Jax, Tatihou, Thunder and Lightning & Flying Jenny Win Class in Round the Rocks Race
by Carol Bareuther 28 Mar 01:28 GMT
March 27-30, 2025
Flying Jenny (l-r) Drew Barnes, Rob Greenhalgh and Sandy Askew - wins the Round the Rocks VX One Class © Ingrid Abery /
www.ingridabery.com
It was 'breeze on' as 18 boats in four classes circumnavigated the neighboring 19-square-mile island of St. John, or a shorter course as in the case of the VX One Class, in the Round the Rocks Race. The 13- to 15-knots of wind, moderate seas, and sunny skies proved a perfect tune-up for the 51st St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), which takes place this weekend, March 28-30, 2025.
"A beat up the narrows and spinnaker down the backside of St. John was a great way to warm up," says Anthony Kotoun, tactician on Jax, a 43-foot wood and carbon hybrid race boat and third Botin-designed boat built by Brooklin Boat Yard, in Maine. Owner Øivind Lorentzen, from Hog Cove, Maine, drove to first place in the CSA 1 Racing Class. "Many of the crew have been here, raced STIR before, and enjoyed it. Jax is a new boat that we're still trying to figure out, so we need more sailing time. STIR was a great excuse for some winter training where it was warm before a summer of racing in New England."
Tatihou, a Jeanneau 409, that's part of Martin van Breems training boats at his Sound Sailing Center in Norwalk, Connecticut, won the CSA Non-Spinnaker Class. Van Breems runs one bareboat certification class annually each March, with this year's class culminating in a chance for the students to race in the Round the Rocks Race.
"We use this as a great way to expose people to the sport of sailing," says van Breems. "Today, the students tacked on all the headers, and everyone took a turn at the helm. The fact that we won our class is a testament to the crew doing well."
In the Multihull Class, the winner was Thunder & Lightening, a 33-foot TF10, out of the Skiff Sailing Foundation in Albany, California.
"We have a new navigator, Julian Bethwaite, who really nailed it," says Ricky Bobby, who handled trim. "John Hele was our MVP as the driver, keeping us on the foils."
Six of the one-design VX Ones sailed an abbreviated Round the Rocks course as a tune-up. Miami, Florida's Sandy Askew, and crew Drew Barnes and Rob Greenhalgh finished first by 6 seconds over runner-up, David Askew, Sandra's husband, on Wizard.
"We had a big beat 1-mile upwind, hit 16 knots on the downwind upwind, with a few jibes into the finish. Beautiful conditions," says Barnes.
The 22-boat one-design IC24 Class is the largest of the regatta. While none sailed Round the Rocks, most participated in several practice races off St. Thomas' southeast side. Three Olympic sailors, including St. Thomas' Cy Thompson, are among the class. Thompson will look to defend his title with class wins in 2023 and 2024.
"Just like any big event, getting off the line clean will be important. Since there are 20-plus boats, fleet management will be important. You can't win the event on day 1, but you sure can lose it," says Thompson.
An 8-boat class of one-design Hobie waves will race on Saturday and Sunday.
Schedule of Events
STIR Racing kicks off for an 11 a.m. start on Friday, March 28, for the first day of STIR racing. STIR competition follows Saturday and Sunday, with an 11 a.m. start each day. Race courses will be set off the southeast, northeast, and east end of St. Thomas and in Pillsbury Sound between St. Thomas and St. John, with specific courses for each class designated daily by the Race Committee based on weather. The Awards Ceremony starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Real-time results for the Round the Rocks race are posted at 2025 Round the Rocks Results, while STIR results will be posted at 2025 STIR Results
After each day's racing, a mix of refreshing beverages will be served shoreside, along with food for sale and live music.
Strong Sponsor Support
STIR organizers thank the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; The Moorings; Mount Gay Rum, Gosling's Rum, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Teremana Tequila, Surfside Iced Teas & Vodka, and Michelob Ultra, distributed by CC1 USVI; Sea Glass Properties; Cardow; K3; Ocean Surfari; and Crucian Gold for their strong sponsor support.
STIR 2025 is a Sailors for the Sea Clean Regatta, with green initiatives such as paperless event management and a water refill station.
For more information, visit stthomasinternationalregatta.com, Email: or Regatta Co-Director Pat Bailey at , or call (340) 775-6320. Check STIR out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/stirvi), Twitter @stirvi, and Instagram #STIRVI