News SCOTIABANK INTERNATIONAL REGATTA

SCOTIABANK INTERNATIONAL REGATTA

St Thomas, USVI
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Thirteen teams took to the seas off St. Thomas' east end to compete in the 2009 Sea Star Team Racing Championships. At the end of the day, it was Team U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) that emerged victorious.

Team Puerto Rico and Team USA finished second and third, respectively.

This year's Sea Star Team Racing Championships proved extra challenging. Agustin 'Argy' Resano, the USVI National Team Coach, said, "We used the same course as will be used for team racing in the Optimist North American Championships in the Dominican Republic and the Optimist World Championships in Brazil. It's more challenging. The course has more mark roundings and more chances for a penalty."

The 17th Annual Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta gets underway tomorrow. Eighty-one junior sailors ranging in age from 7 to 15 years of age will compete in the three-day regatta that ends Sunday.

"Sailing offers many life-lessons that will serve young people well and can make them better members of our community. The sport teaches, focus, discipline, self-reliance and respect for the environment. It encourages youngsters to push themselves beyond their comfort zone and leads to the pursuit of excellence," says Lawrence A. Aqui, vice president, Scotiabank, U.S. and British Virgin Islands. "These are all the qualities that Scotiabank values and promotes. We are proud to again be the Title Sponsor for the Scotiabank International Optimist Regatta."

For more information visit the St. Thomas Yacht Club web site at www.styc.net