The 2010 Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta is celebrating its 18th year, marking nearly two decades of promoting junior sailing in the Caribbean. The St. Thomas Yacht Club and Virgin Island Sailing Association-hosted and Caribbean Sailing Association-sanctioned regatta is set to sail June 17-20. A record-breaking, 100-plus, 8 to 15-year-old junior sailors are expected to attend from throughout the Caribbean – including all three V.I. Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, St. Maarten and the Dominican Republic as well as the U.S. mainland and European nations such as Spain and Germany.
The regatta is family friendly and offers strong training for the upcoming North Americans in Canada and the Nationals in Virginia,” said Cindy Hackstaff, regatta director, who will be assisted this year by Joyce McKenzie and Margo Lynch as co-chairs. Lawrence A. Aqui, vice president of Scotiabank for the U.S. and the BVI, said, “For young people, sailing offers many life lessons that will serve them well and can make them better members of our community. The sport teaches focus, discipline, self-reliance and respect for the environment. It hones natural instincts. It encourages youngsters to push themselves beyond their comfort zone and leads to the pursuit of excellence.”
Pre-regatta activities will begin Monday, June 14 and run through Wednesday, June 16, when top international coaches will teach the three-day instructional Sea Star Clinic. “In racing, the best way to learn is not just to race but to do drills that focus on specific aspects of racing such as boat handling, boat speed, mark roundings, starts and so forth,” said coach Agustin “Argy” Resano, who will head up the clinic along with Optisailors.com coaches Bocha Pollitzer and Manny Resano as well as USVI sailing coach, Santiago Galan. Resano adds, “The clinic will be broken into two sessions, morning and afternoon. Each session will start with a meeting to talk about the objectives for training. Then, the sailors will sail for about 2 ½ hours and finish up with a video debriefing on shore. This way we can set two different goals each day, morning and afternoon.”
The cost of the clinic is $250 for all registrants; $225 for Green Fleet and Virgin Islands’ residents. It includes breakfast and lunch for the three days. Clinic registration closes on May 15. The Sea Star Team Racing event is scheduled for June 17. “Last year we had 12 teams register and we expect more this year,” said Hackstaff.
The entry fee for the team racing is $160 per team of 4 sailors. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on June 16. Meme St. John, general manager for the Virgin Islands for Sea Star Line, said, “The sea should be seen as an opportunity. It brings great beauty to our lives, offers a myriad of ways to make a living and even more ways to have fun. Our youth should be encouraged to embrace the sea and Sea Star Line is happy to be a part of this great annual event.”
“The regatta entry fee is $185 by March 15. After this date, the fee goes up to $200 by April 15 and $225 by May 15. Final registration takes place June 17. The entry fee includes an event T-shirt, registration ‘goodie’ bag, and all meals from the Thursday, June 17 welcome party through Sunday’s brunch. In addition, those who register prior to May 15 will have their names entered into a special drawing to win top-notch prizes. The three-day regatta kicks off Friday June 18. “We’ll keep the Green Fleet closer to shore in Cowpet Bay where they will sail windward-leeward courses, and we’ll take the Advanced Red, Blue and White Fleets further offshore to sail trapezoidal-shaped courses with the option for windward-leeward if conditions warrant,” said Hackstaff. “This gives each fleet an area where they feel comfortable and can be competitive.”
Shore side activities will include an opening parade of nations, a welcome party, a raffle, an ice cream social, a Bingo night and a Caribbean-themed night complete with fire dancers. The fun will culminate with a beachside brunch and Awards Ceremony on June 20. Trophies will be awarded to the top five in each fleet and top three overall. Additional trophies include the Peter Ives’ Perpetual Trophy, the Chuck Fuller Sportsmanship Award and top female sailor. The Sea Star Perpetual Trophy will be inscribed with the names of the sailors on the winning team racing team. New this year is an eco-friendly theme to the regatta. “Sailors will be urged to recycle all plastic water bottles, use the reusable water bottle in the goodie bag throughout the regatta, keep all lunch bags and wrapping out of the water and pick up any trash on shore and accept drinks without straws,” said Hackstaff.
For more information, call 775-6320; fax: 775-3600, or e-mail: scotiabankregatta@gmail.com. Or, for the Notice of Regatta, registration forms, information on hotel discounts and other information, visit the St. Thomas Yacht Club Web site at www.styc.net. Please also visit the Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta on Facebook! For charter boats, contact Alisa Forester, McLaughlin Boat Works, 1-800-784-6478, 1-423-875-0740, or e-mail: alias@optistuff.com or go to www.optistuff.com
