47th St. Thomas International Regatta Set for March 2020

Competitors at a previous St. Thomas International Regatta. [photo by Dean Barnes]

Register now and get ready to STIR up the fun. The St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), set for March 27-29, 2020, is the place to be for world-class racing and the chance to trade tacks and tactics with America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean and Olympic crews on the water and off.

What’s more, enter the Round the Rocks Race, a circumnavigation of the neighboring island of St. John on March 26, for an extra day of competition. Add the one-stop venue at the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) and quintessential Caribbean vibe and it’s easy to see how STIR earned its motto: “We Love It Here”

“STIR offers the best of Caribbean racing and it is all done out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) in Cowpet Bay,” said Bill Canfield, who co-directs STIR 2020 with Pat Bailey. “We are known as the ‘friendly regatta’ as we cater to your needs before and during the event. Join us in March and find out why ‘We Love It Here.’”

Everyone and One-Designs Are Invited
STIR 2020 invites CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association-handicap rule), racing, cruising and bareboat classes; IRC; ORC; Multihull, Beach Cats and One-Design classes with a minimum length of 20 feet. Some of the hottest classes will be the one-design. Over 20 IC24s are anticipated to be on the start line for STIR 2020. The fleet of Hobie Waves is growing too.

 

The St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR) will take place from March 27-29, 2020,

“STIR 2018 was a first for many of the crew on Apollo; what an awesome event,” said Denise Bienvenu, who captains the boat for owner and avid racer Donald Nicholson of Weston, Mass. “I strongly believe that point-to-point racing using a mix of government marks and islands as turning points is such fun. The racing format, the quality of racing, the professionalism of STIR’s race officers, the hospitality of the St. Thomas Yacht Club and its members – all this helps to make STIR an event that should be on every Caribbean sailor’s schedule.”

“What we really appreciate about STIR is the regatta’s ability to find the perfect balance of very intense racing and fun. We’d love to be back,” said Larry Huibers, who helmed Touch2Play, a Reflex 38 owned by Canada’s Rob Butler.

Last year, Salt Lake City, Utah-based sailor and New York Yacht Club member, Sandra Askew raced her C&C 30, Flying Jenny, in STIR.

“I love St. Thomas. Races are run very well. I’d like to support STIR 2020 if I can,” said Askew, who has since purchased a new IC37.

BYOB or Charter
Bring your own boat (BYOB) or charter. Chartering especially makes it easy to fly in, jump on a race-ready yacht and set sail. Over six outfits are offering vessels to charter either by the boat or crew spot for STIR 2020.

St. Thomas Sailing Center https://stsc.styc.club
Antigua & Barbuda-based Ondeck www.ondecksailing.com
www.caribbeanyachtracing.com
www.performanceyachtracing.com
www.lvyachting.com

50 Percent Discount on Registration – Win Free Performance T-shirts
Register now for STIR 2020: www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=9666. Compete in CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association) Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker; IRC; Multihull; CSA Bareboat; Beach Cat or in One Design classes with a minimum length of 20 feet. Pay only $150 or 50 percent off the regular entry fee, between now and Jan. 31, 2020.

For information, visit: www.stthomasinternationalregatta.com or email: stycisv@gmail.com or call 775-6320. Check STIR out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stirvi or Twitter @stirvi and Instagram #STIRVI