Now is the time of year when sailors from the U.S. and Europe plan their trips to the Caribbean to participate in one or more of the popular island regattas held here every spring. Not all Caribbean regattas are created equal, however. Savvy sailors know that the International Rolex Regatta, hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club and scheduled for Friday, March 26 through Sunday, March 28, 2010, has an offering that goes beyond just beach parties and calypso bands. The International Rolex Regatta guarantees exceptional racing by virtue of its dependable trade winds and, even more important, a professional race management team.

The International Rolex Regatta is the only major Caribbean regatta that is run by a yacht club, so competing sailors can be certain that the organizers know a thing or two about what the "whole package" should be. Absolute proof that this is the case will always be in the eventual entry line-up, and this year anticipated headliners are Jim Mitchell (SUI), returning with his Reichel Pugh 52 Vincitore to defend his 2009 title, and Tom Hill (Puerto Rico), returning to reclaim the past glory of multiple Titan victories with his latest steed, Titan 15, a Reichel Pugh 75.

The event has been hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club for 37 years and is the oldest regatta in Rolex's portfolio of international sailing events. Rolex is known for sponsoring famous offshore and grandprix events such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Rolex Fastnet Race, Giraglia Rolex Cup, Rolex Middle Sea Race, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship.

A.H. Riise Stores, Official Retailer of Rolex watches in the U.S. Virgin Islands, takes an active role in sponsorship of the event. The St. Thomas shop is one of the largest in the Caribbean and is located on the historic waterfront of downtown Charlotte Amalie. Island Global Yaching, USVI Department of Tourism, Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort, Mount Gay Rum and Heineken are all supporters of this event.

The public is welcome to attend any of the scheduled events.

Best viewing will take place on Friday March 26th from Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort. That day the boats will race from the Yacht Club to Charlotte Amalie Harbor in the morning and return to the Yacht Club in the afternoon. On Sunday March 28th the races can be best viewed from Sapphire Beach in the morning.

T-shirts, sailing gear, caps and other items will be for sale at the St Thomas Yacht Club every day.

For more information, visit www.rolexcupregatta.com or call the St Thomas Yacht Club at (340) 775-6320.

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Enjoy an exciting day of island hoping, snorkeling and swimming. All boats have bimini tops, snorkel gear, large coolers, showers and great music. Use our itinerary or customize your own tour. Mini Boat Tour- Enjoy driving your own boat under the watchful eye of our trained crew. Swim, snorkel, enjoy the protected marine sanctuary.

By Andi Bailey

These days, the hot new way to travel is not so much defined by the means of the vacation--i.e. the flight, the hotel, the gorgeous destination--but by the end result of a trip. Voluntourism is sweeping the world as the trend for travelers in the know. The idea is simple, and it's catching. Everyone from college students to retired couples is finding a way to lend a hand and spend their vacations helping others in the communities they are visiting.

"It's almost unbelievable how much can be accomplished by a few people working very hard for only a few hours." says Judi Nagelberg of Islands Meetings and Incentives, the local organizer of many of the Voluntourism opportunities. Her groups have cleaned beaches, painted and landscaped numerous schools and homeless shelters. They also spruced-up a home for the developmentally-challenged adults and one for senior citizens.

On St. Thomas, Coral World Ocean Park is always coming up with events to raise awareness about marine conservation issues. Take a day and hunt for the nests of endangered sea turtles on the beach. With the "Mangrove Restoration Project" you can learn about our depleting mangrove forests while helping to plant new seedlings. The Iguana Population Survey lets you get up close and personal with the island's most infamous reptile. And then there's the classic "Coastal Clean-Up" where you can walk, scuba dive or snorkel along coastlines, picking up trash while taking in the scenery. All of Coral World's voluntourism opportunities serve a double function as studies/conservation efforts and guided tours that help visitor's to understand the island's ecosystem.

Every year from November to April Friends of the Park on St. John organizes a twice-weekly park clean-up event. On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:45 am, a bus picks up volunteers in front of Mongoose Junction. At 8:15 the bus picks up people from Cinnamon Bay Campground, and from then until 1 pm everyone helps to restore hiking trails, clean around plantation ruins or even occasionally work with archaeologists on dig sites.

Audrey Penn, Program Manager for Friends of the Park, said the events are always very popular. "People will show up on Tuesday saying they're just going to do one day, but then on Thursday they're there again. It's so rewarding to see how much can get done in a short time with so many people."

How to get involved
St. John: Friends of the Park: Audrey Penn, Program Director
Tel: (340) 779-4940
Web: www.friendsvinp.org
Volunteers meet in front of Mongoose Junction Tue. and Thurs. at 7:45 or at 8:15 at Cinnamon Bay. Bring a water bottle, lunch, and closed-toed shoes.

St. Thomas: Coral World Ocean Park
Tel: (340) 775-1555
Web: www.coralworldvi.com
Call ahead for event times and to reserve a place on the tours. Private parties can be arranged. Some activities do not allow children under 8.

Island Meetings and Incentives: Judi Nagelberg
Tel: (340) 779-2755
Web: www.imivi.com
Reservations and planning are required, however they can tailor activities for groups and have tons of experience in organizing voluntourist activities.

The fundraiser will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children. Each ticket-holder will receive a tour of The Butterfly Farm, a light brunch, and one cocktail or drink. Additional drinks will be for sale. All proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of St. Thomas. Tickets for "Barefoot Brunch with the Butterflies" are available at The Butterfly Farm, the Humane Society of St. Thomas, the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, and How 'Bout Your Pet.

The event is the brainchild of Sharon Tait, Manager of The Butterfly Farm, and Carol Pazik, Marketing Director of West Indies Corporation. According to Ms. Tait, "We wanted to develop an event that would bring needed revenues to the Humane Society but also provide a fun, family-oriented outing for adults and children. The Butterfly Farm is the perfect venue for this. I am so pleased that Barefoot Wines volunteered to help underwrite some of the costs of the event and provide appealing brunch beverages," she explained.

Representatives of the Humane Society will be on hand to discuss the organization's many programs, including adoptions, spay-neuter benefits, humane education, memberships, and the new Humane Care Campus. According to Andrea Martin, a member of the Humane Society's board of directors, "We are so grateful to The Butterfly Farm and Barefoot Wines for their efforts on behalf of the Humane Society. The Humane Society provides so many services to the community, many unrecognized by the public. Current economic conditions have impacted our revenues, so this fund raiser could not have come at a better time."

For further information, contact Sharon Tait at The Butterfly Farm (715-3366) or Andrea Martin of the Humane Society (774-9791).