A group of trend-setting Puerto Rican sailors has long kicked around the idea to host an international regatta out of the offshore island of Culebra. The time ripened early this year when the directors of Club Nautico de Puerto Rico announced an affiliation with the Yacht Clubs of South East Florida and switch to the [...]

One of the most frequent questions visiting anglers ask is “How’s the flats fishing in the Virgin Islands? Most fisherman envision miles of pristine sandy flats teaming with bonefish, permit, and other game fish. While we don’t have miles of super shallow water like the Bahamas, the entire Caribbean from St. Thomas down island to [...]

Open land punctuated by a mountain of dirt now replaces the sight of crumbling pink-painted buildings and derelict docks at the site of the new Yacht Haven Grande marina complex, located on the far eastern shore of St. Thomas’ Charlotte Amalie harbor. Elie Finegold, vice president of the New York-based Island Capital Group, the parent [...]

Michael Leech, probably the most knowledgeable fisherman alive today and a frequent visitor to Virgin Islands waters, was the 2005 recipient of the Big Game Room “Hall of Fame” Award. The award was presented in the Big Game Room (BGR), a sports fishing expo that was created for the purpose of bringing fishermen together on [...]

All this fun, and maybe a great watch too! Well known as the Rolex Cup, or now the International Rolex Regatta, St. Thomas’ premier regatta is known for friendly, intense competition among top sailors, both local and international. Each of the Northern Caribbean regattas has its own special flavor and strong point. St. Maarten Heineken [...]

March is the month when more than 2,000 sailors, press and sailing enthusiasts fly into St Maarten, many for the first time, to take part in the Heineken Regatta. They join the hundreds of Mega Yacht crew who are based on the island for winter. In the spirit of the 25th anniversary celebrations, All At [...]

Winds the difference of night and day, from blustery to barely gusting, led to lots of swapped places on the scoreboard during the MLK Optimist and High School 420 Regatta, sailed January 15 and 16, out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club. In the end, it was both consistent and close racing that spelled the [...]

With the March deadline looming, it was time to check with Heineken Regatta Director Mirian Ebbers for any newsworthy last-minute entries. “Jimmy Cliff,” came her reply. “I didn’t know he sailed,” I said, wrongfooted. “He doesn’t. He’s headlining the final night.” There in a nutshell lies the appeal of the St Maarten Heineken Regatta – [...]

TSUNAMIS IN CARIBBEAN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS As a result of the tsunami which recently devastated several countries in Asia, scientists at the Seismic Research Unit have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to address concerns raised here in the region. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake which occurred on 26th December, 2004 off the west coast [...]

Cap’n Fatty Goodlander expresses his love for the St. John and the USVI. For a salt-stained sea gypsy sometimes there is no place like home.

LATITUDE 18 HALYARD CHALLENGE BEGINS THE 2005 SEASON Although there were only seven boats entered in the Royal BVI Yacht Club’s first race of the year, the competition was still fierce and determined. Four IC-24s entered the event – as we have seen these one-class designs are now the hottest, as well as the most [...]

One way or another I think about 30 yachts took part in the annual Antigua Yacht Club’s "Round the Island" event on January 22nd and 23rd. The first leg was from Falmouth Harbour on the south coast to Jolly Harbour on the west coast having left the island of Antigua to port. Then for the [...]

The 3rd Annual Bitter End Yacht Club Bucket Regatta, held January 7-9, featured big breezes, bright sun, blustery squalls. And a healthy dose of shoreside fun. This year’s Bitter End Yacht Club Bucket Regatta included an integral “smallboat racing” segment. Owner/skipper Arthur “Kitt” Watson of the Ocean 80 Too Elusive and his crew flexed their [...]

Imagine a race with all the vessels over 100 feet, held fairly close inshore in the open sea off Antigua’s south coast. There is usually quite a big sea running with the swells coming all the way unhindered from Africa. All races are approximately between 12 and 30 miles and downwind sails are allowed. Now [...]

In the BVI, most of us know Brad Hanger, owner and pilot of Island Helicopters International, as a quiet, unassuming man. But we also know that he offers a valuable service to those of us living in the area, as his helicopters are the safest and fastest way to medivac from the BVI to hospitals [...]

The annual Round the Island Race sanctioned by the Antigua Yacht Club was held over the weekend of January 22nd and 23rd. Racing began on Saturday morning at Falmouth Harbour on a beautiful day with good winds and 6 to 8 foot swells. The yachts set course around the island in a counter clockwise direction [...]

In Susan Chaplin’s words, “This year I did the St. Vincent Channel, which is the hardest channel I have ever done in my life. I have never encountered conditions that I encountered there. I had a two-knot current against me as well as 15-knot headwinds; I only paddle between two and four knots so the [...]

When men talk of hunting, fishing or sex, it’s mostly about size isn’t it? How strong, clever, experienced they were to finally get on top of whatever they were hunting for, fishing for or – whatever. Women tell fishing stories for other reasons. I recall two of my favorites. Mike and I anchored our boat, [...]

If there is anything that gives a positive start to a new year it is the recognition of excellence awarded for the previous one. Such is the case of Sistership Sailing School owner and ASA instructor Pat Nolan who was awarded the prestigious “International Instructor of 2004” by the American Sailing Association, determined by sailing [...]

The 12th Grenada Sailing Festival, which wrapped up just as All At Sea went to press, went way beyond putting the smile back on an island that’s been through the wringer this year. Somehow, against all the odds, the Spice Isle put on a great regatta. Held between Saturday 29 January and Monday 31, in [...]

Saved! What should have been an afternoon’s sailing trip turned into a four-day survival ordeal for two crewmembers based in St Maarten. On Saturday 15 January, Timmy Attard (30) and Juliet Savage (28), both crew aboard Zingaro, took out their 16ft Hobie Cat to sail up the coast. Four days later, on Tuesday 18 January, [...]

One of the earliest means instituted to prevent over fishing was catch limits.  While, on the surface it appeared a logical solution, no one considered the consequences.  Limit the catch to 100 pounds per boat and problem solved! But, fishing is an iffy endeavor; no fish one day, more than can be counted the next [...]

Before I moved to the Caribbean and my best friend, Melissia, began law school, we decided to take a wreck diving trip. Our search for a dive operator was met with dozens of, ‘sorry, the boat is full’ replies. After a desperate internet posting, I received a message from an operator stating he was available. [...]

Caribbean Yacht Club News from March 2005 for Anguilla, Antigua, Cuba and St. Croix Anguilla Dates for the 2005 Anguilla Mix Up regatta have been announced – May 6 to 8. This regatta pitches visiting yachts, many from St Maarten, alongside the famous local Anguilla boats. The frenzy on the water is matched only by [...]

Boat Engine Failure while at sea? Don’t panic, here are some tips and pointers to help get you through this very stressful situation.

A more traditional date, a timely prize, and switch to PHRF handicap are new features of this year’s Puerto Rico International Regatta. “We’ve moved back to our customary mid-March date with this year’s regatta set for March 11 to 13,” says regatta organizer and Club Nautico de Puerto Rico (CNPR) commodore, Kike Gonzalez. The event [...]

What kind of anchoring equipment do you need for your boat? What is the best type of anchor? Should you have more than one kind of anchor?