Airline sponsor for Caribbean circuit

Good news for racing in the Virgin Islands

Cape Air, a regional airline based in the United States and serving the Caribbean since 1998, has signed on as the title sponsor of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle (CORT).

In two week's time, Cape Air CORT 2003 kicks off on 15 February with the three day St Croix International Regatta. One month later, Cape Air CORT moves northwest to Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico International Regatta, 14-16 March and then west to Tortola for the final leg, the BVI Spring Regatta, 4-6 April.

Flying with scheduled and charter flights between San Juan and Ponce, Puerto Rico to St Thomas and St Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, and to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands - the three legs of the CORT series - the sponsorship is a perfect fit.

"We're very excited about this opportunity," said Lisa Schmid, Cape Air's Caribbean community relations manager. "We're looking forward to our involvement with the most historic sailing series in the Caribbean and plan to use all our resources and experience to enhance this great event."
With this in mind, Cape Air is offering charter flights with convenient direct service to St. Croix from Tortola, to Fajardo from St Croix, St Thomas and Tortola and from St Croix to Tortola.

"We recognized that one of the keys to the success of CORT was the ability for sailors to reach, and leave, the events quickly and easily. We hope that these charter flights will encourage more participation and even induce family and friends to fly and support their teams," added Lisa.

To score for Cape Air CORT, yachts must compete in each participating regatta and there will be no discards. CORT participants will be scored separately within their CORT classes. Entry fee is $50 (in addition to the participating regatta entry fees) and includes four free official Cape Air CORT t-shirts.

Prizes for Cape Air CORT 2003 include roundtrip tickets on Cape Air's Caribbean route and Maui Jim sunglasses for the winning boat in each class. Veuve Clicquot champagne will toast the winners and runner-ups. There will also be a grand prize of an all-inclusive 4-day/3-night stay at Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda's world-renowned water sports resort. Each Cape Air CORT entry at the BVI Spring Regatta will be entered into a draw for the vacation package valued at $1800.

CORT started in the early 1980s as a trio of events between Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands and was originally known as the 'Friendship Series'. For a short period of time CORT was CORQ, the Caribbean Ocean Racing Quadrangle, with the fourth leg being Antigua Sailing Week. This lasted only a few years before the series became exclusively a northern Caribbean event again. Last year, competition for CORT was fierce with the winners of several classes being decided by the results of the final races of the BVI Spring Regatta. The 2003 looks like it will offer another action packed CORT series.

Cape Air commenced air service in 1989 with its first flight between Boston and Provincetown. Since then, it has expanded in Massachusetts to Hyannis, Nantucket, New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard and also flies from T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition, Cape Air also flies to Key West, Florida from Ft. Lauderdale, Naples and Ft.Myers. Cape Air is also partnering with Continental Airlines in two new Florida routes, Tampa and Sarasota and Tampa and Ft.Myers. For scheduled reservations and fare information call: Toll free within U.S. 1-800-352-0714 Outside U.S. 1-508-771-6944 or in the BVI on (284) 495 2100.

Competitors can register in advance for Cape Air CORT at www.caribbeanracing.com/CORT/ or on Friday, February 14th at St Croix Yacht Club.