The Classic Boat Rally is an organized sailing adventure up the Intracoastal Waterway from Fernandina Beach, FL to
Charleston, SC for boats of classic design ranging in overall length from 15 feet to 24 feet. Each year's schedule is
set to take maximum advantage of tidal currents and occurs between mid-April and mid-May. The next Classic Boat
Rally will be April 16 to 30, 2009. Your "Shore crew" (spouse and/or friends) meet you with your car at each day's destination.
Nights are spent at homes or hotels (or on your boat if you prefer). Races are imbedded each day. There is a "lay-day" in
Savannah and in Beaufort for repairs, relaxation, practice, a Concurs d'Elegance judging, and a race around the buoys. Participate
for as many days as you wish.
The principal organizer of the rally, with a lot of help from his friends, is Sam ("Woody") Norwood,
resident of Atlanta and Beaufort, member of Atlanta Yacht Club (Commodore 1987) and Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.
The Objectives
The objectives of the Classic Boat Rally are:
1. To share a safe but interesting and fun sailing
adventure for the participants.
2. To share the comradery among individuals who have a particular appreciation for classic
boat design.
3. To promote general interest in the ownership and use of classic boat designs in recreation, adventure,
and racing.
4. To enable "shore crews" to immerse themselves in the rich history or the area by car and on foot during the day, and
to be with the participants each evening and at night.
5. To encourage the development of interest and skills in sailing among young people through donations to the junior
sailing programs of yacht and sailing clubs that serve as hosts of the Classic boat Rally.
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Want to join us in the 2009 Classic Boat Rally?
Registration and participation:
1. Boat requirements: Sailboats LOA 15 to 24 feet,
non-planing hulls, classic design but may be modern construction. Auxilliary engine required. Longer boats of heavy displacement
will be considered and probably approved if the PHRF handicap rating is higher than 260. Draft of 4 feet or less (with
centerboard up) is strongly recommended
2. Skipper requirements: General competence in sailboat handling
in tidal conditions, familiar with coastal navigation. Teams of two or three, rotating at the helm, seem to work best.
3.
Safety equipment requirements: All requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard for day sailing (night lights not
required). Particularly, PFD for each person on board, one throwable (seat cushion), anchor with at least 150 feet of line,
whistle or horn noise maker, bilge pump, paddle or oar, compass, fire extinguisher,VHF radio, navigating charts (plus GPS
highly recommended).
4. Expenses: This is a shared expense, non-profit, event. Each participant will bear
his own launching, dockage, hotel, dining, haul-out, and direct sailing expenses. There will be a $20 per day per boat charge
(up to $200 for the whole event which includes two free days) to help support the cost of this web-site, general expenses,
trophies, comped meals for the Race Committee, and fuel for the supporting motor boats.
5. Days: There are 12 official sailing days). Participation can be for a single day or multiple
days or for the whole event. An "offshore option" may be offerred on certain days.
5. Registration: Complete
the registration form and send it by fax or mail it with the Registration Fee by April 1 (see "2009 Registration" link).
Sponsors
Sponsorships are invited and will be listed here and mentioned with thanks at social functions and trophy presentations.
Please see Sponsor link at left.
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| The Martins' Cape Dory Typhoon on the Beaufort River |
10-Day Weather: Click on
links below
What's New?
Offshore Options under development:
The Rally organizers are developing possible offshore options on four legs in 2009. In concept,
going offshore would be offerred as a "Skipper's Choice" option with the same destinations each day as those who elect to
stay on the ICW. On the four days in which the offshore option is offerred, we plan to have separate offshore and ICW trophies for the daily winners. Having this option may depend on having an additional support
boat to stay with the offshore fleet. Also, going offshore will be "weather permitting". The distances are about the same
as going up the ICW. Offshore wind is generally stronger, but the tidal direction will be an offsetting factor. Generally,
the offshore option will be permitted when the wind is in the 10 to 20 kt range on clear days. We think this will add an element
of excitement and adventure for those who feel comfortable going offshore. The four legs under consideration for the offshore
option are as follows:
- Fernandina Beach, FL to Jekyll Island, GA
- Dallas Bluff to Fort McAllister (GA)
- Beaufort to Edisto Island (SC)
- Edisto Island to Seabrook Island (Bohicket) SC
Stay tuned for further announcements.
Expanded Rally in 2009
The Georgia Coast experiment last year was a huge success, with the sailing venues at least
as good as those between Savannah and Charleston. For 2009 we will combine the Georgia and the SBC Rallies into one long event
called The Classic Boat Rally. You can select which parts that appeal to you most. I hope you can do the whole event
which covers two weeks. The basic dates are set, so please check the 2009 Program by clicking on the link to your left. There
will be imbedded racing in both the Georgia and SBC segments. Check back here in the coming months for updates.
The 2008 SBC* Classic Boat Rally (Summary)
The 2008 SBC Classic Boat Rally was April 17 to 24 and had the following schedule: This gives an idea
of what 2009 will look like.
Thursday: Meet in Savannah, launch the boats, have a short practice sail.
Site will be Savannah Yacht Club on Whitmarsh Island. Dinner at a near-by restaurant. Overnight in Savannah at Mulberry Inn..
Friday:
Sail Savannah YC to South Carolina YC on Hilton Head Island. South Carolina Yacht Club is at Windmill Harbor. Cocktails and
dinner at SCYC. Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn.
Saturday: Sail Hilton Head to Beaufort. Destination is Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club on Lady's Island. Lowcountry
Boil dinner at BYSC Overnight in Beaufort at Beaulieu House B&B on Cat Island.
Sunday: Classic Boat
Day at BYSC; race around the buoys at 1PM. Dinner on your own at any of the many Beaufort Restaurants. Overnight in Beaufort
at Beaulieu House.
Monday: Sail Beaufort to Edisto Island Marina. Dinner at Sunset Grill overlooking Edisto
Marina. Accomodations at nearby houses on the river reserved by Classic Boat Rally. Bring linens.
Tuesday: Sail Edisto Marina to Bohicket Marina. Dinner on your own. Most will return to Edisto
Island for dinner.
Wednesday: Sail Bohicket Marina to Carolina Yacht Club in historic Charleston. Victory dinner at Carolina
Yacht Club. Overnight in Charleston at John Rutledge House Inn or Holiday Inn Riverview.
Thursday: Haul
out, pack up, and depart, unless staying for a longer visit.
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