San Juan International Regatta - Register now

by Carol Bareuther on 21 Nov 2013 The 13th Club Nautico de San Juan International Regatta (CNSJIR) will take place January 31 to February 2, 2014. Sailors who register by November 30, 2013 will save US $40 on registration fees. This means paying only $90 for single-handed sailors.

'We look forward to hosting over 100 competitors from the Caribbean, U.S.A., Central America and the World,' says Commodore Gustavo Hermida.

Classes offered for 2014 include Optimists (Red, Blue, White and Green Fleets), Lasers (4.7, Radial and Standard), Sunfish, IC-24s, J/24s and Open CSA Offshore Racing with Spinnakers. New this year will be the addition of a one-design Hunter 216 Class. A one-design J/70 class is expected to be added for 2015.

Expect the best-of-both-worlds of conditions. San Juan Bay offers protected waters for single-handed classes, while outside the Bay CSA classes can revel in the bigger seas of the Atlantic Ocean. Both racing venues are in full view of the majestic and historic backdrop of 500-year-old San Felipe del Morro fort, making this a spectator-friendly regatta. Temperatures range in the 80s and winds customarily blow 10 to 15 knots in February. This makes the CNSJIR a great tune-up regatta for the sailing season ahead, especially for those who live in colder climates.

Class trophies will be awarded to the first three boats on each class.

Social activities, entertainment, meals and drinks are all part of the fun.

Hotels, restaurants, shops, sights and an international airport with direct flights to the Caribbean, U.S. and Europe are all nearby the Club Nautico de San Juan Yacht Club, located in San Juan.

The CNSJIR is an outgrowth of the Club’s junior sailing program, which was launched in the 1970s. The program, now directed by José ‘Yoyo’ Berríos, combines both technical knowledge with practical hands-on sailing experience. It’s a combination that definitely works. For example, the Puerto Rican sailors who won fleet and team racing awards at the 2008 Optimist World Championships were graduates of the program as were six of the island’s sailors who won five gold and one bronze medal sailing at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez. The addition of CSA classes in 2013 has expanded the opportunity for more sailors to participate.

Sailors from three islands took home trophies at the 2013 CNSJIR. These included Antigua’s Daniel Smit in Optimist Green, the BVI’s Sam Morrell in Optimist Advanced and Puerto Rico’s Julio Reguero aboard Umakua in CSA Racing.

'We invite sailors to register online now,' says regatta director, Berríos. 'We are truly committed to offering a great regatta.'

For more information, to register and to charter a boat, visit the event website.