Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta June 20-26

by Carol Bareuther on 13 Jun 2011 Over 70 of the best Optimist dinghy sailors in the Caribbean and World – including defending champion, Puerto Rico’s Jorge Gonzalez – will converge at the St. Thomas Yacht Club for the Sea Star Clinic, June 20-22, the Sea Star Team Race, June 23, and the 19th Annual Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta, June 24-26.

The age 8- to 15-year-old sailors will represent the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao, the Bahamas and Bermuda as well as U.S. mainland states such as Texas, California and New Jersey.

The Sea Star Clinic begins Monday, June 20th and runs through Wednesday, June 22nd. OptiSailors.com coaches provide registered sailors with top-notch pre-event training,

The Sea Star Team Racing event will take place June 23rd. More than 10 teams are expected to compete.

The three-day Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta kicks off Friday June 24th. Ken Legler, head coach for the Tuft’s University Sailing Team in Medford, Massachusetts, will serve as Principal Race Officer.

Shore side activities include an opening Parade of Nations, a Welcome Party, raffle, ice cream social, a Bingo night and Caribbean-themed night that includes fire dancers. The fun culminates with a beachside brunch and Awards Ceremony on June 26th.

Trophies will be awarded to the top five 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 Sea Star Perpetual Trophy will be inscribed with the names of the sailors on the winning team racing team.

This year’s event will follow an eco-friendly theme. Sailors will be urged 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; Email: scotiabankregatta(at)gmail.com; or visit website.


Sponsors

Scotiabank. Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $526 billion (as at October 31, 2010), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS).

Sea Star Line, LLC. Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, Sea Star Line offers cargo transportation services from North America to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands. Sea Star’s RO/CON vessels are the most versatile in the trade – able to carry the widest range of unique and diverse cargoes. Company operations are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and Green Office standards, and was selected for the QMS Company of the Year Award. Sea Star recently received top honors as a recipient of the 2009 Logistics Management Quest for Quality Award in the Ocean Carrier segment.

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