Top notch yacht racing off Puerto Rico’s beautiful southeast shores. Racing
classes that attract sailors from the Caribbean and from around the world.
Shore side parties that boast the best of island hospitality. This is what
makes the Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta (PRHIR), set for March
18-20, 2011, and held out of Palmas del Mar Yacht Club, the island’s premier
sailing event of the year. Add to this organizer’s astute ability to
recognize and incorporate the latest racing trends and you’ve got an
incredible event that offers something for everyone.
“New this year we will offer a one-day stand-up paddle boarding (SUP)
exhibition and competition,” says regatta organizer, Angel Ayala. “The event
will start at 10 am on March 20. Paddle boarders will have two courses to
choose from, one that starts within the marina and a longer course that
starts at Punta Candelero and then winds through the canals of Palmas del
Mar.”
Jaime Torres of Vela Uno in San Juan will orchestrate the SUP event. Torres
is also one of the sailors that will heat up the competition in the big boat
classes with his new Tripp 40. Other local talent to watch will be Sergio
Sagramossa, formerly of Lazy Dog, who will be racing his new Grand Soleil
54. Puerto Rico now boasts a third J/105, Jonathan Lipuscek’s Dark Star III,
and OnDeck Ocean Racing, based in Antigua, will offer charters for the
regatta.
The one-design J/24 and Hobie 16 fleets will especially be out in force.
Teams will be coming in both fleets from the Dominican Republic and Mexico
in order to train for the Pan American Games, set for Guadalajara, Mexico,
this summer.
Kite-boarders from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic will compete again
in their own class.
“We’ll offer a mix of windward-leeward courses for the one-design and racing
classes,” says Ayala. “There will be courses with reaches for the cruising
classes. We may run a distance race to Vieques for some classes.”
Regatta festivities will kick-off with a Captain’s Meeting on March 17. The
fleet will race March 18, 19 and 20, with nightly parties and an Awards
Ceremony on March 20.
Classes of entry to the PRHIR will include CSA Spinnaker Racing, CSA
Spinnaker Racer-Cruiser, CSA J24, IC24, CSA Performance Cruiser, CSA Jib &
Main and Beach Cat.
“We will also host the Puerto Rico International Dinghy Regatta at the same
time,” says Ayala. “The Snipes, Optimists, Lasers and Laser Radials will
sail right off the beach.”
There is an entry fee of US $300.00 for all classes except Beach Cats; the
Beach Cats fee is US $100.00. Entries received after March 1, 2011 will be
charged $350.00 for all the classes except Beach Cats. In the dinghy
regatta, entry fee for single-handed boats is $75 and double-handed boats
are $100.
The Palmas del Mar Yacht Club is located inside the resort community of
Palmas del Mar, in Humacao. The 162-slip marina is managed by Island Global
Yachting and offers state-of-the-art facilities for yachts up to 200-foot.
There is a restaurant, bar and grill, private lounge area, shower
facilities, swimming pool, resort wear shop, convenience store, deli and
much more on property and up to a dozen restaurants within walking distance
of the marina. Shore side accommodations at Palmas del Mar Hotel & Villas
include rooms that will be offered at a discounted rate for regatta
participants. In addition, there are villas for rent that sleep 12 and come
with a private boat slip
