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The St. Croix International Regatta

By Chris Goodier

The clear waters of the Caribbean are prime territory for outstanding sailors who start young and compete regularly throughout the year. The St. Croix Yacht Club launches the spring regatta season each February with a competition that draws boats from the neighboring islands of St. Thomas, Tortola, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and often from farther afield — even the United States.

The only volunteer-run regatta left in the Caribbean kicks off with a Cruzan Rum party on Friday night to give sailors a taste of the grand prize the winning boat will take home: cases of rum piled on a giant scale until the captain's weight is in balance. Saturday and Sunday, bright spinnakers fly from big boats out in Buck Island channel while simultaneous racing goes on inside the Teague Bay reef on the island's East End.

The Optimist fleet is especially fun to watch as junior sailors under 16, divided into four groups by age, mix it up like packs of battling butterflies just offshore. They compete as seriously as the adults — junior sailors from these waters have gone on to earn college scholarships, win national championships and represent the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Olympics.

Everyone gathers under a tent on Sunday afternoon for the awarding of prizes as first, the top junior sailor hops on the scale to win his or her weight in soft drinks. Then the big moment comes: The crowd counts out loud as cases pile higher and higher, until the victorious captain is finally off the ground and ready to take home the rum. www.stcroixyc.com