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International Rolex Regatta - A Treat for Spectators as Well as Competitors

ST. THOMAS, USVI (March 16, 2010) – The only thing that could possibly be more fun than competing in the International Rolex Regatta, scheduled for March 26-28, is watching it from shore. Among the highlights of the regatta’s three racing days are Friday’s “town races,” which take the fleet from St. Thomas Yacht Club right into the heart of the bustling commercial harbour of Charlotte Amalie. The tradition now is for workers downtown to time their lunch breaks to coincide with the noon finish, while others host regatta parties for viewing from various vantage points along the course, which reverses itself when the fleet is started in the harbor after lunch and sent back home to the East End of the island.

The event is part of the hotly contested 2010 US-IRC Gulf Stream Series and directly precedes the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, which is held next door and links the two to make Virgin Islands Race Week.

On Saturday, the IRC classes (as well as classes for CSA Spinnaker Racing, Spinnaker Racing/Cruising, Non-Spinnaker Racing and Beach Cats) will have a chance to impress when they thread their way through and around the cuts, cays and islands off the east end of St. Thomas and along the picturesque coast of St. John.

For Sunday, the beautiful and yet tactically demanding Pillsbury Sound Race, in and among the cays of St. Thomas and St. John, is a highlight of the regatta that finishes off the on-water excitement before racers enjoy the Sunday evening Rolex Awards Ceremony, where a giant stage magically appears in the shallow beach water at the St. Thomas Yacht Club and Rolex timepieces are presented to winners of select classes.

Throughout the event, crews are well looked after with music, meals and dancing at the club and even a giant reggae music concert and food festival at Yacht Haven Grande, the luxury marina where some of the event’s larger boats are berthed.

“Our courses are a high caliber mix of round-the-island distance races and windward-leewards designed to test a sailor’s skills and showcase the stunning shoreline, and our parties are designed to be of epic memory-making proportions,” said Event Co-Chair John Sweeney. “This is what we owe to the sailors at this ‘crown jewel’ of Caribbean races. But at the same time, we owe something back to the St. Thomians and visitors who have supported this event for 37 years. We want them to indulge in these races, too!”

High Definition Action on the Web

For those who can’t be there in person to watch, catching the action, flavor and beauty of the International Rolex Regatta at www.t2p.tv is the next best thing. Each day of the event, T2Productions is on the water filming in high definition, and each night by 9 p.m., the sailing-on-demand online network airs the race coverage plus interviews and lifestyle sidebars in wide screen format. In a nutshell, it’s same-day coverage of one of the most talked about regattas in the Caribbean.

The international Rolex Regatta typically hosts up to 100 boats and guarantees exceptional racing by virtue of its dependable trade winds and professional race management team. It is wholly operated by the St. Thomas yacht Club, so competitors can be certain that the organizers know a thing or two about what world class sailors look for in an international regatta.

A.H. Riise, Official Retailer of Rolex watches in the U.S. Virgin Islands, takes an active role in sponsorship of the event. The St. Thomas shop is one of the largest in the Caribbean and is located on the historic waterfront of downtown Charlotte Amalie. Island Global Yachting and USVI Tourism are also sponsors of the event. Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Hotel, Mount Gay Rum and Heineken are supporters.

For more information, visit www.rolexcupregatta.com or contact:

Bill Canfield
Co-Director, IRR
Phone: +1 340-775-6320
Email: stycisv@gmail.com or directors@rolexcupregatta.com
 

US Media Contact:
Barby MacGowan
Media Pro Int'l
Phone: +1 401-849-0220
Email: barby.macgowan@mediapronewport.com

International Media Contact:
Key Partners (KPMS)
Phone: +41 32 724 2829
Email: info@regattanews.com
www.regattanews.com
www.kpms.com

Interested in using IRC?

Owners and Organizing Authorities wishing to adopt IRC for their events should contact US-IRC Executive Director Luiz E. Kahl for help with the process luiz@us-irc.org.

The US SAILING Offshore office administers the IRC rule in the US. Yacht owners should contact Eric Baittinger at irc@ussailing.org for help with certificate application or with rating questions.

For all US-IRC latest news, events and seminars check out the US-IRC web site at www.us-irc.org and go racing with us.