10th Round the Rocks Race and 52nd St. Thomas International Regatta Preview

The USVI's Mila Melbourne skippering a Hobie Wave in STIR 2025 © Ingrid Abery Photography

More than 40 boats and hundreds of sailors from across the Caribbean, the U.S., and Europe are set to converge on St. Thomas for the 52nd St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), April 3-5, 2026.

Now in its sixth decade, the U.S. Virgin Islands' flagship regatta continues to deliver a winning formula—competitive racing on world-class courses by day, followed by high-energy beachside celebrations with live music, spirited beverages, and island hospitality each night.

"Excitement is building for the week ahead as the fleet features our core spinnaker racing and non-spinnaker racing classes alongside elements unique to STIR, including the Caribbean's largest IC24 class—designed at St. Thomas Yacht Club to promote competitive racing—Hobie Waves that introduce the next generation to the sport, and, this year, Sunfish sailors using the regatta as a tune-up for November's Worlds in St. Croix. This mix of handicap and one-design yachts will race on professionally set courses, with real-time online scoring for a global audience. Add the toes-in-the-sand atmosphere, lively shoreside scene, and signature blend of competition and camaraderie, and you have STIR—'We Love It Here! Come Join Us!" says Pat Bailey, who co-directs STIR 2026 with Greer Scholes.

There is still time to enter! Sailors are invited to compete under CSA, ORC, IRC, and Multihull handicaps in classes spanning Racing, Cruising, CSA Bareboat, and One Design fleets, including IC24s, Diam 24s, Hobie Waves, and Sunfish, plus additional One Design classes 19 feet and over. Entry is $340, with reduced fees of $240 for IC24s, $150 for Hobie Waves, and $75 for Sunfish. Enter now at yachtscoring.com/emenu/50483. Get an extra day to tune up by entering the Round the Rocks Race at yachtscoring.com/emenu/50495. The competitive course circumnavigates the 19-square-mile neighboring island of St. John, home of the Virgin Islands National Park.

On The Water Line-Up

The swift-sailing line-up of entries for STIR 2026 includes CSA Spinnaker Racing and CSA Non-Spinnaker Racing, and three One-Design Classes, the latter of which are IC24, Hobie Wave, and Sunfish.

In CSA Spinnaker Racing, the USA's Donald Nicholson's J/121, Apollo, will sail STIR fresh from winning the CSA Spinnaker class at the BVI Spring Regatta this past weekend. Boats having raced in the BVISR receive a 10% discount on STIR entry at registration, making it easy to extend the Caribbean racing circuit.

The nearly dozen-boat strong IC24 class is the largest of the regatta. This year, the class will also compete in the 2026 IC24 Caribbean Championship, an event within STIR. One of these entries is the 2025 IC24 Class Champion, Stinger, with St. Thomas' Yale University All-American skipper, Teddy Nicolosi, at the helm.

C24 Team from Ireland having just arrived to St. Thomas earlier this week. Sailors are L to R: Johnny White, Caragh Heagney, and Roger Smith on the far right - photo © Team Ireland

Another IC24 entry, whose team has chartered Black Pearl, hails from Dublin, Ireland.

"One of our team, Daragh Heagney, raced in the 2024 STIR and was good enough to rope Johnny White and me into it for this year," says Roger Smith. We have heard great things about it and are really looking forward to coming over.

The team sails out of Howth Yacht Club, with crew gear sponsored by The Harbour Bar, the village's oldest pub, arranged by teammate Heagney. Collectively, the crew brings extensive keelboat and offshore racing experience, including past Caribbean regattas. A standout result includes a Class 3 win in the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 aboard Bam. Team members have also competed in major offshore races such as the Fastnet and Round Ireland, typically in far colder conditions, making St. Thomas a welcome change.

"We have not sailed much together in recent years, but the IC24 sounds ideal for the three of us to turn up, hopefully pick up one or two extra crew from the dock, and get stuck in. We will do our best, have a bit of fun, and hopefully make a decent showing of ourselves along the way. If the top five proves a bit ambitious, we are at least hoping to be the best-dressed boat on one of the days!" says Smith.

Only a few IC24s are left for charter for STIR. Charter rates, including race-ready sails, are $3,400 for STYC members and $3,700 for non-members. Reserve through the St. Thomas Sailing Center by contacting Bobby Brooks at (340) 690-3681 or .

Half a dozen boats are already registered in the One-Design Hobie Wave class, a popular class with young sailors. St. Thomas, USVI's Mila Melbourne, who finished third on the podium last year, will be racing again.

"Regattas are my favorite, and the STIR Hobie class is a really fun one. I enjoy the fun racing environment with my friends and the competition," says Melbourne.

Drink, Dine & Dance

After each day's racing, shoreside festivities feature refreshing drinks, food for purchase, and live music. The Mount Gay Trade Winds Cocktail Party opens the line-up on Thursday, following the Round the Rocks Race, where returning sailors are welcomed dockside with a cold Michelob Ultra. This tradition continues after each race day. Awards for the Round the Rocks Race are set for 5 p.m., with dinner at the St. Thomas Yacht Club's Galley Restaurant from 5-7 p.m. and DJ Niko spinning from 4-6 p.m.

Photo: Mount Gay, distributed in the USVI by CC1, is one of the sponsored beverage brands for STIR 2026. Credit: CC1 USVI

Friday's celebration, marking the first day of STIR, spotlights the Dark' n Stormy, the Bermuda-born cocktail trademarked by Gosling's Black Seal Rum. Dinner is served from 5-7 p.m., with live music by Stephen Sloan starting at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, the Aperol Spritz takes center stage, offering a bright, citrusy toast to the day's racing. Dinner runs from 5-7 p.m., followed by music from Roxnonstop from 6-10 p.m.

Sunday wraps up with Mount Gay Regatta Rum Punch, the 5 p.m. Awards Ceremony, and live music by Tim West to close out the regatta.

"At CC1 Virgin Islands, we recognize how important it is to support local initiatives and community causes, especially ones like STIR with such a historical footprint on our islands. That's why we're proud to serve as the official beverage sponsor of STIR 2026. We've thoughtfully selected our sponsoring brands - Mount Gay, Gosling's, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Surfside Iced Tea & Vodka, Aperol Spritz, and Michelob Ultra - to complement the regatta atmosphere and help to create an unforgettable experience for everyone, says Loretta Biss, Commercial Director at CC1, distributor of these brands in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Strong Sponsor Support

STIR organizers thank the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; The Moorings; K3 Waterproof Gear; Ocean Surfari; Cardow Jewelers; and Mount Gay, Gosling's, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Surfside Iced Tea & Vodka, Aperol Spritz, and Michelob Ultra, distributed by CC1 USVI, for their strong sponsorship support.

STIR 2026 is a Sailors for the Sea Clean Regatta featuring green initiatives.

For more information, contact Regatta Co-Director Pat Bailey at Cell/WhatsApp (340-690-6607), Email: , or visit stthomasinternationalregatta.com. Check out St. Thomas International Regatta on Facebook, and @STIRVI on Instagram.