The tend to be a little more low-key compared to some of the other Caribbean islands, but on March 28 – 30, the U.S. Virgin Islands will take center stage as the hub of one of the most prestigious boating races on the planet.
The St. Thomas International Regatta in St. Thomas pulls in the who’s who of boat boys, with teams all over the world coming in for a piece of the action. The Caribbean is ideal for boat racing: The winds are reliable, and, excluding hurricanes, the waters fairly calm. This is the 41st year the oh-so-upper-crusty St. Thomas Yacht Club is conducting the event.
For those not in the know, a regatta is not just a single race; there are in fact several classes and courses making their way through the cuts and cays of St. Thomas and St. John. Featured distance races stretch from Cowpet Bay to Charlotte Amalie Harbor and back, showcasing the islands’ coastline, people, music, and Charlotte Amalie, the pastel-colored capital of “America’s Caribbean.” Nor is it a particularly calm event; the crews are practically in a frenzy falling over each other adjusting course, sails, tilt, and lots and lots of other factors before making it to the finish line. Like avoiding ramming into a competitor.
Now, just to be clear, this is not some local event attended by a few snooty yuppies wearing J. Crew. How uptight can it be when one of the vessels is called “Big Booty?” (A reference to pirate treasure, don’t you know.) Over 1000 sailors intend go bow to bow for the gold, but for the landlubbers content with staying on dry land, it pays to come a little earlier, on March 26, for the 1st Annual St. Thomas International Regatta Golf Challenge that is the unofficial start of the festivities. Of course, it goes without saying that parties will shake the USVI to their foundations; this is one of the biggest events on the islands’ calendar.
The regatta is the premier sailing event of the Caribbean and far and away the most prestigious (perfect for you looky-loos). Switzerland’s Franck Noel and Monaco’s Irvine Laidlaw are already chomping at the bit, and while those names might mean zippo to some, these guys are the best of the best, and they mean business. There are hundreds of boat races out there, but the St. Thomas International Regatta is one everybody wants to win. And it’s a perfect excuse to check out the islands to boot.
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