10th Round the Rocks Race and 52nd St. Thomas International Regatta Preview

10th Round the Rocks Race and 52nd St. Thomas International Regatta Preview

by Carol Bareuther 1 Apr 23:04 BST
April 2-5, 2026

More than 40 ships and hundreds of sailors from across the Caribbean, the US, and Europe are set to meet in St. Thomas for 52nd St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), April 3-5, 2026.

Now in its sixth year, the US Virgin Islands Games continues to deliver a successful format—competitive racing on world-class courses during the day, followed by high-energy beach parties with live music, drinks and island hospitality every night.

The excitement builds next week as the fleet presents our spinnaker and non-spinnaker racing classes as well as special features at STIR, including the Caribbean’s largest class of IC24-designed St. Thomas Yacht Club to promote competitive racing – Hobie Waves introducing the next generation to the sport and, in November this year, this year as an annual event. in St. Croix says Pat Bailey, who runs the STIR 2026 team with Greer Scholes.

There’s still time to enter! Sailors are invited to compete in CSA, ORC, IRC, and Multihull classes covering the Racing, Cruising, CSA Bareboat, and One Design fleets, including IC24s, Diam 24s, Hobie Waves, and Sunfish, as well as other One Design classes 19 feet and over. Entry is $340, with reduced fees of $240 for IC24s, $150 for Hobie Waves, and $75 for Sunfish. Enter now at yachtscoring.com/emenu/50483. Get another day of preparation by joining the Round the Rocks Race at yachtscoring.com/emenu/50495. The competition course surrounds the neighboring 19-square-mile island of St. John, home of the Virgin Islands National Park.

On the Water Line

The fast line up of entries for STIR 2026 includes CSA Spinnaker Racing and CSA Non-Spinnaker Racing, and three One-Design Teams, the latter being IC24, Hobie Wave, and Sunfish.

In the CSA Spinnaker races, USA’s J/121 Donald Nicholson, Apollo, will sail STIR who recently won the CSA Spinnaker class at the BVI Spring Regatta last weekend. Boats that have raced in the BVISR receive a 10% discount on STIR entry upon registration, making it easy to expand the Caribbean racing circuit.

The IC24 class with around twelve boats is the largest of the regatta. This year, the team will once again compete in the 2026 IC24 Caribbean Championship, an event within STIR. One of these entries is the 2025 IC24 Class Champion Stinger, featuring the All-American St. Thomas’ Yale University, Teddy Nicolosi, presiding.

Another entry for IC24, whose team hired Black Pearl, is from Dublin, Ireland.

“One of our team, Daragh Heagney, raced in the 2024 STIR and was good enough to tie me and Johnny White into it this year,” says Roger Smith. We’ve heard great things about it and can’t wait to come.

The team is based out of Howth Yacht Club, with crew gear supported by The Harbor Bar, the village’s oldest pub, organized by team mate Heagney. Together, the crew brings a wealth of sailing and offshore racing experience, including previous Caribbean regattas. Notable results include a Group 3 win in the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600 aboard Bam. Team members also compete in major beach competitions such as Fastnet and Round Ireland, often in very cold conditions, making St. Thomas was a welcome change.

“We haven’t traveled much together in recent years, but IC24 feels right for the three of us to come, hopefully we can take one or two teams from the harbor, and join in. We’ll do our best, have fun, and hopefully show ourselves on the road. Says Smith.

Only a few IC24s left for STIR rental. Rental fees, including race-ready sails, are $3,400 for STYC members and $3,700 for non-members. Place in St. Thomas Sailing Center by contacting Bobby Brooks at (340) 690-3681 or .

Twenty boats are now registered in the One-Design Hobie Wave class, a popular class for small boaters. St. Thomas, USVI’s Mila Melbourne, who finished third on the podium last year, will be running again.

“Regattas are something I really like, and the STIR Hobie team is really fun. I enjoy the fun atmosphere of racing with my friends and the competition,” says Melbourne.

Drink, Eat & Dance

After each day’s race, beach parties feature refreshments, food for sale and live music. The Mount Gay Trade Winds Cocktail Party opens the menu on Thursday, following the Round the Rocks Race, where returning sailors are welcomed to the harbor with a cold Michelob Ultra. This tradition continues after each race day. Round the Rocks Race awards are set for 5pm, and dinner will be held at St. John’s Restaurant. Thomas Yacht Club’s Galley from 5-7 pm while DJ Niko spins from 4-6 pm.

Photo: Mount Gay, distributed in the USVI by CC1, is one of the beverage brands supported for STIR 2026. Credit: CC1 USVI

Friday’s party, which marks the first day of STIR, highlights Dark ‘n Storm, a Bermuda-born brewery branded Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. Dinner is served from 5-7 pm, music by Stephen Sloan starts at 5 pm

On Saturday, the Aperol Spritz takes center stage, providing a bright, citrusy toast to the race day. Dinner starts at 5-7 pm, followed by Roxnonstop music from 6-10 pm.

Sunday concludes with the Mount Gay Regatta Rum Punch, Awards Ceremony at 5 pm, and music by Tim West to close out the event.

“At CC1 Virgin Islands, we realize how important it is to support local projects and community causes, especially ones like STIR that have such a historical place in our islands. That’s why we are proud to act as the official drink sponsor of STIR 2026. We have carefully chosen our supporting brands – Mount Gay, Gosling’s, Surandmade Voca, Volume 3, 2026 “Voice” Aperol Spritz, and Michelob Ultra – complement the atmosphere of the regatta and help create an unforgettable experience for everyone, says Loretta Biss, Marketing Director at CC1, the distributor of these products in the US Virgin Islands.

Strong Donor Support

STIR organizers are grateful to the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; The Moorings; K3 waterproof materials; Ocean Surfari; Cardow Jewellers; and Mount Gay, Gosling’s, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Surfside Iced Tea & Vodka, Aperol Spritz, and Michelob Ultra, distributed by CC1 USVI, for their strong sponsorship support.

STIR 2026 is a Sailors for the Sea Clean Regatta with green initiatives.

For more information, contact Regatta Co-Director Pat Bailey on Cell/WhatsApp (340-690-6607), Email: , or visit stthomasinternationalregatta.com. See St. Thomas International Regatta on Facebook, and @STIRVI on Instagram.