It’s H-time again
Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie and William may visit the Caribbean during the next six months. Will the 2006 Hurricane Season bring a repeat performance of last year’s record of 27 named storms and 14 hurricanes? “We continue to foresee another very active Atlantic basin tropical cyclone season in 2006. Landfall probabilities for the 2006 hurricane season are well above their long-period averages,” predicts hurricane Guru William Gray at Colorado State University who attended the March Bahamas Weather Conference on Grand Bahama Island.
St. Thomas welcomes ISAF Tag Heuer Nations Cup
Charlotte Amalie harbor will see unusual summer action June 8 -11 as the St. Thomas Yacht Club and Virgin Islands Sailing Association host the Group F North American Qualifier for the ISAF Nations Cup, a match racing competition between nations. Members of the club have offered their IC-24 fleet for the visiting teams. Additional regional Finals are underway this year in Finland , Portugal, Slovenia, Great Britain, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, and New Zealand. Winning teams in the Open and Women’s events qualify to represent their nations and their groups at the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Ireland in September.
How do Women Learn to Boat?
BoatU.S would like to hear from women everywhere about their learning experiences via a 15-question survey for women boaters posted online at www.BoatUS.com/women. “In previous surveys, women boaters have identified education and training as a major issue impacting their participation and enjoyment of boating,” says Elaine Dickinson, who heads up the BoatU.S. Women in Boating outreach effort. “With this new survey, we’d like to find out more about how women learn and acquire skills—what works best and why.” Dickinson says the association hopes to share the information in an effort to spur more women to take up boating
Caribbean Marine Association: It’s official
In February, the Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago hosted a meeting of the original founding members of the CMA to formally become a non-profit association. “Many Islands, One Sea” is the guiding principle of this group composed of joint public and private sector stakeholders seeking to present the Caribbean region as the world’s premier recreational yachting destination. Board members are President Keats Compton ( St. Lucia), Vice President Sam Welch (BVI), Treasurer/Secretary Donald Stollmeyer ( Trinidad and Tobago), and Directors George Clarke (Antigua) and Justin Evans ( Grenada). The Secretariat will be located in Trinidad & Tobago. For information, email: info@caribbeanmarineassociation.com or visit www.caribbeanmarineassociation.com
Grenada Rapidly Rebounding
In the year and a half since Hurricane Ivan dealt Grenada a devastating blow the country’s marine industry is bouncing back better than ever with all marinas reporting a successful winter season. A planned St. George’s Revitalization Project will include work on the Carenage, Lagoon marina, Tunnel, container port project, free trade area, mega yacht facility, Islander Hotel and more.
New Leaders for Antigua & Barbuda Marine Association
Following the Annual General Meeting of the Antigua & Barbuda Marine Association, the Board met on April 11 to select its new officers, John Duffy, President, Helen Cools-Lartigue, Vice-president and Penny Tyas, Treasurer. Out going President, Stan Pearson continues as liaison officer with the Sailing Week Committee and Janetta Miller will remain the ABMA’s representative on the Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting Board.
Jolly Times in Antigua
The Jolly Harbour Fun Regatta sponsored by Mount Gay Rum took place on Saturday, 8th April, 2006 with Racer, Cruiser-Racer and Cruising classes. Tommy Patterson’s “Ice Boat” won racing class although Bernie Wong in “Huey Too” was unable to complete all three races because the clew parted from Huey’s indestructible Mylar main sail. “Blue Peter” won Cruiser Racer class, and “Elethea” won cruising class. The mini regatta of three races provided local boaters with a chance to gear up for Antigua Sailing Week.
Latitudes & Attitudes on the Water Channel
The first nationally-broadcast weekly TV show based on the cruising lifestyle, Latitudes & Attitudes TV, will move to the new Water Channel, the world’s first network devoted entirely to “water lifestyle programming.” The show, a half-hour look into the world of cruising from Fiji to our own British Virgin Islands, airs on channel 216 on the DISH Network and reportedly will be coming to other cable outlets. For more information : www.waterchannel.com.
M4700 Catamaran joins Footloose BVI Charter Fleet
Footloose Sailing Charters grows its discount fleet this summer with the addition of the popular Moorings 4700 catamaran. Designed by Alex Simonis and manufactured by Robertson & Caine in South Africa, the M4700 is available for sailing vacations from the company’s base in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. “The M4700 design optimizes space and comfort, built with The Moorings high standards of performance and quality,” according to Josephine Williams, brand manager. The boat gives chartering sailors four large double cabins each with head and shower, a fully outfitted galley salon area, and a large cockpit with fully equipped helm station to starboard. For more information: www.footloosecharters.com.
