7th Carlos Aguilar Match Race - Date set for December 2015

Carlos Aguilar Match Race day 3 © Dean Barnes

The 7th Carlos Aguilar Match Race (CAMR) will set sail in scenic Charlotte Amalie harbour on December 3-6, 2015.

"We are extremely proud to have AeroMD join us as a presenting sponsor for this year's Carlos Aguilar Match Race. Without their financial support, along with that of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, this regatta would not be possible. We are proud to bring international match racing back to the Charlotte Amalie harbour this December. AeroMD presence on St. Thomas is a strong step forward for the island's health care," says regatta director, Bill Canfield.

Open and Women's teams, which represent a combination of highly ranked men and women and active successful match racers from the past, will put their skills to the test in fast-paced highly-competitive sailing action along the spectator-friendly Charlotte Amalie Waterfront.

Past winners of the Open Division in the CAMR reads like a Who's Who of sailing: the USVI's Taylor Canfield (2008), USVI's Peter Holmberg (2009), Portugal's Alvaro Marinho/Seth Sailing Team (2010), USA's Sally Barkow (2011), Finland's Staffan Lindberg (2012) and the USA's Don Wilson (2013). Women's Division winners are just as renowned: the USA's Genny Tulloch triumphed in 2008 and 2010 and France's Claire Leroy in 2009.

The CAMR is known for introducing young sailors to the sport, working cooperatively with the V.I. government and V.I. Department of Tourism in its efforts to get more kids out on the water. In 2015, each Open team will have a V.I. high school (under age 18) sailor as a member. In addition, the CAMR will host a short Youth Regatta mid-day on the second day of racing in order to expose younger island youth to the sport.

The CAMR is an International Sailing Federation (ISAF)-provisional Grade Two event.

The Virgin Islands Sailing Association (VISA) and St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC) are the organizing authorities for the CAMR, namesake for the late Carlos Aguilar, who was an avid sailor and match racer. AeroMD is the major sponsor.

AeroMD President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brendan Anzalone said he was honoured to be approached by the Virgin Islands Sailing Association to be part of this event.

"We are new to St. Thomas and appreciate being embraced so quickly by the sailing community who immediately saw the connection between AeroMD, our locally based air ambulance company and Carlos Aguilar, the namesake of this event. Our service provides urgent care equal to what patients would receive at a trauma center, intensive care unit or emergency room – and we provide it in the air," Anzalone said. "Unlike any other air ambulance company serving the region, we have dedicated aircraft, dedicated medical crews and each and every one in our company is dedicated to the speed of life. Our mission is to save lives."

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is a supporting sponsor.

www.carlosmatchrace.com