St Thomas goes IRC

2008 International Rolex Regatta adopts rule to attract more competitors

For the 35th annual running of the International Rolex Regatta in March 2008, St. Thomas Yacht Club will welcome yachts sailing under the IRC rating rule as well as those sailing under the CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association) rating rule. The move - a first for the regatta and likely to set the trend for other Caribbean regattas - is intended to make it hassle-free for racing sailboats from the United States and Europe to compete. IRC is the only rule endorsed by ISAF (the International Sailing Federation) as an international rating rule and accepted throughout the world.

"With the majority of new racing sailboats being designed to IRC, it makes sense to allow them the chance to race under the IRC rule in one of the world's best venues," said Regatta Co-Director John Sweeney. "We aren't abandoning CSA; we are simply offering options to the sailors, and with that, encouraging a larger international fleet."

Sweeney further explained that CSA certificate holders are eligible to obtain an IRC rating as well. "We encourage owners to investigate the requirements, and local measurers can assist in the process," said Sweeney.

"With this development, we expect to see competitive racing under both rules and a growing potential for IRC throughout the Caribbean," said US-IRC Executive Director John Mendez, adding that the event will again be part of the US-IRC Gulf Stream Series. "Yachts that are from the U.S. and already have their certificates can easily join the regatta; I view it like a passport that travels with you wherever you wish to sail."

The three-day International Rolex Regatta, scheduled for Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30, 2008, is an annual favorite on the Caribbean racing calendar, catering not only to handicap yachts but also to one-design sailboats of at least 24 feet and beach cats. The regatta's popularity is attributable to its professional race management, dependable trade winds and varied and challenging schedule of races -- including both windward-leeward and distance courses. After racing, beachside social activities blend St. Thomas Yacht Club's island-style hospitality with the outstanding camaraderie and competition that hundreds of participants have come to expect each year.

For more information on the US-IRC and CSA, visit http://www.us-irc.org and http://www.caribbean-sailing.com. The regatta web page is http://www.rolexcupregatta.com