Boats racing around the island of Culebra.

Top-notch racing, laid-back Caribbean-style parties and boatloads of island hospitality is what you'll find at the 5th annual Culebra Heineken International Regatta (CHIR) and Culebra International Dinghy Regatta (CIDR), set for March 20 to 22.

Puerto Rico's offshore island of Culebra, "10-square miles of beautiful beaches, lush green hills and less than 2000 friendly inhabitants" has quickly become a hot spot for sailboat racing in the northern Caribbean.

This year, Costa Bonita Villas is once again onboard as the regatta's host resort. "This is where we’ll host registration, Customs & Immigration officials, and rooms will be available for those who want to stay ashore," says regatta director, Angel Ayala.

Most of the expected 70-plus fleet's mother ships will anchor a dinghy-hop away in Ensenada Honda, Daiquiri Bay or Fulladosa Bay, all beautifully sheltered spots.

In addition to mixed fleet racing and cruising classes, Ayala says, "We expect to have one-design classes for Melges 24s, J/24s, IC24s, and J/80s. There will also be a large beach cat fleet and our native Chalanas."

The first day of competition will see windward-leeward courses for the racing classes south of Punto Soldado and round-the-cays courses for cruisers. The second day, the course will be an island circumnavigation for all but the one-design IC24 and J/24 classes.

"All start the round-the-island race once again from inside Ensenada Honda bay so spectators can see the spectacular start from shore," says Ayala.

This year, the circumnavigation will be a bit longer as the fleet will round both Culebra and Culebrita, a small offshore island to the east. The channel between Culebrita and Culebra has become too shallow for safe navigation.

The CIDR offers Optimist, Laser and Laser Radial racing for kids in Ensenada Honda while the big boats sail offshore.

Last year, 62 boats with crews from as near as the Puerto Rican mainland to as far away at the Southern Caribbean, United States and Europe competed, with 27 junior sailors racing in the dinghy event. Even greater participation is expected in 2009.

Classes of entry to the CHIR will include CSA Spinnaker Racing, CSA Spinnaker Racer-Cruiser, CSA J24, IC24, CSA Performance Cruiser, CSA Jib & Main, IC24s, Beach Cat and native-built Chalanas.

"We would be happy to dual score IRC-rated yachts that request it, but they must also have a CSA rating," Ayala says.

There is an entry fee of US $200.00 for all classes except Beach Cats and Chalanas; the Beach Cats fee is US $100.00 and the Chalanas fee is US $150.00. Entries received after February 20, 2009 will be charged $250.00 for all the classes except Beach Cats and Chalanas.

Entry fee for Optimist and Laser Classes; US $50.

An Awards Ceremony will cap the two days of racing.

The CHIR marks the second leg of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle, or C.O.R.T. Series, which begins February 20 to 22, 2009 with the St. Croix International Regatta and concludes April 3 to 5, 2009 with the BVI Spring Regatta in Tortola. At the conclusion of the three-race series, the first, second and third place boats in each of the classes "Spinnaker A, Spinnaker B, Racer-Cruiser, Performance Cruiser, IC24, and Jib & Main“ will receive $100, $75 and $50 gift certificates, respectively, from West Marine.

For more information, call: Tel: 787-413-7702, 787-785-2026, 787-948-2835, or visit www.culebrainternationalregatta.com or culebrainternationalregatta.com/dinghy/home.html; or for accommodations, Costa Bonita Villas; Reservation Tel. (787) 463-0013, (787) 377-0770, Mr. William Bush.

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