While many regattas around the world are still getting canceled because of coronavirus, Charleston Race Week pressed forward with its 25th anniversary celebration. It came one year late since the 2020 edition was canceled due to the developing pandemic last April. Mass vaccinations combined with a decrease in positive cases throughout most of the United States prompted longtime event director Randy Draftz to forge forward with a Charleston Race Week 2021. Regatta management did so with an abundance of caution, and numerous precautions were put into place to ensure the event was held in a safe and responsible manner. For this year, the focus on April 9-11 was fully on producing top-notch racing, and on that front the regatta was a tremendous success. Classes on Circle 1 (VX One), Circle 3 (J/88, J/105, ORC D) all reached 10 races, while those on Circle 2 (J/70, Melges 24) and Circle 4 (J/22, J/24, PHRF Inshore) finished with nine. New Yorker Kirk Reynolds led the 18-boat J/24 fleet after all three days of racing despite stiff competition from Aidan Glackin and the Mental Floss team. Reynolds started the regatta with eight consecutive results of third or better (posting three straight bullets at one point) to total 17 points. Mental Floss finished first or second in six of nine races and wound up just two points behind. “Kirk did a fantastic job and did not need to use drop until second race (Sunday), which is pretty impressive,” Glackin said. “Every time we thought we could pick up some points on Mental Floss, Kirk and his team kept coming back and passing boats. It was a really good battle, but they were just a bit more consistent.” For complete results, visit https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=12954.