T H E R O L E X W A T C H
Official Newsletter of the 26th Annual
International Rolex Cup Regatta
St. Thomas Yacht Club
Editor: Marjorie (Jorie) Roberts
Friday April 2, 1999
TODAY'S EVENTS
Continental Breakfast 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Racing Day One 1st Start 9:30 a.m.
Beach BBQ 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Beach Music 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Mexican Fiesta Buffet 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Dancing Under the Stars 7:00-10:00 p.m.
SPONSORS, DONORS DESERVE KUDOS
Where would the Rolex Regatta be without its sponsors and donors? (Without a name, for one.) The 26th Rolex Regatta is supported by a dedicated group of businesses and individuals, who make the three-day race (and four-day party) a reality. The Regatta's sponsor, Rolex of Geneva, which is distributed locally by A.H. Riise, provides Rolex watches for the winner of each of the classes.
Even the heartiest sailor, however, needs a place to rest between the sailing and festivities, and four local hotels have donated rooms for the weekend: the Elysian Beach Resort, Sapphire Beach Resort, Secret Harbour Beach Resort, and Pavilions and Pools. While the soul is being fed by the glorious sailing, the flesh in being supplied by Prime Foods, Marina Market, B&D Wholesale, Merchant's Market, Holsum, and Island Seafood, while wine, spirits, and other liquid fare are being donated by Sugar Estate Importers, Bellows International, Coca Cola, and the West Indies Corporation.
Boats for the press and officials are provided by Offshore Marine, while "air" time — no I don't mean radios — is being donated by Air Center Helicopters Inc. Additional support for the Regatta comes from A&A Supplies, the Bank of Nova Scotia, Vitel Cellular, Spenceley Office Equipment, V.I. Plastic Signs, Surveying Adjusting Service, Inc., the Virgin Islands Daily News, Caribbean Gift Things, Daydreamer Cruises, Express Press, Barbara and Eddie O'Brien, TOPA Insurance Services, Inc. (which paid for the bands), and Tropical Shipping.
THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION
By the last bell (or Rolex equivalent thereof), there were 86 vessels registered for this year's Rolex Regatta, in 10 classes. They range in length from two Hobie 16s — Enrique Figueroa's Isabella's Crib and Lolo Too, owned by Anrun Guuganica and owned and skippered by Carlos Juncos — to 68-foot Pied Piper, with owner Dick Jenninas at the helm. Figueroa sailed in two Olympics — 1988 in South Korea and 1992 in Barcelona — on a Tornado.
There are 43 Spinnaker Racing boats, 16 Spinnaker Racer/Cruisers, 10 Non-Spinnaker Racers, eight Jib & Main Racing boats, and nine Beach Cats. This year a Melges 24 class — Class C — is being introduced.
Two all-female crews are competing this year — Betsy Allison (Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year) is the skipper of Sheerness, a Taylor 41, and Lisa Schmid is the skipper of All That! … Wins. Betsy is making her first Rolex bid, although she has been to the U.S. Virgin Islands several times for "cruising, coaching, and the Women's Laser Regatta." Last year Lisa's crew sported wigs in shocking bright colors — I wonder what's in store for the 26th Regatta?! Lisa heads a non-profit women's athletic organization called "WINS" that promotes women's sports, especially sailing.
Also, back after a hiatus of several years is BVI plastic surgeon Robin Tattersall on Diva, a 30 SQRGR built in 1930 (which Robin noted on his Scuttle Sheet was the same year he joined the world). Tattersall sailed for the BVI in two Olympics — 1984 in Los Angeles and 1992 in Barcelona.
Anchors Away! Blunderbuss, a J-24 from Puerto Rico, is a first-time Rolex entrant with an all-U.S. Navy crew. Cinnabar, another first-time competitor, has at its helm Chris Behan, an ex-Naval Academy racer.
Cold Beer, from the BVI Yacht Club, is skippered by John Schultheiss, who started sailing eight months ago. Good luck, John! In contrast, Annick II is back for its 19th Rolex, 18 with owner/skipper Nick Castruccio of St. Croix.
Heineken, from Puerto Rico, is a J-24 with Mauricio Costanzo of Venezuela as its skipper. Mauricio was the Gold Medalist on a J-24 at the 1992 Central American Games. PAMIR, from Jamestown, Rhode Island, is owned and skippered by Francis H. Curren. Curren was the overall winner in the 1984 Newport to Bermuda Race.
MEDIA FETE
Water Point was the site Wednesday night for the press reception and kick-off dinner for the 26th Rolex Regatta at the water-side home of hostess Phyllis Brown. Representatives of the local and national press were there, along with the Rolex Committee, Commodore Ed Drury, Vice Commodore Raoul Mills, and Honorary Regatta Chair Walter Fischer, among others. Antilles history teacher Molly Winter provided the entertainment on the harp, which she has played for 16 years.
Special guests were Acting Tourism Commissioner Clement "Cain" Magras and his wife Dhalia. We may even see Commissioner Magras out on the water before the weekend is over. He spent much time talking with the judges and media, after encouraging the off-island party guests to "come back and bring your friends" with an infectious laugh. He mentioned that, having grown up in Frenchtown, he loves the water and he loves boating.
The 1999 Rolex Media Award was presented to Buddy Kennings, the on-air sports reporter for WVWI — Radio One. He was delighted to receive a navy and white 1999 Rolex shirt. He was taping the speeches (which ran to a record-setting short seven minutes) and was surprised to hear his name. Buddy has been extremely helpful in ensuring that daily updates are on the air and has been an enthusiastic Rolex supporter for several years. He played his interviews from the press party on the air on March 31.

HEARD AT PRESS PARTY
Senior Race Officer John Bonds is finishing his Ph.D. in History in Charlestown, South Carolina; his dissertation topic is on the process by which the Marshall Plan was enacted by the 80th Congress. He has two chapters left to write and anticipates being "Dr." Bonds by next year's Rolex. In his spare time, he is a professor at the Citadel and is an accomplished Jazz musician, playing the saxophone.
Veteran sailor, author, and on-air personality Fatty Goodlander is not covering this Rolex for the first time in anyone's memory. But he has a good reason for his absence — his mother's 80th birthday party.
WARM-UP EXERCISES
The Welcome Party on Thursday Night rocked to the sounds of Nicky Russell, a/k/a The Mighty Whitey, Morgan Rael, and Chris Jensen on the tenor steel pan drum, as the Rolex racers, Yacht Club members, and other sailing enthusiasts celebrated the start of the 26th Regatta. The beverage of choice was Mount Gay punch, provided by party sponsor Mount Gay. There was a free buffet of ham, cheeses, salami, turkey, pasta salad, and an assortment of delicious breads.
At the Skippers' Meeting, the skippers learned that this year — unlike last year — there is no split fleet and no multi-day offshore races. If weather permits, by the time many of you read this edition of the Rolex Watch the entrants will be sailing the Around St. John Race.
THANKS to my Press Committee — Heidi Hansen, my co-chairman who attended every meeting, handled the press party invitations, and performed many other tasks (and will be sailing on David Boaz's Aerie so look for her in the afternoons), Joan Amerling, who has been a wealth of information as last year's PR head and is also writing tomorrow's Rolex Watch, Lee Cole, who monitors the e-mail site and ensures that all messages go to the right respondent, and Nadine Marchena Thomas, Friday morning's meeter and greater (and the Assistant Director of the territory's Industrial Development Commission — for any of you non-Virgin Islands sailors who decide to stay and get into business here). Barby MacGowan, of Media Pro International, the Public Relations firm that works closely with Rolex US, is here from Newport, Rhode Island, and has been instrumental in getting the word ou
t about Rolex to the national media. Thanks, everyone.
SCUTTLE SHEETS
We have received scuttle sheets from 79 of the 86 entrants. For those skippers who haven't completed scuttle sheets, please see a member of the Press Committee and do so. We will figure out who hasn't filled out a scuttle sheet and publish the list in a subsequent Rolex Watch, so please avoid humiliation and fill it out today.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
If you have news, views, or ideas that you would like to see covered in a future edition of the Rolex Watch, please let a member of the Press Committee know. And thanks in advance for your input!