the Caribbean islands has many tactical challenges, with warm seas and plenty of sunshine and that’s what keeps us coming back.’ The St Maarten Heineken Regatta will be the first Caribbean event to welcome the IMA for their Caribbean Circuit. IMA yachts will continue to Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille and Antigua Sailing Week (ASW). The St Maarten Heineken and ASW will also give new trophies for women in sailing. This follows the islands of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, St Maarten, and St Vincent & the Grenadines hosting events as part of World Sailing’s Steering the Course global women’s sailing festival in May. Plus, as part of the Antigua and Barbuda Women in Sailing Mentorship Program launched this year.
New too for 2022, the St Barths Bucket will also offer a 90-foot class in addition to its Corinthian Spirit class, which provides yacht owners with the option of racing with their permanent crew without committing resources to race optimisation. The BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival (BVISR) is preparing to include more classes and opportunities to race for sailors from across the Caribbean and the globe and will host its 50th anniversary event in 2023. The sport boat class developed for the 2020 ASW will finally launch into fruition in 2022. This class is for lightweight race boats under 30 feet with lots of sail area such as Melges 24s, J/70s,
Above: the iconic St Barths Bucket
superyacht regatta was last held in 2019, but is due to return in 2022 with many of the worldʼs largest and most spectacular yachts
expected to attend. The 90ft class is a new addition to next yearʼs Bucket
Mini 650s, and other small planing boats. These pocket rockets will get their own start, custom courses and multiple races.
Both the BVISR and ASW were recognised this year by the Newport, RI-headquartered non-profit, Sailors for the Sea, as Clean Regattas for 10 and 9 years, respectively. A new Caribbean regatta, the Caribbean Ocean Racing Club’s (CORC) Windward 500, which enjoyed a successful proof of concept this year with a handful of boats, has ‘green’ and COVID-19 protocol-friendly innovation as part of its theme. On the green side, the event lends visibility to renewable energy, sustainability, and resilience projects throughout the region. On the innovative side is its flexibility and a strong virtual element. ‘You pick your start/finish island, so if you performed well at ASW and are headed south to enjoy the Tobago Keys in the Grenadines you can start the race at Bequia. If you pulled into Martinique to enjoy the fine French wine and cheese offerings, you can start at Diamond Rock. If you cruised down to Grenada to secure your haul-out space in one of the many yards, you can start and finish there,’ says Steven Kern, race organiser. ‘You will get to use World Sailing’s Appendix WP for racing around waypoints, and Experimental Appendix RV, which simplifies the rules for racing in reduced visibility, between sunset and sunrise. You will also enjoy the virtual skippers’
briefing and prizegiving. You will report to the RC by WhatsApp by sending them photos of your chartplotter as you pass through each gate.’
www.caribbean-sailing.com
Here’s how to enter now Teams are encouraged to express interest or register for 2022 Caribbean regattas as early as possible to enable organisers to plan ahead. The CSA provides a central page that gives links to each major event and the latest COVID-19 entry protocols for each host island (https://caribbean-
sailing.com/regatta-covid-updates/). In addition, the CSA also provides a link to many race charter companies: (https://caribbean-
sailing.com/ yachtcharter/). Book charters early too. For example, as of July, UK-based LV Yachting had 6 charters sold for three regattas: the BVISR, Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille, and ASW. In addition to regatta charters for novice and experienced racers alike, companies like OnDeck in Antigua offer opportunities for passage and mile-building inter-island between regattas. For example, from Antigua to Barbados in January for Barbados Sailing Week, then to Grenada for GSW, and back to Antigua. Next year indeed looks like a bright spot on the horizon for Caribbean racing and regattas.
SEAHORSE 73
JEFF BROWN/BREED MEDIA CREATIVE
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