southern boating

34 s SOUTHERNBOATING.COM s MARCH 2016

Three of the Caribbean’s biggest regattas take place this

month: The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, St. Thomas

International Regatta and BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival.

Sailors and sailing enthusiasts alike come from around the

world to race and watch. It’s an excellent opportunity to join in

the fun on sea and shore. New this year, all three regattas offer

added racing before their main three-day events.

St. Maarten kicks off with its Gill Commodores Cup March

3-6. Like last year, all classes—not just the racers—are

welcome to enter. The St. Thomas International Regatta (March

24-27) launches its first-ever Round the Rocks Race on. The

course is a beautiful circumnavigation of the adjacent U.S.V.I.

of St. John. The B.V.I.’s Sailing Festival (March 28th-April 3rd),

as part of its 45th anniversary celebration, offers two days of

warm-up racing.

What make these regattas so great, too, are the calibre

of talent and the spectacular yachts. For example, Dutch-

based Team Brunel aboard their 65-foot Volvo Ocean Racer

is entered in St. Maarten. This sleek, canting keel yacht will be

on the dock at the St. Maarten Yacht Club, so it’s easy to get

a close up and personal look at this amazing racing machine.

An entire class of Gunboats will race in St. Thomas, including

the U.S.’s Phil Lotz and Robert Alexander on the GB 60s,

Arethusa and Fault Tolerant, respectively, as well as Jason

Carroll’s GB 62 Elvin. Over a dozen VX One teams from as

far away as Australia will be racing in St. Thomas and in the

B.V.I. as part of the inaugural two-leg VX One Caribbean Cup.

Most exciting is that all three regattas offer a vibe that isn’t

equalled anywhere else in the world and the chance to stand

shoulder-to-shoulder with America’s Cup veterans, Olympic

medallists and world champions with free-flowing rum in

hand and toe-tapping to a pulsating Caribbean beat. No blue

blazers or membership cards required. heinekenregatta.com,

stthomasinternationalregatta.com, bvispringregatta.org

Charter by the stateroom in the B.V.I.

If you ever wanted to take a crewed yacht charter in the

Caribbean but didn’t have the cash or crowd of family and

friends for an entire boat, no worries. The Moorings makes

it easy. Now, in the B.V.I. only, you can charter one of three

staterooms aboard a Moorings 4600 or Moorings 4800

catamaran. Dates are pre-determined, while meals, beverages

(including fully stocked bar), snacks, water sports, Wi-Fi,

and housekeeping are included. Prices range from $3,800

to $6,500 for double occupancy, for seven days. “Sail Away

Staterooms are still a highly personalized experience, with a

professional captain and gourmet chef providing experiences

and culinary delights that are designed to meet guests’

preferences,” says Carol Hansen, senior content manager for

the Clearwater, Florida-headquartered The Moorings. Another

unique advantage is the opportunity to meet new people and

experience affordable island-hopping aboard a luxury yacht.

moorings.com

By Carol Bareuther

Puerto Rico’s Lazy Dog crew race in the St. Thomas

International Regatta.

DEAN BARNES

CARIBBEANCARIBBEAN

CURRENTSCURRENTS

It’s regatta time!