Event
Give yourself a break The Caribbean regatta season offers plenty of scope for all sorts of sailors
Every season, the best of the best from Europe, North America and beyond converge in the Caribbean for a healthy mix of sun, sailing, racing and fun across the region. The annual pilgrimage begins as soon as November for some, while the rest trickle in throughout the holidays and by February the season is in full force. Whether you are crew aboard a
maxi yacht or a full-on liveaboard considering the Caribbean circuit, there is something for everyone in the Caribbean.
Itinerary 1: The Cruiser’s Rally and Races Cruisers can find their way to the Caribbean fairly easily from Europe, despite the massive Atlantic Ocean that separates these iconic sailing regions. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers helps bring over 200 boats annually to the Caribbean, many crossing the Atlantic for the first time, with others on their annual migration to warmer waters. Some cruisers never
leave.Many
Above: a big part of the allure of the Caribbean racing scene is the scenery and Antigua Sailing Week is just one of its many highlights
of the liveaboard cruisers who are lucky enough to live in the lower latitudes head further south for the annual hurricane season and select Grenada, which is well-equipped and out of the stormpath, for their summer season. Thus it’s easy for themto get right back into racing with the first international regatta of the year confirmed to be Grenada SailingWeek in January 2024. Guy Chester, who sailed his
trimaran Ocean’s Tribute all the way from Australia last season, enjoyed the Caribbean circuit so much that he decided to stay and do it all again in 2024. For cruisers- turned-racers there is a plethora of event options and plenty of time to make their way to their next island or event of their choosing. The St Maarten Heineken Regatta
offers an Island Time class, which is designed for cruisers and those who want to have a more leisurely approach to racing. The Island Time class offers later starts, shorter courses and one race per day, so cruisers can properly balance their
“Serious Fun!” time on the island – the regatta’s motto and commitment to a joyous event for all. ‘This was our first time doing the
St Maarten Heineken Regatta and we’ll be back because we had a great time,’ says Heidi Herlihy, skipper of Swan 56 Tramontana who competed in the Island Time class. ‘There were some great competitors and people from everywhere, we made a lot of friends.’ The BVI Spring Regatta also offers
a racing itinerary that is well suited for this race-life balance. This regatta has perfected the destination race with its Scrub Island Invitational. On the Wednesday of the sailing festival, competitors enjoy the morning sprint from Nanny Cay to Scrub Island where the fleet is greeted with an afternoon BBQ Pool Party. BVI Spring Regatta’s itinerary offers plenty of opportunities for racing and cruising, kicking off with the Round Tortola Race for a full tour of the surrounding islands with plenty of time to explore before and after racing events.
SEAHORSE 57
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PAUL WYETH
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