Mid-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

This Racing Clinic is designed to provide an intense and comprehensive learning experience.  The first morning focuses on the details of boat handling and finding more speed in every maneuver.  The afternoon session brings the morning drills onto the race course with an emphasis on boat speed, starts and mark roundings.  The morning of the second day is practice racing with on-course coaching.  Throughout both the clinic and regatta parts of the event your coaches will provide suggestions and techniques that will help improve your racing success. 

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.

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

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