Alec Cutler sailing on Hedgehog, alongside of tactician Richard Clarke and crew members Mike Wolfs and Curtis Florence, is the 2013 Melges 24 U.S. National Champion and Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week Champion.
"We've got a new team together. We have not sailed together in a long time." said Cutler post racing. "There were times when everyone made a bonehead move, but then there were moments when we made up for it and saved the race. This event was great fun and the good news is we got a lot of great training in. We’re very much looking forward to Chicago."
Ending the event in second overall was Bora Gulari aboard New England Ropes/West Marine Rigging. Gulari triumphed in Charleston last year and had his sights set on another 2013 win. At the end of racing on day one, Gulari trailed Cutler by three little points. Despite some very heavy air forecasts, Gulari and team was hopeful that they might get another chance to regain the lead. But, it wasn’t meant to be.
Day two breeze forecasts were looking very uncertain, but an optimistic PRO Hank Stuart and his incredible Race Committee team ventured out onto Charleston Harbor. Teams were greeted with a wonderful and super steady 15-20 knots. Within a short 10-20 minutes and a building steep chop, the breeze blew a solid 25-35 with no sign of letting up. Stuart hoisted November over Alpha, cancelling all racing for the day.
In the Corinthian Division, Ben Moon at the helm of Steve Liebel’s New Wave captured the 2013 Corinthian Melges 24 National Championship title. 2012 Charleston Corinthian Champion Paul Hulsey aboard Hoodlum Racing settled for second and USMCA Vice President Rob Britts claimed third on Hot Mess.
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