Vanishing Sail
Antigua – Sailing enthusiasts interested in supporting the arts are now able to make the transition from interested observer to active patron with just a click of the mouse. Independent film maker, Alexis Andrews, is in the final stages of filming his documentary, Vanishing Sail: A Caribbean Tradition on the Verge of Extinction, and is extending an invitation to the sailing community to take an active role in its completion by making donations using a new fundraising medium: Kickstarter.com
The goal is to raise $48,000 on Kickstarter. Patrons who pledge any amount from $20 – $5,000 will be rewarded with a commemorative gift pertaining to the production of Vanishing Sail. The first six donors who pledge the amount of $500 or more will be offered the rare experience of a crew position on one of the Carriacou sloops during the 25th Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta & St. Barth’s West Indies Regatta.
Vanishing Sail tells the story of trading by sail in the West Indies, and follows a community of boat builders in Carriacou who struggle to maintain their tenuous grip on a dying skill. Through a collection of dramatic sailing scenes, rare archival footage and unprecedented interviews with the last old, Caribbean Sea Captains, Vanishing Sail seeks to preserve their legacy.
www.kickstarter.com – www.vanishingsail.com
ARC 2012 Now Full
The 27th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is now fully subscribed, and the wait list is open. More boats have been offered places this year, and there will be around 230 at start the rally on November 25th in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Spaces in the ARC booked up faster than ever, surpassing the 2011 entry level by early February.
So far the smallest boat is Wolfgang Vandrey’s Contest 28 Quetzal and the largest is Swan 80 Berenice. ARC 2012 will be a truly international affair, with boats sailing under the flags of 33 nations. British boats make up just under one third of the fleet, with Germany being the second-largest national grouping.
The prize for the oldest boat of 2012 looks like being between two boats built in 1926 – Peter von Seestermühe owned by long-term ARC supporter Christoph von Reibnitz, and Peter Brownsell’s Peregrin.
So far, 23 catamarans have registered, six short of last year’s record
The RORC racing divisions have a healthy 42 entries, with good competition and fast crossing times promised from Swan 80 Berenice (ITA) and Swan 82S Nikata at the larger end of the fleet, and some speedy Judel/Vrolijk designs in the sub 60ft division.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
2012 Marlow One-Design Regatta June 16th – 17th
The St. Maarten Yacht Club will host the 11th annual Marlow One-Design Regatta in June.
This two day regatta attracts top-notch teams from throughout the Caribbean. The event takes place on St. Maarten’s Simpson Bay Lagoon using Lagoon Sailboat Rental’s fleet of Jeanneau 20 one-design sloops. Short courses and stiff competition make the Marlow One-design Regatta one of the most exciting in the Caribbean.
To book a place in the regatta or for information, E-mail: director@bigboatseries.com or kathy@smyc.com
