The St. Croix Yacht Club is proud to host its 12th
Annual International Regatta for adults accompanied by the return of last
year’s successful Optimist Regatta for young people under age 16.
Well known for its warmth of welcome and highly
personal service to participants, the St. Croix club kicks off the weekend with
Cruzan Rum Welcome Party with U.S. Customs and Immigration arrangements on site
at the Yacht Club from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, February 18.
New this year is Early
Regatta Registration:$200 for all
entries (except Beach Cats, entry fee $100) if registered by January 18,
2005.After January 18, all entries
increase to $250 (Beach cats $150.)
For the junior
sailors, Optimist Regatta entry is $35
and charter boats are $50 (with a $100 damage deposit.)
Early registration is encouraged since boats
are limited.
Last year’s overall winner was the
Willy T. from Tortola, skippered by
Kevin Routlette, who received the traditional prize of the skipper’s weight in
Cruzan Rum.
“The 2004 International Regatta was a tremendous
success—both for the racers and for the volunteers who ran the Regatta,” says
Regatta Director Julie San Martin.“We
look forward to the return of PRO Bob Phillips and his able crew from Tortola,
also Chief Judge Henry Menin from St. Thomas.
With their guidance, we are able to run a technically flawless
regatta—in 2004, we had no protests!”
In 2005, boats from St. Thomas, the British
Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands like Antigua and St.
Marten, are expected to participate once again, and local sailors will turn out
in force for the events.
“In 2005, we expect to see previous years’
competitors and new faces, particularly in multihulls, beach cats, and
hopefully, charter boats,” says San Martin.
Kim Jones at St. Croix-based Jones Maritime
hopes to arrange availability of charter boats for this year’s International
Regatta (telephone:(340) 773-4709,
EMAIL jones@viaccess.net.)
Big boat racing takes place starting at 10 a.m.
on three days, from Saturday, February 19th through Monday, the 21st.
Boat classes are Racing, Racer/Cruiser, Jib
& Main, Beach Cat and Large Multi-hull.
St. Martin also notes that the simultaneous
Optimist Regatta, which premiered in 2004, was extremely well received, and is
providing up-and-coming crew for future adult regattas.
“We hope to field even more racers this
year; I expect to see skippers recruiting the kiddies as they turn 16!”
Innovative Communications Corporation has
committed primary sponsorship once again this year for both series of
races.All sailors are welcome, and
Yacht Club membership is not a requirement for participation.
Cruzan Rum plays a starring role in awards
at the annual event.“The winning
skipper will receive his weight in Cruzan rum, and every captain gets a 5th
of Cruzan Rum in his goodie bag,” says San Martin.
Hundreds of volunteer hours are invested on St.
Croix to be sure that sailors have a good race and a great experience while
they are on island, says the Regatta Director.
“The St. Croix Yacht Club International Regatta
has the reputation as the welcoming regatta that goes out of its way to see
that visiting sailors have a good time!"
Entry forms, and a program of events for both
the International Regatta and the Valentine Optimist Regatta will be posted
shortly onwww.stcroixyc.com .
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