International Optimist Regatta - Regular registration ends May 15

by Carol Bareuther on 10 May 2017 Register now! The 25th anniversary International Optimist Regatta (IOR), presented by EMS (Electronic Merchant Systems) Virgin Islands – one of the first and largest regattas in the Caribbean to promote youth sailing, plus kick-off TOTE Maritime Clinic and TOTE Maritime Team Race, will take place June 12 to 18, 2017.

'We are looking forward to another great year and expect to have 85 to 100 sailors again this year. Currently, we have sailors from the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Antigua and several states in the USA,” says Ann Nicolosi, regatta co-director with Holly Jenkins. “Additionally, we are planning a special celebration to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of IOR. Looking back on the past 25 years, we have seen this regatta grow from a local event to an international one attracting some of the best Optimist sailors in the world.'

Impressively, past winners and participants in the IOR have become college All-Americans and on the world sailing stage, first-ranked match racers, one-design class world champions, Olympians and team members on America’s Cup campaigns.

Last year’s overall champion, St. Thomas’ Mia Nicolosi, will be back as will Stephen Baker, from the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Florida, who finished third overall last year and will definitely keep Nicolosi and the other advanced fleet sailors on their toes.

The TOTE Maritime Clinic is set for June 12 to 14. Some of the best Optimist coaches in the world conduct on-the-water training sessions instructive on-land debriefs for both advanced (Red, White and Blue Fleets) and beginner (Green Fleet) sailors. These coaches are Gonzalo Pollitzer (currently coaching the Norwegian Optimist Team), Manny Resano (California Yacht Club, USA), Eric Bardes (Team LIMA (Long Island Mid Atlantic), USA), Omari Scott (Coral Reef Yacht Club, USA), Santiago Galan (St. Croix Yacht Club, USVI), Esteban Rocha (Sequoia Yacht Club, USA), and Agustin Resano (St Thomas Yacht Club USVI). This talented team boasts amazing resumes, including coaching sailors, both boys and girls, to first place and podium finishes in the Optimist Worlds, South Americans, North Americans and Asians in fleet and team racing.

“The clinic will be focused on starts, strategy, and tactics,” says Agustin Resano. “The advantage of having a clinic to practice followed immediately afterwards by a regatta is the chance for sailors to ‘put everything together’. It’s the best type of training and with coaches that are among the best in the U.S. and World.

The TOTE Maritime Clinic cost is $350. This payment includes breakfast and lunch for the three days. Clinic registration closes on May 15th.

Over a dozen teams are expected for the TOTE Maritime Team Race, on June 15th. Entry fee for this one-day event is $160 per team of four sailors. Registration is available only on-site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 14th.

“We are proud to sponsor the TOTE Maritime Clinic and TOTE Maritime Team Race for this our tenth consecutive year. We look forward to hosting and continue contributing to the growth of this event as well as the development of our youth sailors,” says Reinaldo Seijo, account executive, TOTE Maritime Agency USVI, Inc.

The IOR, presented by EMS Virgin Islands, takes place June 16 to 18. The entry fee is $250. After May 15, the late entry fee is $275. This entry fee includes an event T-shirt, registration ‘goodie’ bag, and all meals from Thursday dinner through Sunday’s Brunch.

The IOR is sponsored by EMS Virgin Islands, TOTE Maritime, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and K3 Waterproof Gear.

To register, visit website. The Notice of Race is available online - Click here.

For charter boats, request and confirm online at www.optistuff.com. Or, contact Pete Gregory, McLaughlin Boat Works, 1 (423) 875-0740, 1 (423) 875-4040 or Toll Free in the U.S. 1 (800) 784-6478; Email: pete@optistuff.com. Deadline to reserve charter boats is May 31, 2017.

For accommodations, call the Elysian (800-775-1000 ext. 568) or VP Rentals (800-788-4847). Rent condos or villas thorough Sea Glass Properties (340-774-5277), John Foster Real Estate (340-775-9500) or Curreri & Co. (340-776-9292).

For more information, call (340) 775-6320, Email: internationaloptiregatta@gmail.com, or visit the host St. Thomas Yacht Club website. Please also visit the International Optimist Regatta on Facebook!