Caribbean season kicks off

With the International Rolex Regatta in St Thomas

Going south for the winter has taken on new meaning for those entered in the International Rolex Regatta in the US Virgin Islands. From March 23-25, 2007, top yachtsmen and women from around the Caribbean, United States, and Europe will indulge in three days of world-class racing on the warm, clear waters surrounding St. Thomas Yacht Club, the event's host for 34 years.

"With a month to go before registration closes," said Event Co-Chair John Sweeney, "we are expecting our usual mix of veterans and an influx of new talent."

Perennial competitor Bill Alcott (Detroit, Mich.), owner of the Great Lakes-based Andrews 70 Equation, will charter a Swan 60 for the competition. "I do what I call the trifecta - the International Rolex Regatta, the BVI Regatta and then down to Bitter End. It's the best ten days of my life - it has been for decades, and I'm not stopping now."

Doug Baker (Long Beach, Calif.), owner of the record-breaking Andrews 80 Magnitude, will sail an Olson 30 at the event with St. Thomas native Ben Beer aboard to serve as "local knowledge."

Returning to the event is John Gallo (Princeton, NJ) and his crew aboard the J/41 Rivoli. Rivoli won the Around the Island Race in St. Thomas two years ago, and formerly, as Dazzler, won the Newport to Bermuda Race. "We have quite a bunch of characters on our boat," said crewmember Susan Wolterbeek. "John is an entrepreneur, pilot and former jockey; his captain, Jean Braure, is a three-time sailing Olympian and alpine guide."

The USVI's own Olympic aspirant in the 49er class, Anthony Kotoun, plans to skipper an IC/24 (20 of the indigenous boats are expected) or possibly switch to a Melges 24. "The International Rolex Regatta was the first pinnacle event I ever sailed in," said Kotoun, who is fund raising in St. Thomas and his 'other' hometown of Newport, R.I. "It was great when I was a kid, and it's still great; with so much buoy racing I have to do, I still love ripping around the islands."

Kotoun pairs with another local long-time International Rolex Regatta sailor Cy Thompson in his quest for Olympic gold; however, Thompson has collegiate sailing team commitments that are expected to keep him from competing this year in St. Thomas.

OnDeck, a company that runs excursion races in St. Thomas' Charlotte Amalie harbor aboard its charter fleet of ocean racing yachts, will enter one of its Farr 65s with a supplied crew and offer another as a race-ready bareboat charter. The boats are likely to join Jim Muldoon's (Washington, D.C.) Custom 70 Donnybrook and Clive Llewellyn's GS50 Mad IV from France on the starting line.

The Governor’s Cup, supported by newly elected USVI Governor John deJongh and the V.I. Office of Tourism, will be awarded to the boat and crew that has traveled the farthest to race in the event. The winners will receive free accommodations at the Frenchman's Reef Hotel for the 2008 running of the International Rolex Regatta.
Yachts will be divided into classes according to their ratings under the CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association) Rating Rule with special classes accommodating one-designs, multihulls and Beach Cats, as needed.

Deadline for all entries is Monday, March 19, 2007.