Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

International Optimist Regatta - 83 sailors from 10 nations set sail

by Carol Bareuther on 21 Jun 2014
83 Sailors from 10 Nations Set Sail in International Optimist Regatta. Dean Barnes
A fleet of 83 seven to 15-year-olds will set sail in the 22nd International Optimist Regatta (IOR), June 21 to June 23. Nearly all of these junior sailors sharpened their skills earlier this week in the pre-regatta Sea Star Clinic, while 11 teams raced in today’s Sea Star Team Racing Championships. A week of high caliber racing plus sailors representing 10 nations – Antigua, Argentina, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Germany, Puerto Rico, Spain, the Netherlands, U.S.A, and all three U.S. Virgin Islands – make the IOR one of the largest youth regattas in the Caribbean.

'The clinic provided a great opportunity for the sailors to practice starts, tactics and strategies,' explains USVI national team coach, Agustin ‘Argy’ Resano.'

The Sea Star Clinic served as an excellent way for 12-year-old German sailors, Jonathan Steidle and Leonardo Honold, to become accustomed to the choppier seas and stronger breeze, conditions unlike the lakes of their home country.

'We usually sail in a small group with one trainer and here we were able to sail in a big group with many trainers. It was good,' says Steidle.

The Sea Star Clinic was run by top local and international coaches.

Eleven teams of four sailors each participated in today’s Sea Star Team Racing Championships. At the conclusion, it was STYC 1, made up of Teddy Nicolosi, Christopher Sharpless, Mateo DiBlasi and Robert Hunter, which emerged victorious. The Sea Star Perpetual Trophy will be inscribed with the names of these sailors.

'What I like about team racing is that you work together as a team to win,' explains 11-year-old Mateo DiBlasi, from St. John.

Sea Star Lines has sponsored the Clinic and Team race for seven consecutive years, says terminal manager, Clarence Nibbs. 'Sea Star Line has always been guided by strong values of safety, reliability, and commitment. We continue to make commitments to the communities that we serve by promoting youth and community events that foster the development of our future. As always, we hope to help build a sense of self confidence, purpose, and discipline in a fun and safe environment by promoting these types of life lessons for our children.'

The 22nd International Optimist Regatta gets underway Friday.

'Participation in the International Optimist Regatta is a wonderful way for our youth to form friendships and a sense of camaraderie with their fellow competitors from around the Caribbean and the World,' says Beverly Nicholson-Doty, the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Commissioner of Tourism. 'In addition, sailing is a sport that teaches our youth many life-lessons such as concentration, self-reliance, determination and sportsmanship.'

In addition to the hi-caliber racing, shoreside activities included tonight’s Parade of Nations and Welcome Party, as well as a Caribbean-themed night that include fire blowers and finally a beachside barbecue and Awards Ceremony scheduled for 3p.m. on Sunday June 22nd.

Trophies will be awarded to the top five finishers in each fleet and top three overall. Additional trophies include the Peter Ives’ Perpetual Trophy, the Chuck Fuller Sportsmanship Award and the Top Female sailor.

The event follows an eco-friendly theme. Sailors are encouraged 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.


For more information, call (340) 775-6320; fax: (340) 775-3600, or Email: internationaloptiregatta@gmail.com, or visit STYC.

Please also visit the International Optimist Regatta on Facebook!

Sea Sure 2025Zhik 2024 DecemberX-Yachts X4.0

Related Articles

24th Argentario Sailing Week day 0
Historic boats from 9 nations have gathered in Porto Santo Stefano Historic boats have gathered in Porto Santo Stefano to take on the 24th edition of the prestigious Argentario Sailing Week, organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano with the tangible support of the Monte Argentario Municipal Council.
Posted today at 4:58 pm
29th Superyacht Cup Palma fleet is ready to go
Crews are now able to size-up the competition in their respective classes The owners, captains and crews of the spectacular array of yachts gathered for the 29th edition of the Superyacht Cup Palma are making their final preparations ahead of the start of racing next Thursday.
Posted today at 3:42 pm
Class40 top guns enter Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever Now 20+ years old, the Class40 has proved itself one of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever.
Posted today at 6:45 am
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third.
Posted on 17 Jun
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community.
Posted on 17 Jun
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom.
Posted on 17 Jun
New Caledonia Groupama Race update
Rushour crew safely back in Noumea after capsize The boat was located and it was identified as capsized. All crew members were accounted for. Crew were transferred in the larger aircraft at Koumac and arrived back at Noumea at about 4pm local time.
Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality.
Posted on 17 Jun
ASBA launches Touring Trophy Series
The new leadership team brings experience, enthusiasm, and strong focus on inclusivity and planning The Australian Sports Boat Association (ASBA) has announced a dynamic new initiative to enhance participation and connectivity within the sports boat community - the ASBA Touring Trophy series.
Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups.
Posted on 16 Jun