April 12, 2001 – The 28th annual International Rolex Cup Regatta will wind up the 2001 Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle sailing series, as the St. Thomas Yacht Club hosts the "Crown Jewel" of Caribbean sailing over Easter weekend.
As of Wednesday night 84 boats were registered for the Rolex Cup Regatta with last minute entries expected to push the total close to 100, according to regatta director Lyn Reid. Reid's next challenge is dividing the boats ranging from 'Maxi' boats over 70 feet long to 16-foot beach catamarans into classes that offer close competition for all the sailors. Some one-design classes have already started to fill up, with 10 boats registered in the Melges 24 class and eight J-24s signed up. Reid said four of the Maxi racers had signed up. The addition of the 70-foot Trader, presently anchored off St. Thomas Yacht Club, would make a very impressive class – if they enter.
With a Rolex Submariner watch awarded to the winner of each class, the competition is always tough at the Rolex Regatta. This year, after regattas in Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, results from the Rolex Cup will be crucial to select CORT Champions. In a new format this year the CORT awards will be given in more classes than previous years, including divisions for Melges 24s and J-24s.
Several rivalries will be continued or renewed at the Rolex. In the Melges 24 class the top three boats have been Seaborne Airlines of St. Thomas, Orion of Puerto Rico, and Airgasm from Tortola. In the J-24 class there is close competition among three boats all sailed by crews under 18, Jersey Devil of St. Croix, Bravissimo of San Juan, Puerto Rico and Don Q Cristal of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Race Committee head Arlen Wheeler of St. Croix said the general plan for the weekend have a total of three races held off the south side of St. Thomas during Friday and Saturday. Wheeler also hopes to continue the Sunday race tradition of sailing the Coral World Race which takes the entire racing fleet through the waters of Pilsbury Sound, which divides, St. Thomas and St. John. Wheeler explained that wind direction dictates which courses may be run.
