Puerto Rico
Sailors from throughout the northern Caribbean have converged in Palmas del Mar for the Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta and Puerto Rico International Dinghy Regatta. "The attendance has exceeded my expectations for an international regatta in Palmas," says regatta director, Angel Ayala.
Forty-two racing boats, with skippers hailing from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, British Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten, will be sailing in six classes, two of them are one-design - J24 and IC24.
"We have two J/24s from the Dominican Republic racing this year," says Puerto Rico's Efrain 'Fraito' Lugo, who skippers his J/24, Orion. "It will be great to have them as practice for the Central American and Caribbean Games this summer."
The Dominican Republic's Alberto Abreu is skippering the J/24, Saudades and says, "There are two J/24 teams from the Dominican Republic who hope to earn the spot to represent our country in the CAC Games and we are one of them. This is great to sail in a larger class."
Lugo is also responsible for converting several J/24s into IC/24s in Puerto Rico and five will be sailing in this regatta, along with LIME from the BVI and Satisfaction from St. Thomas.
There should be especially hot racing action in the Spinnaker B class, with friendly rivals, St. Thomas' Paul Davis and fellow islander, John Foster, battling for first in class honors aboard Magnificent 7 and The Good, the Bad and The Ugly, respectively.
"This is probably the last year for the boat, it's old," says Davis, who helms the J24, Magnificent 7. "Our crew has sailed together for five years. We've gotton faster each year and we're more focused than ever."
At the same time, Foster, one of the missing skippers in the Caribbean, brings 'local knowledge' to the equation. "I've sailed here before, years ago, when it was this regatta was the Copa Velasco."
Winds are forecast at 11 to 13 knots for the first day of racing.
However, Puerto Rico's Jim Baus, helming his J-46, Miss Majic, says, "We'd really like to see more wind, preferably 15 to 20 knots, to be most competitive."
Baus' daughter, Savannah, is one of 38 sailors competing in the Puerto Rico International Dinghy Regatta, which will be sailed at the same time as the Puerto Rico Heineken International Regatta. Classes include Optimists, Lasers and Snipes.
New this year is the introduction of a Kite-boarding class. There are 30 entries in this class, including two professional kite-boarders from the Dominican Republic.
Formerly held in Culebra for the past five years, this year's regattas are based out of the beautiful new marina and yacht club at Palmas del Mar.
For full results, visit results.vg
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