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History of St. Croix International Regatta

In 1992, Commodore Nick Castruccio organized the first St.Croix Yacht Club International Regatta, convinced Mumm’s Champagne to sponsor the event, and encouraged his sailing friends from across the Caribbean to compete. The three day event was held in October, on the weekend of Columbus Day / Puerto Rico Friendship Day, and 69 boats attended the first year. Peter Holmberg of Team Heineken, winner of the racing spinnaker class, receiving his weight in Mumms Champagne. A tradition was born!

After a series of hurricanes in the 1990s, resulting in the loss of the main Yacht Club dock three times, the event was moved to February, allowing us to replace the dock after hurricane season. Better weather and better planning on the Yacht Club’s part have resulted in dock retention since. In 1999, Mumms withdrew as the event sponsor and was replaced by the local Innovative Companies, who continued to sponsor the event through 2007. The winning skipper now received his weight in Cruzan Rum, thanks to our local distillery. In 2010, the organizers affiliated with the National Hospice Regatta organization for several years until, in February 2012.

November 2012 was the 20th anniversary of the event. Founder Nick Castruccio was the special honoree – and raced his beloved Annick II in the spinnaker class, with a little help from his kids. For the 2013 regatta, members created the Dick Newick Perpetual Award for the first place multihull in honor of Richard Newick, considered the Father of Modern Multihulls and an avid St Croix Yacht Club member in the 1960s and 1970s.  Fittingly, the first recipient was a Newick designed trimaran, Piglet.

The 23rd Regatta, November 2015, included 31 Optimists, with a VISA (Virgin Island Sailing Association) sponsored Optimist clinic on Friday and racing on Saturday and Sunday. The Big Boat race on Friday was renamed Captain Nicks Race in honor of our founder, who turned 90 this year!  The race for the rum on Saturday and Sunday was won by longtime participant Jonathan Lipuscek of Puerto Rico on Dark Star with six bullets and Peter Stanton in the Rhodes 19 class, in a very tight competition with Miles Sperber and his daughter Victoria. Dark Star and 19ini (Stanton) also won Captain Nicks Race on Friday.

Chris Haycraft on Pipedream from Tortola, our most faithful competitor, won the spinnaker class at the 24th regatta in November 2016, but unfortunately not the rum, as there were only 5 entries in the class. The Rhodes 19 class, however, turned out 9 competitors! Scott Stanton won the rum in a tightly contested battle with Manuel Gutierrez on Chrys.  

Winners of the Champagne and Rum

1992

Peter Holmberg / Team Heineken

1993

Tom Hill Jr /One Way Ticket

1994

Willy Olivio / Siguitraqui

1996

Jose & Tony Texidor / Cachando

1997

Jose & Tony Texidor / Cachando

1998

Luis Lomiba & Maurizia Constanzo / Tee Time

1999

Chris Rosenberg /Frenchmans Reef

2001

Bill Berardelli /Mermaid II

2002

Bill Berardelli /Mermaid II

2003

Shannon Falcone / Caccia Alla Volpe

2004

Kevin Rowelette / Willy T

2005

John Foster / Magnificent 7

2006

Dave West / Chippewa

2007

Chris Stanton / Devil 3

2008

Chris Stanton / Devil 3

2009

Chris Thompson / J. Walker

2010

Robert Armstrong / Bad Girl

2011

Morgan Dale / Boogaloo

2012

Jack Bishop / Bad Girl

2013

Morgan Dale / Boogaloo
Joe San Martin / Piglet

2014

Stan Joines / Paladin

2015

Jonathan Lipuscek / Dark Star
Joe San Martin / Piglet

2016 Chris Haycraft / Pipe Dream
Scott Stanton / 19ini
2017 VI Stong!!
2018 Stephen Schmidt / Hotel California Too
Joe San Martin / Piglet
Chris Stanton / Rhode Devil
2019

Peter Stanton/Crucian Confusion

Eddie Brockbank/Lucky 7

Chris Stanton/Margaret




MISSION STATEMENT

The Club is formed for the express purpose of promoting interest and activity in the ownership, racing and cruising of yachts and small boats; of providing a meeting place for members whose common interest lies in ships and the sea; of augmenting the recreational facilities and visitor attractions of the island; of exchange and courtesies with other yacht clubs of the United States and Caribbean islands, and of extending to visiting yachtsmen the hospitality of St. Croix.

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Office: 340-773-9531

Fax:      888-344-8815


Address:

5100 Teague Bay

C'sted, St. Croix 00820

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