2016 St. Thomas International Regatta announces official sponsors

by Carol Bareuther on 3 Mar 2016 Organizers of the St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR) are pleased to announce that Cruzan Rum and Presidente Beer, distributed by Glazer’s Premier Distributors, LLC, are the official beverages of the 2016 STIR Regatta.

“We are very excited to partner for our second year with Cruzan Rum and Presidente Beer for STIR 2016. These products will surely enhance the overall atmosphere of our regatta, especially at our nightly parties with live bands at St. Thomas Yacht Club and big party at Yacht Haven Grande on Saturday March 26. We look forward to welcoming everyone to STIR – sailors and landlubbers, visitors and residents alike - for a great regatta, a Cruzan Rum drink and cold Presidente Beer,” says regatta director, Chuck Pessler.

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. This year, Cruzan Blueberry Lemonade, the newest flavor to the Cruzan lineup, debuts at STIR. The smooth quality of Cruzan Rum with the sweet fruity flavors of blueberries and tangy tastes of lemon packs a punch of flavor in this rum.

And the tradition continues! 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 Beer, hailing from the neighboring Dominican Republic and recognized as the number one beer of the Caribbean, is also proud to be a sponsor of STIR 2016. Owned and operated by Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, Presidente Beer is a pale lager with a rich refreshing flavor.

The entire Cruzan line of Cruzan Rum as well as light and dark Presidente Beer will be available at all of the STIR 2016 events.

“Rum and sailors have gone together since the days when pirates marauded the Caribbean Sea. For over two hundred years, our locally distilled Cruzan Rum has been the grog of choice in the Virgin Islands and, now, around the world. Just as STIR has welcomed more and more sailors every year from the region and beyond, Presidente Beer, a favorite of our neighboring Dominican Republic, is also proud to be a sponsor of STIR 2016. After three days of salty competition out in the ocean, both Cruzan Rum and Presidente Beer are happy to be the refreshing beverage of choice on shore. We wish all the sailors best of luck for STIR 2016!” says Beth Aycock, senior marketing manager for 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.

STIR, now in its forty-third year, is world-renown as the Crown Jewel of Caribbean yacht racing for its fantastic round-the-buoys and round-the-rocks racing, first-class race committee and friendly can-do attitude for the competitors. Over 80 entries from the Caribbean, U.S., Europe and Australia, including first-ever Gunboat and VX One classes as well as Grand Prix yachts and a fleet of over 20 one-design IC24s, are expected to compete in 2015. Crews are a combination of America’s Cup, Olympic and World Champion veterans as well as local Caribbean rock stars. STIR is welcoming a new event, the Round the Rocks Race, a circumnavigation of the beautiful neighboring island of St. John, on March 24.