Registration open for 51st St. Thomas International Regatta
by Carol Bareuther 6 Oct 2024 08:31 PDT
March 28-30, 2025
J-121 Apollo at the 2024 St. Thomas International Regatta © Ingrid Abery /
www.ingridabery.com
Get ready to cross a 'must-do' Caribbean regatta off your bucket list! Registration is now open for the 2025 St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR) set for March 28-30, 2025.
Hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC), this regatta welcomes top international, regional, and local talent to race on professionally set courses. Moreover, registration is also now open for the Round the Rocks Race (RTR), which circumnavigates the neighboring island of St. John on March 27, 2025. The RTR is a terrific opportunity to tune up for STIR and provides an additional chance to post a podium finish. With its quintessential beachfront Caribbean vibe and organizers 'can do' attitude toward competitors, it's easy to see why STIR has been a signature Caribbean regatta for over half a century.
"Sailors can look forward to the best in handicap and one-design racing on round-the-islands and round-the-buoy courses professionally set by some of the best race management in the world. In 2025, we will welcome the VX One class as part of the VX One Caribbean Cup and host the IC24 Caribbean Championship as part of STIR. This we match with friendliness, hospitality, and an equally popular club-run event ashore," says Pat Bailey, who co-directs STIR 2025 with Greer Scholes. "As we like to say, 'We Love It Here,' and we invite you to register now and race with us in March."
Discount on Early Registration
Everyone is invited! STIR 2025 invites CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association-handicap rule), ORC, Multihull, CSA Bareboat, IC24, VX One, Hobie Waves, and One Design classes with a minimum length of 19 feet. Pay only U.S. $170 by January 31, 2025. From February 1 to March 27, 2025, the entry fee increases to U.S. $370 for all classes, except for $230 for IC24s and VX Ones, and $150 for Hobie Waves. A limited number of IC24s and Hobie Waves are available for charter from the St. Thomas Sailing Center (STSC).
NEW! VX One Caribbean Cup, IC24 Caribbean Championship
New for STIR 2025 are the VX One Caribbean Cup and the IC24 Caribbean Championship.
The VX One Caribbean Cup 2025 offers sailors of this one-design sport boat an opportunity to race in two back-to-back regattas: STIR, March 28-20, 2025, and the BVI Spring Regatta (BVISR), April 4-6, 2025. As of September 2024, nearly 12 boats from the VX One North American class association have committed to participating, and the class expects at least 18 total or more to race. In the North American fleet alone, multiple former Olympians, America's Cup participants, and pro sailors choose to race the VX One for fun with family and friends, as the fleet is 100% unpaid. A turnkey boat transport, registration, loading, and unloading package is available by contacting Tim Pitts at +1 (401) 419-9010 or Email .
Twenty IC24s are expected to race as a one-design class in STIR. In 2025, this will be an event-within-an-event called the 2025 IC24 Caribbean Championship. New will be a change in scoring, allowing one throw-out with the completion of 7 or more races. There will also be a class party and a special overall prize.
Charter or BYOB
Chartering makes it especially easy to fly in, jump on a race-ready yacht, and sail!
The STSC has limited Hobie Waves and IC24s available for race charter for STIR 2025. The charter fee for the IC24s is U.S. $3200 with sails for Club members and $3700 for non-members.
"The St. Thomas Sailing Center offers an IC24 race-ready package, so you can show up, step on the boat, and go racing! Plus, we are offering a full-day clinic on the Wednesday before the event, led by professional coaches and local experts who will share invaluable local knowledge tips. These sessions will include video analysis and team debriefs," says Robert 'Bobby' Brooks, STSC director.
Beyond this, the J/120, J-aguar, is available for whole boat charter for STIR 2025 from Caribbean Races or Email: .
LV Yachting, based in the UK, offers two vessels for charter for STIR: Emily of Cowes (Elan 450) and El Ocaso (J122). To reserve, visit LV Yachting
"St. Thomas is a fantastic regatta with world-class race management and great courses that weave through the cuts and cays that surround the islands. The scenery is breathtaking! After racing, the St Thomas Yacht Club makes everyone feel welcome, and to top it off, there is great live music most nights," says Lucy Jackson, director of LV Yachting.
For those who want to BYOB, or bring their own boat, Caribbean Regatta Logistics, owned and operated by St. Thomas native Ben Beer, can assist owners and teams in bringing their boats to race. Beer handles logistics for big international race teams that compete in the Caribbean, such as Vesper, Prospector, Spookie, and all the 72s. (Cell (340) 998-6203; Email: ), Web: Caribbean Regatta Logistics
The STIR Website will be updated regularly regarding race charter opportunities.
Book Flights and Accommodation Now!
Hands down, STIR is the easiest to reach of all the Caribbean regattas. The host destination, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, welcomes direct flights on six major airlines from mainland gateway cities in the U.S. These include American Airlines (Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, New York), Delta (Atlanta, New York), Frontier (San Juan), JetBlue (Boston, San Juan), Spirit (Fort Lauderdale, Orlando), and United (Houston, Newark, Washington-Dulles). Air Sunshine, Cape Air, Fly the Whale, Sea Flight, and SKYhigh Dominicana operate within the Caribbean, serving St. Thomas.
Accommodations on St. Thomas include resorts, hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and timeshares. There are approximately 600 villa units and 200 charter yachts on St. Thomas/St. John. Airbnb listings number over 3,000 in St. Thomas. For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, go to Visit US Virgin Islands.
For more information visit St. Thomas International Regatta.