The sixth edition of the Charleston to Bermuda Race (C2B) got off without a hitch under sunny skies in Charleston Harbour yesterday.

With thousands lining the shoreline and nearby docks, the 18-boat fleet enjoyed an uneventful downwind start before setting sail for Bermuda with spinnakers in full bloom heading out into open seas.

Present to witness the spectacle on behalf of the Island was Lady Vereker and past St.George’s town crier Micheal E.Jones onboard the Spirit of Bermuda — along with an entourage of local Gombeys that added some colour and spice to the occasion.

“About half the fleet was jockeying for position and wanted to cross the line first while the other half laid low. Some of the boats sailed fairly close to the Spirit of Bermuda, but other than that nothing really dramatic occurred,” commented race press officer Meaghan Van Liew.

“The start was really neat because the start line was between the Spirit of Bermuda>and the Spirit of South Carolina — America’s newest tall ship. The atmosphere was absolutely amazing — it was quite a scene.

“And because the tall ships are here there were thousands of people lining the docks — it was packed and just overflowing with people who got very excited when they heard the Gombey drums.

“It was a warm, beautiful sunny day and we could not have asked for anything better.”

Today’s forecast, however, calls for larger and rougher seas.

At the helm of one of two catamarans in the fleet is Teddy Turner — son of media mogul Ted Turner. Turner has completed the 777-nautical mile crossing on a few occasions and again finds himself among the favourites to claim line honours early next week when entries are expected to begin arriving in local waters.

“It’s going to be a real toss-up to the finish,” Liew added.

The Charleston to Bermuda Race — held biennially — was founded in 1997 to provide sailing enthusiasts the opportunity to test their navigational and true blue water sailing skills.

The regatta — jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism — is open to any seaworthy sailing vessel 30 feet and longer, and is owned and organised by the South Carolina Maritime Foundation

Midnight Rider claimed the spinnaker class and overall line honours during the 2005 C2B which ended under anti-climatic circumstances when light winds forced race organisers to abandon the regatta, while E’s Alee and Zippity Do Dawon the cruising and non-spinnaker classes respectively.