Charleston Race Week presented by Seabrook Island is rapidly cementing its status as one of the premier—and most popular—sailing competitions in the southeast. With three weeks remaining until the start of this annual regatta, already more than 135 entries have registered to compete. This year, the organizers anticipate that more than 150 teams will participate in the early April event (April 6 - 9). That figure represents significant growth over previous editions of the regatta. In fact, in the past four years, the event has grown by more than 90 percent.

Complementing this remarkable increase in participants is a burgeoning list of corporate sponsors that have signed on to support the regatta. Seabrook Island sits atop that list as the Presenting Sponsor, and according to both the event organizers and Seabrook Island officials, it’s a win-win arrangement for all parties involved.

“Sponsoring Charleston Race Week for the second year in a row is a smart business decision for Seabrook,” said Joe Salvo, Executive Director of Seabrook Island Club. “It’s a natural ‘fit’ that the not-so-secret Seabrook Island is helping grow Charleston’s hottest new tourism event, drawing even more visitors and potential home buyers to the Charleston area.”

Meaghan Van Liew, Director of Development for the South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation (the Foundation jointly manages the regatta with the Charleston Ocean Racing Association) concurs. Expounding on the topic, she said: “It’s not hard for local sponsors to see the appealing demographic of this audience. This event attracts discerning competitors with serious buying power, and it’s staged in one of the country’s top-10 travel destinations. From a marketing standpoint, that’s a very strong combination.”

Van Liew pointed out that 15 separate companies are supporting the event this year. “Financially, we have three times the amount of corporate commitment than there was last year, and that’s great for both the companies involved and for the racers.” This growth, she explained, has enabled the organizers to provide more value to the sponsors by way of a printed program, a hospitality yacht, speaking opportunities, enhanced branding, and more space for exhibits. And, said Van Liew, the racers receive better shoreside festivities and expanded regatta management. “We believe that this year’s event will offer an increase in benefits for everyone involved,” she asserted, “and that creates an important foundation for the regatta’s future.”

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