Tyson Tops 32nd International Optimist Regatta at St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
by Carol Bareuther 16 Jun 2025 05:22 BST
June 9-15, 2025
Daniel Skutch Tyson wins the 2025 International Optimist Regatta (IOR) © Matias Capizzano
Getting good starts and sailing fast led the USA's Daniel Skutch Tyson to win the 32nd International Optimist Regatta (IOR), hosted at the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC), June 13-15, 2025.
Thirteen-year-old Tyson, who races out of the Annapolis Yacht Club, in Annapolis, MD, was one of nearly 90 sailors from the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, several USA states, and Argentina that competed in this three-day regatta in 8-foot, single-sail Optimist dinghies where conditions averaged 10-to 15-knots of breeze under sunny skies.
"Congratulations to all the young sailors who competed in this year's International Optimist Regatta. Your talent, determination, and sportsmanship continue to make the U.S. Virgin Islands proud. Events like this not only highlight our world-class sailing conditions, but also bring together families, cultures, and communities from around the world," says Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.
The Winners
The top three sailors overall after 10 races in the 2025 IOR were Tyson first; Rhode Island's Christian Petersen, representing Saunderstown Yacht Club, second; and Texas's Maxime McCulloch, from Lakewood Yacht Club, third.
Tyson's first place overall also put him at the top of the 13- to 15-year-old Red Fleet after 10 in the Championship fleet.
"I don't always have good starts, but I did today. And I'm good at handling the wind shifts," says Tyson. "I was nervous this morning because I wanted to stay in the lead. So, I tried to focus on my sailing."
Puerto Rico's Valeria Perez-Hermida finished third in the Red Fleet, after Tyson and Petersen, but ended as the IOR's Top Female Sailor. The position earns Perez-Hermida her name inscribed in the perpetual Founders Trophy.
"This is my fifth year sailing in the IOR, so I know the conditions well," says Perez-Hermida, age 13. "My strategy is to do my best, and if I don't do as well in a race as I'd like, to learn from it in the next race.
The three-day TOTE Clinic that preceded the IOR played a role in 12-year-old McCulloch's win in the ages 11-12 Blue Fleet.
"The clinic prepared me for the racing because I learned about the different conditions, the winds and waves here, and the other competitors," McCulloch says.
Ten-year-old Jonah Watson, a member of Florida's Jensen Beach Race Team, finished first in the age 10-and-under White Fleet. Watson also finished fifth overall.
"My strategy was to start on the favored side, sail the best I could, and stay focused," he says.
This year's IOR's Green Fleet winner, after 22 races, was 11-year-old Benjamin Lima, from Florida's Coral Reef Yacht Club.
"Today especially, when I was nervous about trying to stay in first place, I just kept repeating my Club's five core values in my mind - kindness, respect, honesty, love, and peace," he says.
Additional awards included the Peter Ives' Perpetual Trophy, won by Oscar Plachecki, a member of Florida's Jensen Beach Race Team, and the Chuck Fuller Sportsmanship Perpetual Trophy, earned by the BVI's Aerin Westlake. Both Ives and Fuller participated in early IORs at the invitation of STYC's Henry Menin, one of the regatta's founders.
A Week of Sailing
The 8- to 15-year-old sailors began the week by training at the three-day TOTE Clinic, held from June 9 to 11. The Clinic concluded with a Volvo Ocean-style race, where sailors completed four legs around the east end of St. Thomas and its offshore islands.
McCulloch won the distance race in the Championship Fleet, while Lima finished first in the Beginner Green Fleet.
Some of the best Optimist coaches conduct on-the-water training sessions and instructive on-land debriefs for both Advanced (age-divided Red, White, and Blue Fleets) and beginner (Green Fleet) sailors. This year's coaches included Agustin 'Argy' Resano, U.S. Virgin Islands National Team; Manny Resano, USA National Team Head Coach; Esteban Rocha, Head Coach of the Fort Lauderdale Yacht Club, FL; Gonzalo Pollitzer, USA National Team and International Coach; and Mykel Alonso, Coach at Coral Reef Yacht Club. USVI coaches included Megan Cassidy, Spencer LeGrande, Joie Paciulli, and Emily Verdioa.
The one-day TOTE Team Racing Championships took place on June 12.
Out of seven teams, the winner was the USA National Team, with members Constantino Conrad, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, Florida; Trey Waters, Annapolis Yacht Club/Eastport Yacht Club, Maryland; Tyson; Andrew Allgeier, Hampton Yacht Club, Virginia; and Petersen.
Greer Scholes (ISV) served as the Principal Race Officer for the IOR, while the International Jury included chair Don Makowiecki (BVI), David Pelling (CAN), Bruce Cook (USA), Mike Chapell (USVI), Pat Bailey (USVI) and Ruth Miller (USVI).
Strong Sponsor Support
The IOR is sponsored by TOTE, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, The K3 Company, CC1 Virgin Islands, MSI Building Supplies, the St. Thomas Restaurant Group, and Barefoot Buddha.
This year's event will follow an eco-friendly theme. Each sailor receives a reusable metal water bottle to reduce waste. Sailors are also encouraged to keep all lunch bags and wrapping out of the water, pick up trash on shore, and refrain from using straws when accepting drinks.
For complete results, visit www.regattanetwork.com/event/29124#_newsroom or stthomasyachtclub.org/sailing/regattas/international-optimist-regatta. For more information, Email: or call (340) 775-6320. Please also see the International Optimist Regatta on Facebook and Instagram @internationaloptiregatta
Overall Results: (top five)
Name, Yacht Club, Country, Points
RED FLEET
1. Daniel Skutch Tyson, AYC, USA (32)
2. Christian Petersen, SYC, USA (37)
3. Valeria Perez-Hermida, CNSJ, PR (67)
4. Constantino Conrad, SPYC, USA (68)
5. Avery Pearsall, STYC, USVI (89)
BLUE FLEET
1. Maxime McCulloch, CERT/LYC, USA (47)
2. Finn Hodgins, STYC, USVI (54)
3. Andrew Allgeier, LISOT/HYC, USA (64)
4. Brooks Pardi, LISOT/RYC, USA (90)
5. Olympia McCulloch, CERT/LYC, USA (124)
WHITE FLEET
1. Jonah Watson, JBRT, USA (62)
2. Lucas Christiansen, CNSJ, PR (163)
3. Kip Hodgins, STYC, USVI (166)
4. Mason Lim, SCCYC, USA (231)
5. Ivan Riano, CRYC, USA (247)
GREEN FLEET
1. Benjamin Lima, CRYC, USA (52)
2. Logan Gill, PYFC, PR (60)
3. Jett Hart, CRYC, USA (114)
4. Erin Cunningham, CRYC, USA (188)
5. Paula Moure, MSS, PR (202)
About the Sponsors
TOTE. TOTE is a domestic ocean freight carrier headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, which offers freight services for containerized cargo between the U.S., San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. TOTE is the first carrier to operate liquid natural gas (LNG) powered vessels. www.totemaritime.com
U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. The U.S. Virgin Islands are in the Eastern Caribbean, 1,100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, USA. Each of the three major islands-St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John-possess a unique character of its own. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of watersports and immerse themselves in the territory's rich culture by enjoying historical tours, culinary encounters, artisan fairs, parades, storytelling, and other special presentations. www.visitusvi.com
The K3 Company: K3 Company is a global manufacturer of premium outdoor gear and accessories, including sustainable, lightweight, and durable dry bags. www.thek3company.com
CC1 Virgin Islands. CC1 Virgin Islands is a leading Caribbean beverage distributor. The company is sponsoring the event with Coca-Cola, Dasani Water, and Powerade.
MSI Building Supplies. MSI is the largest Pro Lumber Yard in the U.S. and British Islands, supplying contractors with superior building materials for all residential and commercial construction projects. www.msivi.com
St. Thomas Restaurant Group (STRG). The Group owns and operates several restaurants in St. Thomas: Agave, Sunset Grille, The Beach Bar at Sapphire, Raw Sushi & Sake Bar, Sangria's Beachside Bistro, Pesce Italian, Sea Salt, and Paradise Pie. www.stthomasrestaurantgroup.com
Barefoot Buddha. Coffee Shop and Deli located in Havensight, St. Thomas. www.barefootbuddhavi.com