St. Thomas International Regatta

The St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), known as the Crown Jewel of Caribbean Yacht Racing, was founded in 1974 on the initiative of Lee Kelbert, Joel Byerly, Walter Fischer and Dick Avery, with the ambition of turning Saint Thomas into a world-class sailing destination. Organised every year by the St. Thomas Yacht Club, it brings together monohulls and multihulls in what are considered ideal sailing conditions, combining courses near the neighboring islets with classic buoy racing. Yacht Haven Grande (IGY Marinas), the superyacht marina in Charlotte Amalie, is the regatta's official host marina, welcoming participating boats throughout the event. The 2027 edition will introduce two new features: a wing foiling class, an emerging sailing discipline, and a 100-nautical-mile distance race and rally linking St. John, St. Croix and St. Thomas. According to the official website, the regatta was founded by Lee Kelbert, an already-decorated Caribbean racer, who convinced Rolex that its sponsorship in Sardinia was only the beginning and that the brand needed to discover the turquoise waters of Saint Thomas.

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