St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. If you enjoyed Caribbean racing in the 1970s and 1980s – or heard the stories and wished you were there – this year’s St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), set for March 23-25, 2018, is the place to be!
After some tough soul searching, STIR organizers at the host St. Thomas Yacht Club realized it will be unfair to promise a full-scale regatta without our dock and deck covering. So, the next best thing was to roll back the clock to a simpler era.
“It’s all about simpler times, more fun, no worries and a chance to just come and enjoy the sailing,” says regatta director, Bill Canfield, who has been involved in STIR for all but one of its 45 years and can attest to the great laidback low-key island vibe in the early years. “We will of course offer wonderful sailing ‘around the rocks’, with our veteran PROs, great beach parties, cold rum and hot music.”
STIR 2018 invites CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association-handicap rule) racing, cruising and bareboat classes; Multihull, Beach Cats and One-Design classes with a minimum length of 20 feet. The hot, hot, hot class will be the one-design IC 24’s with over 20 vessels expected on the start line and as many as 12 races over three days.
BYOB or Charter
Bring you own boat or charter! Chartering especially makes it easy to fly in, jump on a race-ready yacht and set sail!
* St. Thomas Sailing Center
Yachts: IC24s
Charter: By the Yacht
Contact: Dave Franzel, (340) 714-4173, stycsailingcenter@gmail.com,
* Caribbean Races
Yachts: J/120 (J-aguar) and Kiwi 35 (Wild Devil)
Charter: By Yacht or by Crew Spot
Contact: Ben Jelic, (721) 527-5006, mrbenjelic@gmail.com,
* OnDeck Racing
Yachts: Beneteau 40.7 (Ortac) and Farr 65 (Spirit of Juno)
Charter: By Yacht or by Crew Spot
Contact: Peter Anthony, (268) 562-6696, antigua@ondecksailing.com,
* Caribbean Yacht Racing Ltd.
Yachts: J/122 (El Ocaso)
Charter: By Yacht
Contact: Bob Hillier, USA +1 (262) 216-5967; St. Maarten +1 (721) 586-4900, bob@
* J122 Experience
Yachts: J122 (Noisy Oyster)
Charter: By Yacht or with First Mate
Contact: Olivier Parchet, +41 79 297 46 81, oparchet@pebble-home.com,
www.J122experience.com
50% Discount on Registration
In keeping with the simpler old-time theme, even the entry fees for STIR 2018 have been rolled back a few decades. Register and pay in full for only US $150 between now and 1700 AST January 31, 2018. Entry fees increase to US $300 between February 1 and March 20, 2018. Registration for IC24s: US $200, Beach Cats: $200
For assistance with accommodations, please Email: stycisv@gmail.com