mid-Winter Clinic/Regatta in paradise
Tune up your racing skills in time for summerMid-Winter Clinic/Regatta in Paradise
February 22-25, 2023
Join us for the Mid-Winter Clinic/Regatta at the St. Thomas Sailing Center in the US Virgin Islands. The focus is on developing competitive speed on all points of sail. We utilize specific drills to improve starting, boat handling and mark rounding techniques as well as tactical decision making. Sign up individually or with your team*.
*Maximum crew per team is 5. Please call us at 340-690-3681 if you have any questions.
Maximum number of teams is 10.
Clinic Curriculum
Event Format
The event starts with a welcome party on Wednesday evening. Thursday is an all-day clinic featuring classroom discussion, on-the-water drills and practice races followed by video review and debrief. Clinic continues Friday morning and the regatta begins Friday afternoon with windward/leeward and short island races. Saturday the regatta continues in true Caribbean fashion with a lengthy ’round-the-islands race and awards party to follow. Stay Sunday and enjoy relaxed day-sailing, Hobie cat sailing, snorkeling and the VI’s exceptional beaches.
STYC Membership
The Mid-Winter Clinic/Regatta is hosted at the St. Thomas Yacht Club, home of the St. Thomas International Regatta. During your stay you will be a member of STYC and part of the sailing community on St. Thomas. All club facilities, including tennis courts, bar, restaurant are available to you and your guests.
Lunches & Dinners
Included are Wednesday buffet dinner, Thursday and Friday lunches and Saturday buffet.
IC-24
The IC-24 is a responsive and stable one-design boat conceived in St. Thomas for Caribbean sailing. A modified J-24, the IC-24 has a large, open cockpit, and is both fun and comfortable to race. It has a mainsail, jib and symmetrical spinnaker.
Clinic Coaches
Bobby Brooks is Director of the St. Thomas Sailing Center and has over 40 years professional sailing instruction and coaching. Bobby has performed multiple International seminars in Canada and Mexico, and has been coaching for North Sails/NorthU programs for the past 16 years. He is a World Champion in the Mumm30 class; National Champion in the Melges24, Santana 20, Capri 30, and Holder 20 classes; North American Champion in the Mumm30, Melges24, J24, J80, and J35 classes and has won the overall Mackinac Cup 2015. Bobby is proud to have been very active in women’s sailing with coaching both top level Women’s Rolex and Woman’s Keelboat Championship teams.

Dave Franzel is the founder and former owner of the Boston Sailing Center and founder of St. Thomas Sailing Center. He is a sought-after teacher and professional racing coach as well as a world champion sailor, winning the Sonar Worlds in 2009 and currently campaigning a J/70. With decades of experience, Dave can readily focus on key aspects of your sailing skills and offer insights that will be most helpful to you.


STYC Blue Water Membership Included
Individual $750
Team $3000
Or call to enroll today!
340-690-3681
Teams & Fees
Team $3000 / Individual $750
Recommended team 4 or 5, maximum 5
Skippers in need of crew and individuals interested in crewing, please contact us and we will help assemble teams.
To Sign Up
Sign up online above or call the Sailing Center at 340 690-3681.
Travel & Accommodations
Travel Planning
Plan your arrival for Wednesday, February 22. The Clinic/ Regatta concludes on Saturday evening. Access to the IC-24s (for skippers with crew) and Hobie Waves (for all participants) is included for Sunday February 26th. If you plan to arrive earlier or depart later and are interested in additional boat access, please contact us.
The town of Red Hook is a 5-minute drive from STYC and offers fine dining as well as casual venues, and a nice grocery store. Additional dining options are available at the resorts near the yacht club.
Accomodations
Nearby accommodations include luxury hotels, beach resorts, small inns, villa and condo rentals and airbnb rooms.
The favored option for visiting sailors has been to rent a vacation condo on Cowpet Bay: The Anchorage, The Elysian, Cowpet Bay West, and Cowpet Bay East are beachfront complexes a short walk from STYC. There are many 2 and 3 bedroom units offered on airbnb, vrbo, and homeaway, search by map on Cowpet Bay on the east end of St. Thomas.
STSC maintains a list of our favorite condo and villa rentals, some of which you can book directly with owners and avoid extra fees, please email us at info@stthomassailingcenter.com for a copy. Call 340-690-3681 with any accommodation questions, we are happy to assist.
Additional nearby options:
Bed & Breakfast: Two Sandals by the Sea
Owners: Jun and Helen
Email: info@twosandals.com
Website: twosandals.com
Hotel: Secret Harbour Beach Resort
Website: secretharbourvi.com
Hotel: Ritz Carlton Club – 2 and 3 bedroom luxury condominiums
Contact: Kurt Ginter
Email: kurt.ginter@ritzcarlton.com
Phone: 340-715-9042
Website: ritzcarltonclub.com
Hotel: The Ritz Carlton
Website: ritzcarlton.com
CLINIC DETAILS
Prequisite:
Racing Course or Racing Experience
Taught on:
IC-24
Prepares you for:
Moving up in your fleet
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY
6pm – 9pm: Welcome Party and Buffet Dinner
THURSDAY – CLINIC
8:30am – 9:00am: Introduction
9:30am – 11:30am: Boat handling practice and speed drills
11:30am – 1:00pm: Lunch & classroom review – boat handling and speed
1:30pm – 4:30pm: Starting drills, W/L races
5:00pm – 6:00pm: Video review on the deck (cocktail hour)
FRIDAY – CLINIC & REGATTA
8:30am – 9:00am: Discussion
9:30am – 11:30am: Practice starts, practice Races
11:30am – 1:00pm: Lunch & classroom review – strategy
1:30pm – 4:30pm: Regatta – buoy racing and short island race
5:00pm – 6:00pm: Video review on the deck (cocktail hour)
SATURDAY – MORNING BUOY RACING, AFTERNOON ISLAND RACE
9:30am: Windward/Leeward races
11:00am: St. Thomas Yacht Club open for brunch
12:00pm: Skippers’ meeting
1:00pm: Start of Pillsbury Sound Race
5:00pm: Awards party and taco bar
SUNDAY – (optional)
Destination daysailing, snorkeling, beaching
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