US offshore race dates announced

2009 calendar already filling up

Dates for two of the United States’ major offshore distance races were announced by SORC (Southern Ocean Racing Conference) Management, which is made up of members from the Storm Trysail Club and Lauderdale Yacht Club. While both races begin in Fort Lauderdale, FL, one races south against the Gulf Stream to tropical Key West and the other is a sled ride North in the Gulf Stream to the historic city of Charleston, S.C.

Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race
– A 160-nautical-mile sprint down the Florida Keys.

The 34th annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race will start off of Port Everglades on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 and runs along the Florida Keys to the fun-filled town of Key West. Boats are expected to begin finishing the race throughout the day of January 15. Fleets include IRC, PHRF, Multihull and one-design.

“The PHRF fleet is traditionally the largest and split into three or four classes,” said race chair Joel Bowie. “For the IRC class boats, this race is the kick-off for the 2009 IRC Gulfstream Series. The Multihull fleet continues to grow with the popularity of this course.”

The Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race is sponsored by Lauderdale Yacht Club and the Storm Trysail Club and hosted by the SORC race management group.

The current monohull race record is 10 hours 24 minutes and 2 seconds was set in 2005 by Carrera, the Reichel/Pugh 81 owned by Joe Dockery (Stamford, Conn.). The multihull record is 8 hours, 31 minutes and 4 seconds set in 2007 by Stars & Stripes, the Custom 60 owned by Steve and Scott Liebel (Bradenton, Fla.).

A skippers meeting and cocktail party takes place January 13 at Lauderdale Yacht Club, site of this year’s Race Headquarters. The start is at 1300 hours on January 14, with the awards scheduled for January 16 in Key West and hosted by Kelly's Caribbean. The Turtle Kraals Restaurant Bar in will serve as the finish headquarters.

For more information about the 34th Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race including the NOR and online entry please visit the official race website www.keywestrace.org.

2009 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race
– 408 nautical miles straight up the Gulfstream.

Scheduled to start April 8, 2009 at 1400 hours, this event marks the rebirth of a race that originated in 1968 and ran for 10 years. The race will start just outside of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and finish just outside of Charleston Harbor.

The Race is also an official leg of the 2009 US-IRC Gulf Stream Series where IRC boats earn points for placement in an overall chase to be the series champion.

Although the 2008 race was postponed due to scheduling conflicts, organizers assured potential competitors for this year’s race. “This year’s race schedule was carefully coordinated with the popular Charleston Race Week scheduled for the week following,” said race chair Buck Gillette. “Competitors planning on attending Charleston Race Week and coming up from the South can enjoy a fast ride and healthy competition on their way to Charleston.”

The 2009 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race is organised by SORC and sponsored by the Storm Trysail Club, starting host Lauderdale Yacht Club and finishing host Carolina Yacht Club. The race record of 33 hours, 28 minutes and 56 seconds was established in 1974 by Phantom a C&C 66, owned by Ralph B. Ryder Jr.

For more information, NOR posting and on-line race entry go to the official race website www.fortlauderdalecharlestonrace.org.


About SORC

The SORC mission is to lead the expansion of offshore competitive sailing in South Florida by providing the highest level of race organization, management and promotions for those that enjoy the sport of ocean sailing. The SORC is a Florida non-profit organization driven by a select group of volunteers that bring professional event management, sailing, racing and other skills to the organization. To automatically be placed on future email announcements for this and other SORC events go to www.sorcsailing.org.

About Storm Trysail Club

Reflecting in its name the sail to which sailors must shorten when facing adverse conditions, the Storm Trysail Club is one of the world’s most respected sailing clubs, with its membership comprised strictly of skilled blue water and ocean racing sailors. www.stormtrysail.org.