St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. There’s a brand new, first-ever opportunity to ride the waves at the 45th St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), set for March 23-25, 2018. Hobie Waves, that is, easy-to-sail, one- or two-person, beach-launched catamaran that are fast and fun to sail. While beach cats have long been a key class in STIR, this is the first time Hobie Waves will be available to charter to race as a one-design class on their own separate course in a special two-day, March 24 and 25, regatta within STIR. Not sure how to sail a Hobie Wave? Multihull national champion and St. Thomas native, John Holmberg, will host a FREE beachside clinic on March 23 from 3 to 4 p.m., where he will cover basic rules, tactics and trim.

“It’s great to have a new one design fleet join our regatta. Getting 12 or more boats of any type on the water at the same time in the Caribbean is a positive trend. We welcome the Hobie Waves to the STIR. Hopefully local sailors will take advantage of the wonderful inexpensive way to compete in an international event,” says regatta director, Bill Canfield.

The Hobie Wave class is an excellent opportunity for the Virgin Islands community to participate in and say they’ve sailed in STIR, known as the ‘Crown Jewel of Caribbean Yacht Racing’. What’s more, it’s an easy and affordable way for hurricane relief workers on-island in March to have access to a boat, get a taste of the territory’s spectacular marine environment, and plan to visit again on vacation in the future.

The entry fee for the Hobie Wave Class is $150 per boat. To register, visit: : https://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=4422 To reserve a boat for the event, Email: stycsailingcenter@gmail.com or Call: (340) 690-3681.

For more information, contact regatta director, Bill Canfield, at stycisv@gmail.com

© Caribbean Sailing Association 2018