San Juan International Regatta - Full blast sailing in the Caribbean

by Carol Bareuther on 4 Feb 2013 The San Juan International Regatta (SJIR) 2013, which was hosted by Club Nautico de San Juan from February 1 to 3, welcomed over 140 sailors in 102 boats racing in 10 classes. Conditions proved perfect with generally sunny skies and winds blowing under 10 knots the first day and gusting to nearly 20 knots on the final day of competition. The mark of a truly great regatta is the opportunity for lots of racing. True to reputation, the SJIR Race Committee ran as many as 13 to 16 races over three days for the dinghy classes and seven races for the newly-added CSA spinnaker class.

'What is so good is the participation of sailors from so many islands and in so many classes. It really levels the playing field and creates a great competition,' says regatta chairman, Luis Fabre. 'It is also wonderful to welcome the first-time addition of the CSA Spinnaker class. This has added a whole new dimension to the regatta. Next year we hope to add a CSA Jib and Main class as well.'

In the nine-boat CSA class, it was Puerto Rico’s Julio Reguero helming his J/105, Umakua who won. Jaime Torres aboard his Melges 32, Smile and Wave, came in second and Sergio Sagramoso’s J/105, Lazy Dog, third.

There were two keelboat classes. Puerto Rico’s Keki Figueroa won the six-boat IC24 class by one point over second place finisher and fellow islander, Robbie Ramos. Fernando Irizzary rounded out third place. In the J/24 class, Puerto Rico’s Jose Fullana on KQLO placed first with Jaime Balzac driving Razzmatazz into second and Francisco Levy on Blow Me third.

The Optimist dinghy represented the largest one-design fleet of the regatta with 60 boats.

The BVI’s Sam Morrell won the 13- to 15-year-old Red Fleet and the Advanced Optimist overall, followed by St. Thomas, USVI’s Scott McKenzie second and St. John, USVI’s Paige Clarke third.

'The conditions were generally good, but it was sometimes shifty,' explains Morrell. 'The Lasers started before us, so my strategy was to look ahead right before our start to see how the wind was affecting them.'

In the 11- to 12-year-old Blue Fleet, Antigua’s Rocco Falcone led with fellow islander, Louis Bavay second and the BVI’s Thad Lettsome third.

'The winds here are just like where I train at home at the Antigua Yacht Club. That helped,' says Falcone, who receives expert coaching not only from the AYC sailing director, but also from his father, Carlo Falcone, of Caccia Ala Volpe fame.

St. Maarten’s Nathan Smith won the age 10- and-under White Fleet with a sizable lead over fellow competitors, St. John, USVI’s Mateo Di Blasi second and St. Thomas, USVI’s Julian van den Driessche third.

'This is the second time I've sailed in this regatta,' explains Smith. 'That was helpful, because I knew where I was going and could focus on tactics.'

Antigua’s Daniel Smith championed the 23-boat beginner Optimist Green class. Puerto Rico’s Mauricio Porrata finished second and Jose Guillermo Mendez third.

In the Laser 4.7 Class, it was the BVI’s Matthew Oliver who triumphed. The race for second was a keen one with Puerto Rico’s Julio Rojo handing the BVI’s Mollee Donovan third. Though both tied in points, Rojo ended with a greater number of first place finishes.

Puerto Rico’s Pedro Fernandez led the Laser Radial Class with fellow islander, Agustin-Lazaro-Lugo, second and St. Martin’s Rhone Findlay third.

'I have a lot of passion for the sport,' says Fernandez of Laser sailing. 'My father sailed Lasers and he helps me train. I train five days a week.'

In the Sunfish class, Puerto Rico’s Gregg Fyffe won with nearly flawless first place finishes.

'I finished second here last year,' says Fyffe. 'I’m used to getting whipped by the kids, but not this time. It was a good regatta.'

Optimist Green

Series Standing - 16 races scored

1.Daniel Smith - Antigua yacht club (47 points)  
2.Mauricio Porrata - PYFC (54 points)  
3.Jose Guillermo Mendez - CNSJ (60 points) 

Optimist Advanced

Series Standing - 11 races scored

Blue Division

1.Rocco Falcone - Antigua Yacht Club (61 points)
2.Louis Bavay - Antiuga Yacht Club (67 points)
3.Thad Lettsome - Royal BVI Yacht Club (74 points)

Red Division

1. Sam Morrel - RBVIY (36 points)
2. Scott McKenzie - VIODA (40 points)
3. Paige Clarke - St Thomas Yacht Club/KATS (53 points)

White Division

1. Nathan Smith - SMYC (89 points)
2. Mateo Di Blasi - STYC (153 points) 
3. Julian van den Driessche - (163 points)

Laser 4.7

Series Standing - 11 races scored

1. Matthew Oliver - Royal BVI Yacht Club (17 points)
2. Julio Rojo - Carolina (25 points)
3. Mollee Donovan - RBVIYC (25 points)

Laser Radial

Series Standings - 11 races scored

1. Pedro Fernandez - Carolina Beach (13 points)
2. Agustín Lazaro-Lugo - Isla Verde, PR (21 points)
3. Rhone Findlay - Sint Maarten Yacht Club (32 points)

Open Division

1. Thomas Maccow - Anguilla Youth Sailing Club (72 points)
2. Diego Campos - Escuela de Vela de Carolina (76 points)
3. Ramon Gonzalez - Salinas (13 OT)
4. Manolo Gonzalez (13 OT)

CSA Spinnaker

Series Standing - Seven races scored

1. Julio Reguero - CNSJ (9.5 points)
2. Jaime Torres - Velauno Sailing (16 points)
3. Sergio Sagramoso - Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club (19 points)
4. Jonathan Lipuscek - CNSJ (4 points)
5. Jose Sanchez/Bernardo Gonzalez - Nautico Fajardo (24.5 points)
6. Kike Gonzales - CNPR (26 points)
7. Jerome O'Neill - Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club (39 points)
8. Felix Cruz - CNPR (40 points)
9. Hector Melendez - Club Nautico de San Juan (9 points)

J24 Series Standing - 12 races scored

1. KQLO - Jose Fullana (12 points)
2. Razzmatazz - Jaime Balzac (20 points)
3. Tax Return - Carlos Feliciano (25 points)
4. Blow Me - Francisco Levy (41 points) San Juan International Regatta