St Thomas International Regatta announce sponsors

Over 25 one-design IC24s are expected to race in 2015. Dean Barnes

Excitement reigns supreme in the Crown Jewel of Caribbean Yacht Racing. © Dean Barnes

'Cruzan Rum and Presidente beer are a great fit to the sailing scene. Rum is the dominant beverage in the Caribbean and the US Virgin Islands is the home of Cruzan Rum. Presidente, which is produced in the Dominican Republic, has been exploding in popularity throughout the islands among sailors and non-sailors alike,' says Jon Charlton, vice president and general manager for the U.S. Virgin Islands of Glazer’s Premier Distributors, one of the largest distributors of wine, spirits and malt beverage products in the U.S. and headquartered in Dallas, TX.

Cruzan Rum, which is produced at its Estate Diamond distillery on St. Croix, was founded in 1760 and has been run by eight generations of the Nelthropp family albeit with changes in corporate ownership over the years. The company produces some 50 award-winning rum products in different flavors and ages. Skippers in the St. Thomas International Regatta will receive a commemorative 750 ml bottle of Cruzan’s flagship Cruzan Single Barrel Rum, a medium-to-full-bodied blend of vintage rums aged from 5 to 12 years. New this year too, the skipper winning the regatta’s most competitive class as judged by a trio of race officials will receive his or her weight in Cruzan Rum.

Presidente, owned and operated by Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, is a pale lager with a rich refreshing flavor.

The entire Cruzan line of Cruzan Rum as well as light and dark Presidente will be available at all of the St. Thomas International Regatta events and parties.

'We are very excited to announce our new partnership with Cruzan Rum and Presidente beer. It's exciting to have a U.S. Virgin Islands rum and Caribbean beer onboard as key sponsors of our St Thomas International Regatta. We wanted to bring the right products to our regatta to enhance the overall atmosphere and I believe we have accomplished just that with our new partnership with Glazer’s Premier Distributors. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Cowpet Bay this March for a great regatta, a cold beer and a rum drink you can really enjoy,' says regatta director, Bill Canfield.

The St. Thomas International Regatta, now in its forty-second year, is world-renown as the Crown Jewel of Caribbean yacht racing for its fantastic round the buoys and round the islands racing, first-class race committee and friendly can-do attitude towards its competitors. Over 80 entries, including more Grand Prix yachts and a fleet of over 25 one-design IC24s, are expected in 2015.

Register online at www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=1219

For more information about the regatta, visit www.stthomasinternationalregatta.com.

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