26th Annual Thanksgiving Regatta To Honor Steve Dawes, Benefit KATS

CBYC members are honoring Steve Dawes, seen above aboard “Equity” in the 2005 Thanksgiving Regatta. St. John Tradewinds News Photo File

 The Coral Bay Yacht Club’s 26th Annual Thanksgiving Regatta will be Friday and Saturday, November 23 and 24.

The popular sailing race, which attracts skippers from throughout the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, will be in honor of long-time CBYC member and veteran Thanksgiving Regatta racer Steve Dawes, who passed away this year.

“We’re honoring Steve Dawes this year to remember him and his life and his love of the sea,” said CBYC member Denise Wright. “Steve always contributed so much to the yacht club and he was such a good friend to so many members of the community, we really wanted to honor him this year.”

CBYC officials also expect Dawes’ family members from the United Kingdom and France to be on island and participate in the regatta.

While regatta t-shirts and hats will feature Dawes — who lived aboard and extensively sailed his mono-hull Equity — all proceeds from raffle tickets will benefit the non-profit St. John Kids And The Sea program.

Raffle tickets will be available at venues across the island for a chance to win an inflatable dinghy and motor. For more information about the raffle or to purchase tickets, contact any KATS leader or member.

The first day of racing, November 23, will be open to single handed 30-ft and under; single-handed 30-ft to under 40-ft; single-handed 40-ft and over; single-handed multihulls; and optimists/lasers/420s.

November 24 racing will be open to traditional; cruising I under 30-ft; cruising II 30-ft to 40-ft; cruising III over 40-ft; PHRF I; PHRF II; and multihull.

PHRF yachts must provide handicap rating if PHRF is other than what is published in the U.S. Sailing Association PHRF book. Boats using jibs and main sails only will receive 12 seconds per mile.

Captains must announce a decision to race with jib and main sails at the time of registration or will be scored as flying a spinnaker.

Registration is at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, November 23, at Skinny Legs. The skipper’s meeting that day will be at 9 a.m. at Skinny Legs with the first warning and racing to follow.

On Saturday, November 24, the skipper’s meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. at Skinny Legs with the first warning and racing to follow. The awards ceremony will also be at Skinny Legs at 7:30 p.m. on November 24.

Entry fee for the regatta is $40, payable at the time of registration. Sailing instructions will also be available at the time of registration.

 

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