2016

“This weekends event could not have been better. Conditions were great and got better everyday. Competition was only equal to the great times had by all. The STYC is very proud to have hosted this event for 24 years. We look forward to continuing this quality event for years to come. Thank you all to the competitors, parents, coaches, judges , sponsors and especially to our volunteers.”

Commodore Dan Nicolosi

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A vision to create a strong new program to train junior sailors in a boat sailed around the world led to the development of the then Caribbean International Optimist Regatta in 1993. This idea began when St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) junior sailing instructor, Karen Paige, took a group of sailors to the Orange Bowl Regatta in Florida and was amazed at how young sailors adeptly skippered the 8-foot single-sail Optimist dinghy. Paige enlisted the help of ISAF International Judge and St. Thomas resident Henry Menin. Menin at first networked with a teenage Opti sailor from south Florida named Eric Bernstein who was able to ship several boats from the U.S. mainland to St. Thomas. This fleet, plus those bo-rrowed from the neighboring St. Croix Yacht Club, were the boats sailed in the first IOR. Shortly thereafter, Menin and fellow STYC member, Bill Canfield, along with Puerto Rica’s Jose Fuentes, purchased a trailer load of 20 Optimists from Estonia. Sixteen stayed in Puerto Rico and Menin and Canfield brought 4 back to St. Thomas. The next year, Menin contacted Steve Sherman, president of McLaughlin Boat Works, headquartered in Hixson, Tennessee, to see if they would transport Optimists to the Virgin Islands for charter at a reasonable price. This enabled organizers to attract off-island competition for the region’s young sailors. Out of this inauspicious start, the IOR has proven a crucial event in promoting junior sailing in the Caribbean. This has occurred in three key ways.

by Carol Bareuther

History of the International Optimist

Regatta

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First, the IOR has indeed served to train world-class junior sailors. Youth Olympic Gold Medalist, Ian Barrows, plus Olym-pians Cy Thompson, Thomas Barrows and Mayumi Roller from the U.S. Virgin Islands got their competitive start in the IOR. So has other Olympians such as Trinidad & Tobago’s Andrew Lewis and Curacao’s Philippine Van Aanholt. The USVI’s Taylor Canfield, the number one ranked match racer in the world, sailed in the IOR, as has Puerto Rico’s Raul Rio, who won the Optimist World Championship and several Snipe continental championships. Puerto Rico’s Juanky Perdomo and the USVI’s Nikole Barnes and Agustina Barbuto all medaled in the ISAF Youth Championships just a few years after competing in their last IOR. Most recently, the USVI’s Teddy Nicolosi won the Optimist New England Cham-pionships, Optimist Midwinters, Orange Bowl Regatta and IOR all in a 12-month period. These are just a few of many examples.

Secondly, the IOR has helped to seed Optimist programs throu-ghout the Caribbean. One way has simply been the opportunity to race in the IOR. This led one Puerto Rican father to buy the island’s first Optimist so that his son could practice for the IOR. A second way has been the cost advantage for Caribbean island nations of purchasing boats from the charter fleet McLaughlin transported annually to St. Thomas. Spencer Wiberley, vice presi-dent of McLaughlin, estimates he’s sold over 200 Optimists in the Caribbean over the last 23-years via the IOR route.

Third, the IOR caught the attention of International Optimist Din-ghy Association Class Administrator, Helen Mary Wilkes and her husband, Robert. The Wilkes traveled from their home in Ireland to attend the IOR in 1994 and afterwards met with coaches present from all three USVI, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Martinique and Trinidad & Tobago to provide support for Optimist development programs on other islands. This eventually rippled out to the first-ever hosting of the Optimist North American Championships in the Caribbean, in Trinidad & Tobago in 2005. Puerto Rico, Curacao and Antigua have since hosted this continental championship, with the Dominican Republic hosting the region’s first Optimist World Championships.

One hundred and twelve sailors from seven nations competed in the 2016 IOR, presented by EMS Virgin Islands, including nearly 30 beginners. This portends well for the continuing success of this regatta as it reaches its quarter-century mark in 2017 as well as the upward momentum of world-class junior sailors in the Caribbean.

I’ve been involved with this fantastic regatta since its inception over 20 years ago. It has grown into a unique event that creates friendships and memories that will last a life time for those lucky enough to join us on Cowpet Bay. The regatta is run by parents of St. Thomas Yacht Club sailors and supported by the Virgin Islands S ailing Association. Our initial intent was to create an “island regatta” that emphasized both sailing and fun. We wanted something different than the highly competitive stress filled youth event found through out the US and EuropeI’m currently a volunteer at a large number of events but can’t name another that fosters great sailing, a beach atmosphere in such a wonderful fashion. The accomplishments of sailors who have sailed in this regatta are staggering. More importantly the friendships formed by both competitors and their parents is what makes the IOR truly unique among regattas.We have it all- Beach sailing, trade winds, incredible clinic, team racing, and incredible competition. Please join us each and every year to join our club of totally satisfied customers.

Bill Canfield, PRO

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It has been more than ten years since I first came to the International Optimist Regatta in St Thomas. It is one of the most beautiful sailing venues in the Caribbean, friendly people, postcard perfect setting and most important, great sailing. I have watched Green Fleet sailors matriculate through the White Red and Blue Fleets, several becoming world class sailors and others sharing wonderful childhood memories, returning to repeat with their children the same experience that was so important and influential in their life. These photos, t aken by a master of his trade, allow us all to experience what is so great about sailing and what it can add to our life.

Don MakowieckiChief Judge

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The commitment of these young sailors combined with great weather and a well-organized event made the IOR a regatta that EMS was proud to support. We look forward to next year.

Cobia Fagan, Electronic Merchant Systems, presenting sponsor of 2016 IOR

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THE CLINIC

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VOLVO OCEAN RACETHE LONG DISTANCE RACE AROUND THE BAYS

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OPENING CEREMONY

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THE RACES

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CLOSING CEREMONY

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