Scotiabank Optimist Regatta

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Register now! The 2012 Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta (SIOR) is celebrating its 20^th Anniversary, marking two decades of fostering junior sailing in the Caribbean. Dates for the regatta and kick-off Sea Star Clinic and Sea Star Team Race are June 18^th to 24^th, 2012.

Renowned as one of the first and largest regattas in the Caribbean to promote youth sailing, the 2012 SIOR welcomes participants this year from around the world.

“We are looking forward to strong representation from Caribbean sailors this year with a record number of sailors from St. Maarten/St. Martin already registered,” says regatta director, Margo Lynch. “We have heard from teams in Canada, New Zealand and Bermuda as well, in addition to large numbers of U.S. sailors.”

Over 80 8- to 15-year-old junior sailors are expected to attend this St. Thomas Yacht Club- and Virgin Island Sailing Association-hosted and Caribbean Sailing Association-sanctioned regatta.

"Scotiabank has been a strong supporter of the International Optimist Regatta since the very beginning, some 20 years ago. As a title sponsor of this annual event, through our global philanthropic vision, the Scotiabank Bright Future Program, we bring together the passion of our employees, the insight of our partners and the spirit of our community. Scotiabank believes in the importance of encouraging kids to get active and involved in sports. It helps them lead healthy lifestyles, improves self-esteem, and fosters a sense of belonging," says Lawrence Aqui, vice president, U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Sea Star Clinic begins Monday, June 18^th and runs through Wednesday, June 20^th. Top international coaches from Optisailors.com such as Agustin ‘Argy’ Resano, Gonzalo ‘Bocha’ Pollitzer, Manuel ‘Manny’ Resano, and Esteban ‘Pilo’ Rocha, as well as Eric Bardes from Team FOR (Florida Ocean Racing), Santiago Galan, US Virgin Islands team coach, and USA team coach, Justine O’Connor, will teach the sailors registered for the clinic.

“The clinic will focus on starts, tactics, and strategy since we are expecting around 50 sailors,” says clinic director, Agustin Resano. “It is the perfect opportunity for the small fleet Caribbean countries to get together and work on those key elements of the sport.”

Cost of the clinic is $300 for non-U.S. Virgin Islands’ registrants and $275 for U.S. Virgin Islands’ residents, and includes breakfast and lunch for the three days. Clinic registration closes on May 15^th.

The Sea Star Team Racing event is scheduled for June 21st.

“We look forward to over 12 teams competing this year,” says Lynch. “This has been a great addition to the event!  Many teams will use this regatta as an opportunity to practice before Optimist Worlds in the Dominican Republic in July.”

Entry fee for the team racing is $160 per team of 4 sailors. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on June 20th.

"Sea Star Line is very pleased to sponsor the 2012 Sea Star Line Clinic & Team Race for the fifth consecutive year,” says Keith McSwain, District Manager. “Because we believe lessons learned on the water are life changing, we take great pride in promoting the youth in events that help them build a sense of self-confidence, purpose and discipline in an environment where sportsmanship is as important as just having fun.”

The three-day Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta kicks off Friday June 22^nd.

The regatta entry fee is $185 by April 15^th. After this date, the fee goes up to $225 by May 15^th and $250 after May 15^th. Those that register prior to May 15^th will have their names entered into a special drawing to win top-notch prizes. Final registration takes place June 21^st. The entry fee includes an event T-shirt, registration ‘goodie’ bag, and all meals from Thursday June 21^st Welcome Party through Sunday’s Brunch.

Shore side activities include an opening Parade of Nations, a Welcome Party, raffle, 20^th Anniversary Party,  ice cream social, a Bingo night and Caribbean-themed night that includes fire dancers. The fun culminates with a beachside brunch and Awards Ceremony on June 24^th.

Trophies will be awarded to the top five sailors in each fleet and top three overall. Additional trophies include the Peter Ives’ Perpetual Trophy, the Chuck Fuller Sportsmanship Award and the top female sailor. The Sea Star Perpetual Trophy will be inscribed with the names of the sailors on the winning team racing team.

This year’s event will follow an eco-friendly theme. Sailors will be urged to recycle all plastic water bottles, use the reusable water bottle in the goodie bag throughout the regatta, keep all lunch bags and wrapping out of the water and pick up any trash on shore and accept drinks without straws.

For more information, call 340-775-6320; fax: 340-775-3600, or Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Or, for the Notice of Regatta, Registration Forms, information on hotel discounts and other information, visit the St. Thomas Yacht Club web site at www.styc.net

Please also visit the Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta on Facebook!

For charter boats, contact Alisa Forester, McLaughlin Boat Works,

1-800-784-6478, 1-423-875-0740, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or http://www.optistuff.com

ABOUT THE SPONSORS

 
Scotiabank.Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 77,000 employees, Scotiabank and its affiliates serve some 19 million customers in more than 55 countries around the world. Locally, Scotiabank has served the U.S. Virgin Islands since 1963. It offers a full range of retail banking and commercial services through nine branches in the territory. With assets above $637 billion (as at January 31, 2012), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS). For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com.

Sea Star Line, LLC.Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, Sea Star Line offers cargo transportation services from North America to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands. Sea Star’s RO/CON vessels are the most versatile in the trade – able to carry the widest range of unique and diverse cargoes. Company operations are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and Green Office standards, and was selected for the QMS Company of the Year Award. Sea Star recently received top honors as a recipient of the 2009 Logistics Management Quest for Quality Award in the Ocean Carrier segment.

Sailing fast and hitting the wind shifts “just right” is what led 11-year-old, Wiley Rogers, from Houston, Texas, to win the 19^th annual Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta, held out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 24 to 26. “The waves and wind are what I like about sailing here,” says Rogers, who led going into the last day and held his lead in spite of 2010 defending champion, Jorge Gonzalez from Puerto Rico, winning the last race and closing the score gap to a mere seven points after 11 races. “I also like meeting so many kids from other countries. Jorge is very good and very fast upwind. He has been like a brother to me the last three years I’ve sailed in this regatta.”

Gonzalez finished second, while St. Thomas’ Scott McKenzie placed third overall. McKenzie was also the top scoring U.S. Virgin Islands’ sailor.

Seventy-nine sailors ages 8 to 15 years from 10 nations – Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Trinidad & Tobago, the United States and all three U.S. Virgin Islands – set sail in this Virgin Islands’ Sailing Association sanctioned event. Eleven races were completed for the Advanced Red, White and Blue Fleets and 19 for the Beginner Green Fleets.

Gonzalez’s finish earned him a first place in the 13- to 15-year-old Red Fleet.

“I hadn’t sailed for two weeks before this regatta, so I felt nervous at first,” says the 15-year-old Gonzalez who will compete in the Optimist North American Championships in Long Beach, California, next week. “Then, I started sailing and going fast. But, it wasn’t that easy to win this year.”

Eleven-year-old Rogers also won the 11- to 12-year-old Blue Fleet.

Interestingly, Rogers’ 9-year-old brother, Zane, bested the 10- and under White Fleet.

“Sailing in the clinic really helped me in the regatta,” says Zane Rogers, who credits his father for teaching him how to sail. “It helped me learn to get front row starts.”

The Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta marked only the second regatta that St. Thomas’ Christopher Sharpless had ever sailed. Still, the 10-year-old handily won the Beginner Green Fleet against 28 other sailors from a host of locations.

“My goal was to really try hard because I really wanted to win,” says Sharpless. “My coach definitely pushed me hard and trained me well. It was a lot of fun.”

Fifteen-year-old Justina Pacheco, from the Dominican Republic, finished as Best Female and fifth overall.

“I’ve been training very hard, four days a week,” says Pacheco, “who earned Top Girl and 7^th overall at the Optimist South American Championships in Chile in April. “Here, I looked at the wind and waves and tried to make the best calls. It paid off.”

Puerto Rico’s Miguel Monllor won the Pete Ives Award, given for a combination of sailing prowess, sportsmanship, determination and good attitude both on and off the water.

Meanwhile, Trinidad & Tobago’s Abigail Affoo won the Chuck Fuller Sportsmanship Award.

The regatta’s Principal Race Officer, Ken Legler, who is also the Head Sailing Coach at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, was impressed with the fleet. “All the kids handled their boats well, surfing downwind and wave jumping upwind,” Legler says.

The Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta has been sponsored by Scotiabank almost since the event’s inception. The week started off with the Sea Star Clinic, run from coaches from OptiSailors.com, and included the one-day Sea Star Team Race on Thursday.

RESULTS (Top 3)

RED FLEET

1. Jorge Gonzalez, Puerto Rico (40)

2. Justina Pacheco, Dominican Republic (70)

3. Mack Fox, USA (80)

BLUE FLEET

1. Wiley Rogers, USA (33)

2. Scott McKenzie, St. Thomas, USVI (53)

3. Sam Morrell, BVI (69)

WHITE FLEET

1. Zane Rogers, USA (283)

2. Juan Martin Pacheco, Dominican Republic (331)

3. AnaClare Sole, USA (351)

GREEN FLEET

1. Christopher Sharpless, St. Thomas, USVI (45)

2. Jack Finley, St. Thomas, USVI (97)

3. Santiago Pacheco, Dominican Republic (105)

For full results, visit www.regattanetwork.com and for more information about the regatta, visit www.styc.net

Please also visit the Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta on Facebook!

ABOUT THE SPONSORS

 
Scotiabank.Scotiabank is one of North America's premier financial institutions and Canada's most international bank. With more than 70,000 employees, Scotiabank Group and its affiliates serve some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Scotiabank offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial, corporate and investment banking. With assets above $526 billion (as at October 31, 2010), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS) and New York Exchanges (BNS).

Sea Star Line, LLC.Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, Sea Star Line offers cargo transportation services from North America to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands. Sea Star’s RO/CON vessels are the most versatile in the trade – able to carry the widest range of unique and diverse cargoes. Company operations are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and Green Office standards, and was selected for the QMS Company of the Year Award. Sea Star recently received top honors as a recipient of the 2009 Logistics Management Quest for Quality Award in the Ocean Carrier segment.