The après sail parties at the Caribbean regattas are of course legendary but it is the racing itself that now offers an unparalleled experience for crews and boats of every conceivable size and type
What’s not to like?
J/24 to 240-footers the Caribbean winter circuit has come a long way in recent years... In 2020 something for everyone will be a great deal more just than a slogan
Wall to wall sunshine, sparkling clear waters and steady trade winds, the conditions alone have long been among the major attractions to racing in the Caribbean. Add to this the region’s legendary reputation for outstanding parties, lay days, music and general fun ashore and it’s easy to see why the Caribbean regatta circuit has been a key part of so many people’s sailing season, for so many years.
But like many regattas around the world, even the most enticing events in this sailing paradise have previously struggled to maintain their momentum. The reasons for the change have been widespread and complex, but at the heart of the issue is the way that competitors themselves have changed how they work and play. Increasing day to day demands of work puts sailors under more pressure to play closer to home. Put simply, habits and holidays have changed.
While times have been challenging,
regatta managers work hard to maintain the uniqueness of each island’s event and keep the regattas relevant. The wide variety that is available throughout a four- month-long season among the regattas has helped to provide unique racing experiences throughout the island chain. ‘One of the key advantages that the Caribbean has had is the ease with which people can get to the events,’ says Alison Sly-Adams who is president of the Caribbean Sailing Association. ‘The ability to fly in and take part on a race-prepared boat as an individual with no other organisation required has been very popular with those who are operating to a tight time frame. It is a similar story for those who are coming to race as a group too. With the logistics pre-sorted, from race entry to accommodation and transfers, guests can concentrate on simply enjoying the excitement of racing and all the shoreside activities, again special to each island.
‘As a result, it’s not surprising that well- run outfits such as Performance Yacht Racing, On Deck Ocean Racing, Scarlet Oyster and El Ocaso Yacht Charter have been successful.’
One of the most important influences in the region’s popularity with racing sailors lies in the wide variety that is on offer from intimate, relaxed racing, to fully blown offshore events.
And while some may choose to fly in and fly out to specific events, one of the other driving forces behind the Caribbean’s regatta revival has been the number of transatlantic events that have fed boats into the region.
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Transatlantic race and the Transquadra have all fed boats into the region. With this has come greater awareness about what’s on offer which has in turn helped to build participation. Once people have crossed the pond, the idea of a season of Caribbean racing becomes a pretty appealing reality.
So what are the highlights on the menu for 2020? Barbados Sailing Week gets things under way in January with a number of coastal races culminating with the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race on the final day.
From there, the next stop for the 50 or so boats that manage to get an entry to this compact and well-talked about five-day event is Grenada Sailing Week. A fleet that is growing is the multihull class. As the sailing performance of modern multihulls has improved and the racing gets better, the appeal of a comfortable, spacious boat that can easily accommodate a reasonably sized crew provides the icing on the cake and has led to growing fleet sizes at several of the key
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