Savannah Cup

CORA thanks Ashley Yachts for sponsoring the 2025 Offshore Challenge Series!

July 14, 2025

Hello Quicksilver competitors and welcome! We will have the SIs out about 5 days or so before race day, but here is some information so you can plan. 

First, as an incentive and recognition that this race is a challenge, it will be worth double points! Thats the good news. The bad news is, there won't be a fishing credit (sorry Bill). 

The starting location will be off the dock of the Carolina Yacht Club as usual. Barring an AP, first sound (gather) will be 5:59PM with the first start at 6:05PM. The starting order will be determined by the RC and announced shortly before the starts begin. 

As of now docking is available at the Savannah Yacht Club and The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa (1 Resort Dr, Savannah, GA). Earlier today, I was told that the Westin has docking available on race day for $3 per foot and rooms for $250. Of course I can't guarantee that and if this is something you want to take advantage of, I suggest you reserve soon. As for the Savannah Yacht Club, I don't know if they will charge for docking but for sure they don't have lodging. 

I'll post details about the finish area in the next several days, but plan on a 4 or so hour motor to the Savannah Yacht Club or about 2.5 hours to the Westin from the finish area. 

People have asked me how long it takes to sail this race. Of course that will depend greatly on conditions, but I can tell you that the past several races from Charleston to Savannah, typically Poly Ester, Mutiny, Wide Load and Kraken all have finished within minutes of each other at about 7:00AM, making it 13 hours for the faster A fleet boats. Boats in B, C and D fleets should probably plan for 16 or so hours. This is not just because the slower boats are, well, slower but because as the morning progresses, the wind typically falls off. That's sailing, the rich get richer. 

This will be classified as a "Coastal" race for US Sailing SER purposes. You won't need a life raft but you will need proper offshore PFDs for each crew member, tethers and jack lines. Of course proper navigation lights, flares and communications gear. We will waive the paper chart requirement. ;-)

Remember that our Vice Commodore has planned a nice party at the Savannah Yacht Club. 

I believe this is what you'll need to get your planning started. I'll make a similar post on the notice board for the Savannah Cup. Especially if this will be your first overnight race, feel free to email me (best email is jim at archer dot net) with questions about logistics, equipment, whatever. 

Sail fast!