. However for those spectators who want to truly enjoy all Charleston has, this is without question, the deal!        https://spoletousa.org/current-season/shows/
 
Potential VIP Options
There have been several requests for a special VIP type arrangement for your College President and/or Director of Athletics. We have secured the enthusiasm of our President Glen McConnell and our new AD Matt Roberts to graciously host those who like to watch a day or two of racing on one of the nicer tour boats in Charleston Harbor and enjoy the sights of Charleston. Presently we have these tours scheduled for  May 24 and May31 from 10:30-3:30. These dates and times are certainly not carved in stone but if you feel your school/officials would like to take advantage of this opportunity PLEASE let us know asap. It is not a commitment (well, not yet!) but we really need to know that there is significant interest. Obviously important, valued supporters of your program/school can be included.
 
 
Potential Alumni events
Some schools have inquired about possible alumni events. There are numerous restaurants, party houses, etc. that have expressed enthusiasm in hosting these events in Mt. Pleasant. We are assembling a committee to help organize these possibilities. Let us know if you think your team may have interest.
 
BOATS/SAILS
Fleet A will be 18 2015 standard Z420’s that have been recently refurbished by LP and so should  be in excellent shape. We intend to have new North Blue Ribbon Sails. If we are not able to secure the new inventory we will use a 1 year old inventory of Standard Gold LP North produced sails.
Fleet B will be 18 2012 FJ’s with filled rails and tiller over the transom set up. They too have been recently refurbished by LP and they will sail the ICSA donor branded Standard Gold LP North produced sails used in years past.
 
Race Management/ Chief Umpire
We are fortunate to have Ryan Davidson, former C of C Team Captain, PRO all three events. Ryan was PRO for the High School Mallory in 2016 and the 2015 ICSA Match Race Nationals.  He will be PRO for the Bob Bavier Team Race at C of C.
 Steve Wrigley has served both on and off the water as an International Judge, International Umpire, US Sailing National Umpire and US Sailing Senior Judge. Steve is assembling an equally impressive team to work with him. We are fortunate to have Steve as our Chief Umpire/Judge for all three events.
 
Weather/Current
Here are links to the closest Sail Flow and current indicators:
Breeze within ½ mile of venue
Current within ¼ mile of venue
Suggest using the Tide Graph app and select  Hog Island Reach, Buoy ‘12’, Charleston Harbor South Carolina
 
Travel
Airports- Charleston International Airport is 25 minutes,  Columbia Airport is 1:45 and Charlotte Airport is 3:15 from our sailing center in Mt. Pleasant.
Ubers seem to be on every corner here in Charleston.
 
Best Regards,