Sept. 3, 2006 – The scheduled dates for the St. Croix Yacht Club's 14th Annual International Regatta and 4th Annual International Valentine Optimist Regatta have been moved up one week earlier to mid-February. The race weekend will now be Feb. 9, 10 and 11, of 2007, with two days of competition instead of three, according to a press release from the St. Croix Yacht Club.
St. Croix's race attracts boats from the United States and around the Caribbean, and it is the first major regatta of the year.
The island's favorite product plays a starring role in awards at the annual event. "The overall prize for the most competitive boat in the most competitive field is the skipper's weight in Cruzan Rum," said Regatta Director Julie San Martin. In 2006, winning skipper Dave West of Chippewa, a Farr 395 from Bayfield, Wis., opted to put his heaviest crew member on the club's giant scale and took home eight cases.
Other winning boats in 2006 were Boomerang from Tortola, Racer Cruiser division; Charis+, from St. Croix, Multihull division; Wave Magnet from St. Croix, Beach Cat division; and Brand New Second Hand from St. Thomas, IC-24 division.
Big boat racing starts at 10 a.m., on both Saturday, Feb.10 and Sunday, Feb. 11. Boat classes are Spinnaker Racing, Racer/Cruiser, Performance Cruiser, IC-24, Beach Cat and Large Multi-hull. Innovative Communication Corporation will be the primary race sponsor again for 2007.
St. Croix's race kicks off the three-race CORT (Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle) series, followed later in the season by races in Culebra, Puerto Rico and Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
The adult event is accompanied by the International Valentine Optimist Regatta for young people under age 16, which was first offered in 2004. Last year's winner, Jose Nigaglioni from Puerto Rico, hopped on the scale and took home his weight in Gatorade.
The regatta director promises that her all-volunteer team will again deliver a warm Crucian welcome and exciting racing to visitors and local boaters.
A Notice of Race, entry forms, and a program of events for both regattas will be posted shortly on www.stcroixyc.com, or call the St. Croix Yacht Club at 773-9531.
