Audi Melges 20 Class Pulls The Trigger On Sperry-Top Sider Charleston

by Joy Dunigan on 19 Apr 2013 A healthy fleet of thirty-three Audi Melges 20 teams have assembled in Charleston, South Carolina for the start of the largest ever Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week 2013 Regatta. Teams have traveled from all across North America, from San Francisco, California to Boston, Massachusetts, and from Canada to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to bask in Charleston's spectacular harbor racing, and revel in its challenging, and sometimes relentless current.

The Audi Melges 20 fleet in Charleston is worth its weight in gold when it comes to measuring the level of talent and extra special style of racing it fosters. The fleet has attracted the likes of former America's Cup superstars Terry Hutchinson and Ed Baird are in attendance sailing with Jim Richardson's Barking Mad and Jeff Ecklund's STAR. The list goes on to also include Rosco Halcrow, 2002 Melges 24 World Champion Harry Melges, recently crowned Moth North American Champion Anthony Kotoun, Andrew Campbell, Dave Hughes, Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Bill Hardesty and Italy's prized Vasco Vascotto, not to mention Olympians Morgan Reeser, Stu McNay and Charlie McKee.

'It's incredible to see this fleet, standing strong in Charleston, an event that continues to grow in participation.' commented Circle 3 PRO Hank Stuart. 'This is just one of many 2013 events that will enable teams to fine tune their efforts for the forthcoming World Championship in December at Ocean Reef Club. More than 100 rooms have already been booked so that is an indicator that it is going to be a huge, a big event with a lot of boats.'

Three days of racing are scheduled and the current weather forecast indicates some seriously wonderful one design breeze on racing conditions.

Media and racing coverage

As with many previous Audi Melges 20 events in North America and around the world, racing updates will be posted online at the Official Class Blog. Tune-in regularly for the latest developments, conditions and results. Stay close to the Official Audi Melges 20 Facebook Page for photos and further commentary. Race reports, press releases and photos will be available online each day post racing at melges20.com.

Full entry list

1.) Brian Henke, Affordable Mistress

2.) Michael Kiss, Bacio

3.) Jim Richardson, Barking Mad

4.) Pat Eudy, Big Booty

5.) John Brown, Blind Squirrel

6.) Carson Reynolds, BOLT

7.) David Flechsig, BRR Blink Rooster Racing

8.) Justin Quigg, Character 2.0

9.) Rob Wilber, Cinghiale

10.) Lance Smotherman, Details

11.) Danny Shea, Diamante

12.) Tony Tabb, Elevation Racing

13.) Erik Wulff, Endorphin

14.) Trey Sheehan, Flat Stanley Racing: Hooligan

15.) Tom Kassberg, Flygfisk

16.) Nathan Hollerbach, Fu

17.) William Douglass, Goombay Smash

18.) Robert Hughes, Heartbreaker

19.) Daniel Thielman, Kuai

20.) Travis Weisleder, Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team

21.) John Taylor, Ninkasi

22.) Camille Rasdal, Odin

23.) James Wilson, Oleander

24.) Paul Reilly, Red Sky Sailing Team

25.) Richard Davies, Section 16

26.) Russell Lucas, Shimmer

27.) Wes Whitmyer, Slingshot

28.) Jim Pearson, Slippery

29.) Jeff Ecklund, STAR

30.) Rob Butler, Touch2Play

31.) Mark Bremer, TRUE

32.)Andy Rasdal, Valkyrie

33.) Paul Currie, Wild Deuces