As entries keep coming in for Quantum Key West Race Week, organizers at the Storm Trysail Club welcome Red Stripe Beer as a first-time sponsor and the return of Foiling RIBs for the 30th anniversary regatta, scheduled Jan. 15-20, 2017.
Founded in 1928 in Jamaica, Red Stripe is a full-bodied amber lager that embodies the spirit and rhythm of Jamaica and its people. In 2003 Red Stripe won the Gold Medal in the Monde Selection awards in the Beers, Waters and Soft Drinks category, and Red Stripe Light won the Silver Medal. Monde Selection is an independent taste test evaluation that guarantees a brand’s quality for consumers.
“We are excited to take part in our first Quantum Key West Race Week and start our relationship with the Storm Trysail Club and the sailing community at large,” said Andrew Anguin, Red Stripe’s Senior Brand Manager in the U.S. “This is an extra special occasion for us as we welcome racers to Key West with the first Red Stripe brewed in Jamaica for the United States since 2012. As a brand we are all about sharing good times with good friends and we could think of no better place than Key West to bring this to life.”
Red Stripe joins as a Gold-level sponsor as does Foiling RIBs, a boat sales and charter company that markets a line of hydrofoiling RIBs (rigid inflatable boat) and center console sport fishers. Hysucat is an acronym for hydrofoil supported catamaran, which the company says are more efficient, require smaller engines, have more deck space and ride better in seas. Hysucat RIBs were the support boat of choice for numerous events including the America’s Cup World Series events in New York and Chicago, Volvo Ocean Race Newport stopover, the Newport-Bermuda Race, and Block Island Race Week, among others. This is Foiling RIBs’ third consecutive year as a sponsor at Quantum Key West Race Week.
“Foiling Ribs is excited to be back supporting Quantum Key West Race Week,” said Mike Quaglio, the President of Foiling RIBs. “The Storm Trysail Club race organizers and volunteers do an exceptional job running extremely competitive races in an array of conditions and sea states. Supporting such great events, that bring together some of the best boats with some of the most talented sailors in the world, is one of our missions. We’re happy to give back to the sport of sailing while showcasing the technological advancements and performance capabilities of the Hysucat hydrofoil system.”
The entrant list is nearly 100 for the 30th anniversary regatta and includes some prominent U.S. sailors. Past Rolex Yachtsman of the Year winners such as Ed Baird (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Bill Hardesty (San Diego, Calif.), Terry Hutchinson (Annapolis, Md.) and John Kostecki (Reno, Nev.) will be racing. Also, past Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Hannah Swett (New York. N.Y.) is entered as skipper of the J/70 Sparkle.
Gill NA, the official apparel company of Quantum Key West Race Week, has launched its signature line for the 30th anniversary regatta. The line features a range of clothing for men and women including technical t-shirts, polos, soft shell jackets and smocks and foul weather gear. Gill will customize any clothing for crews wishing to have their boat name embroidered in time for race week.
Through an alliance with the National One Design Sailing Academy of Canada, charter opportunities are still available in the Flying Tiger 7.5m sportboat class. The Flying Tiger 7.5m is sailed with a maximum crew weight of 1,025 pounds (465 kilograms). The charter fee is US$9,700 per boat, which includes the entry fee, dockage, and on-water lunches each day. Also included in the charter fee is a two day on-water clinic with Bill Gladstone the weekend before racing begins, Jan. 13-14, 2017.
For more information and to enter, please visit the Quantum Key West Race Week web site.