CanAm Championship Series returns to South Florida's West Coast

Dee Smith racing in Charlotte Harbor © Fran Burstein

The U.S. 2.4 Meter Class Association has announced its return to South Florida's West Coast for the third edition of the class' CanAm Championship Series which will feature five regattas hosted from the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club (CHYC) in Port Charlotte, Florida. Well-known as an ideal area in which to escape the winter, Charlotte Harbor has become a favored destination of the 2.4mR class due to the reliable breeze and to the protected waters of the Peace River where races are held.

The 2019 CanAm Championship Series kicks off next month with the six-race 2.4mR North American Championship from December 3-5, 2018, followed later that week by the nine-race 2.4mR U.S. National Championship, December 6-9. After a break for the holidays, competition resumes in the New Year with the 2019 Edge Sailing Midwinters scheduled for January 25-27, and CanAm #4 from February 22-24, each of which is scheduled to have five races. The series concludes with the nine-race 2019 CanAm Championship Finale from March 29-31, with the series champion determined from the results of all five regattas after his or her worst score is discarded. For competitors who do not race in all five events, the scoring will count all events sailed (i.e. they will not drop their worst result).

Reigning 2.4mR U.S. National Champion Dee Smith, of Annapolis, Md., winner of the 2017 2.4mR CanAm Championship Series, has already made his plans to be back in Florida. "The CanAm Championship Series is the best racing you can get in 2.4mR sailing in North America," said Smith. "Great race management and fun people. It is tactical, fun racing. I will be back in December!"

Sailors from as far away as Norway, San Diego and Seattle, along with a strong contingent of Canadian snow birds, were among the almost two dozen entries in the 2018 championship series. For many, the opportunity to race regularly and have a break from the winter weather is an irresistible combination.

"Sailing a monthly 2.4mR regatta against great competition in Charlotte Harbor is an ideal winter activity," said Ottawa's Peter Wood, President of the Canadian 2.4mR Class, "especially when you need to put on a warm hat, gloves and snow boots just to leave the house."

Competitors who register for the entire series by November 30, 2018, will have their boat storage from December through March included as a perk.

Details of the regatta schedules, social events, hotels and more may be found in the just published Notice of Race, available here.