This week we will be visiting the International Rolex Regatta in St Thomas.
But we are not the only ones travelling from afar with entries from the USA, Russia, Sweden, The Netherlands, Monaco and beyond.
The three-day event, scheduled for March 23-25, is hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club, which for 39 years has devoted itself to producing this regatta’s famed offerings: three days of high-quality racing and serious fun in an inspiringly scenic island atmosphere.
Some of the notable entrants this year include: Lord Irvine Laidlaw of Monaco and his new 52-foot Reichel/Pugh designed Highland Fling. Sailing with him will be America’s Cup notables Peter Holmberg, who is serving as tactician and also is renowned as St. Thomas’s homegrown Olympic medalist, and the USA’s Matt Wachowicz and Mike Toppa, serving as navigator and trimmer, respectively.
Peter Holmberg says:
“We are a brand new boat, and a good result would be a bonus. The other 52s are more refined and sorted, so I expect them to have the advantage. That being said, some smart ideas were put into our design, and hopefully they will start showing their merit.”
Also racing under IRC will be International Rolex Regatta veteran Bill Alcott, who will be sailing his newly acquired Farr 65 Equation (formerly Rosebud, the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart winner).
Alcott said:
“We are still basically an amateur-sailed boat, but necessarily, there are a few more professionals onboard to supplement the same gang I’ve been sailing with for years. Racing the world’s best 52 footers is going to be tough, but it’s hard to call; more than likely, the game is going to go to who makes fewer mistakes.”
Also in IRC, an international team from Russia will be led by Alexander Markarov aboard the chartered X-65 Karuba 5.
“We have some very experienced sailors, but we have intermediate and beginners, too. We’re looking forward to joining the permanent crew on Karuba 5 and hope she will perform well in competition with the other very serious crews and great boats.”
One of Karuba 5’s main competitors will be Bob Erixon’s (SWE) 81-foot Maxi Rothmans. Originally built to compete in the 89-90 Whitbread Round the World race, the legendary yacht has been restored to its original form and will be skippered by Sweden’s Klabbe Nylöf, with navigator Torsten Ulfeld and tactician Patrik Salén joining Erixon in the afterguard.
