Caribbean News - Jan 06
BVI’s Maynard breaks speedsailing world record
The World Sailing Speed Record Council has ratified two new World Records in Windsurfing. Finian Maynard (BVI) now holds the "Outright Nautical Mile Record -- Windsurfer" set on October 15, 2005 at Walvis Bay, Namibia; Time: 1 min 10.12 seconds; Speed: 39.97 Knots. The previous record (34.44 knots) was held by Bjorn Dunkerbeck, November 16, 2004 at Aringa.
The "Outright Women's Nautical Mile Record -- Windsurfer" now belongs to Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA) also set on October 15, 2005 at Walvis Bay, Namibia; Time: 1 min 46.92 seconds; Speed: 33.69 Knots.
St. Maarten captains and crew earn STCW 95 certifications
The staff of Bobby's Marina Tender Services recently followed the STCW 95 (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping) course at the Maritime School of the West Indies during several off-season weekends, on their own free time, to comply with international regulations and requests of cruise ship companies. All the crew of their boats are now up to date for the ISPN code (security in harbors), holding fire fighting, first aid, personal safety, and social responsibilities certificates.
Simpson Bay Marina, managed by Georgie Adamou, also is preparing for winter season by becoming the first marina in St.Maarten to have a complete staff with STCW 95 certificates.
The new location of the MSWI school is La Palapa Center & Marina Airport Road 28 Simpson Bay St.Maarten. Phone: +5995231209,E-mail: info@MSWI.org
Lower airfares for the Caribbean?
LIAT CEO Garry Cullen and Chairman Jean Holder recently announced major changes ahead for LIAT, the regional airline owned jointly by governments of several Caribbean nations. As part of its restructuring plan, the airline slashed fares by 20% or more, with prices as low as $22 one way on some routes now.
Meanwhile, John Wrightington from Caribbean Sun Airlines and Caribbean Star Airlines assured travel agents who attended the 28th Caribbean Tourism Conference in St. Thomas that the airline’s management is reassessing procedures to improve “connectivity” between long-haul and regional carriers. “We will be cooperating much more in the future with Air Jamaica and BWIA,” said Wrightington.
At the same conference, Spirit Airlines Vice President of Sales and Distribution Marc Cavaliere declared, “We are THE low fare airline of the Caribbean and the fastest growing airline in the region,” announcing plans to serve 11 Caribbean destinations within the year from the United States.
Slippery When Wet wins Carriacou Sailing Series
Three days of stiff competition welcomed sailors from the region at this year’s Carriacou Sailing Series held November 10-13 at the Tyrell Bay Marina. Winners were Slippery When Wet - Racing Class, Wayward - Racer/Cruiser Class, Business Machine - Cruising Class and Jabal - J24-Class.
The first day of racing took all skippers and crew in a triangle then West/East in Tyrell Bay in winds of 10-12 knots. On day two, gusts up to 18 knots caused three Cruisers to abandon the race. The remaining Cruisers required more than seven hours, and the Racing and Racer/Cruiser classes took about half the time, to finish a course that took them just shy of Petit Martinique then back to Tyrell Bay. Three J-24 races held within Tyrell Bay saw close finishes with the final order of all three races within four minutes of each other.
Day three brought medium to heavy winds at 15-20 knots and slightly choppy seas, with close finishes in all classes.
Sunsail opens sail cruising school in Tortola
Sunsail opened the Caribbean’s first Royal Yachting Association-approved sailing school in December at its base in Tortola, the newest addition to schools the firm already operates in the UK, the Canary Islands, the Whitsunday Islands (Australia) and Phuket, Thailand. Open year round, the new school will offer RYA Competent Crew or Day Skipper courses.
“By expanding the sailing school, we hope to service not only our clients that visit us from around the world, but people who live in the Caribbean that would like to gain formal sailing qualifications” said Nic Parton, Tortola Base Manager and Sailing School Principal.
The course, which runs from 8am Saturday to 5pm Wednesday, costs $680, including cruising taxes, breakfasts and lunch. Information: sunsailtortola@surfbvi.com
Budget Marine donates underwater lights to Ocean Care Foundation
During its 2006 Catalog Launching Party, Budget Marine donated lights to the Ocean Care Foundation. The St. Maarten-based Foundation is focusing on documenting the importance of coral reefs and damage from uncontrolled pollution in an effort to raise public and governmental awareness of the importance of maintaining an ecological balance for generations to come.
BVI Watersports Centre Holds Sailathon & Community Fete
The BVI Watersports Centre celebrated the 400th Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th at Manuel Reef, Sea Cows Bay, Tortola. On dry land, donkey rides and go-carts, hair braiding, helicopter rides and other attractions entertained families while 30 young sailors raced at sea. A floating bonfire commemorated Fawkes’ attempt to blow up the English Houses of Parliament in 1605.
His Excellency the Governor Tom Macan attended the event, specifically to spend some time on the water with the young sailors, including the “Sailability BVI” students. This group consists of special needs children, challenged physically and/or mentally, who attend the Watersports Centre weekly, learning to sail, kayak and drive powerboats.
Kostitch snares 7th St. Croix swim race win
Pan American Gold Medalist Alex Kostich from Los Angeles, California won the 10th annual St. Croix Coral Reef Swim for the seventh year in a row, finishing the five-mile open water swim in one hour, 37 minutes, and 30 seconds. Sydney Olympics Gold Medal winner Misty Hyman assisted with event production and led a relay of Virgin Islands junior swimmers.
More than 120 athletes, ages 13 to 71, from 20 states, territories, and Canadian provinces competed in the 10th annual race from Buck Island to The Buccaneer resort’s beach on the last Sunday in October. Net proceeds from the event were donated to the Nature Conservancy to be used for their work protecting coral reefs surrounding St. Croix. www.swimrace.com.
Ellen MacArthur, Fernando Echavarri Erasun and Anton Paz Blanco named ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year 2005
In a ceremony held on November 8 in Singapore, the International Sailing Federation and Rolex announced that Dame Ellen MacArthur of Great Britain and Tornado World Champions Fernando Echavarri Erasun and Antón Paz Blanco of Spain are winners of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards for 2005.
The three sailors were honored for their outstanding sailing achievements between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005, when MacArthur completed a record-breaking solo sprint around the world in her maxi-trimaran B&Q and Echavarri and Paz were crowned Tornado World and European Champions after a string of outstanding results.
Brief notes:
Tom Gerker reports that Parts & Power, Tortola is moving to new premises in Port Purcell, a 10,000 square foot facility with dock facilities nearby.
Congratulations to Calypso Marine Canvas (Trinidad) Ltd. for receiving the Industrial Fabrics Associaton’s 2005 International Achievement Award in the Marine Upholstery and Interior Fabric Products Category for their specialty fabric, Quick Lite..
Business is good…Budget Marine, Curacao has opened a second store, this one in the new Curacao Marine Services complex to supply chandlery services supporting the extensive repair facilities of the Marina.
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