Just as 40 is the new 30, so May is fast becoming the new April. Once the month where eyes traditionally looked eastward, May’s handful of first-class regattas has now made these few weeks the climax to the racing season, rather than the postscript. Up north, St Martin’s fledgling Captain Oliver’s Carib Beer Regatta complements Anguilla’s Mix-Up Regatta to coax another performance out of tired bones and sails.
Down south, however, May has been prime limin’ for almost a quarter of a century, thanks to Angostura Tobago Sail Week. This year, between May 14 and 19, the regatta will celebrate its 24 th edition, pulling in competitors from Barbados, Guadeloupe, Europe, the USA and of course Trinidad. For one week, Tobago’s Crown Point Beach Hotel marks the spot for any sailor with appetite for another round of racing and thirst for a quality beer on a beautiful beach in one of the week’s legendary parties.
Angostura Sail Week is organized by the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association, and races under CSA rules. The regatta began in 1982 and went through its own peaks and troughs before Angostura came on board in 1988 as a sponsor. Last year, 48 yachts raced in Racing, Cruiser/Racer, Cruising, Charter and Comfort classes. This time round, a Multihull class has been added.
Local boats Storm and Enzyme are expected to defend T&T honors, although the latter will be hoping for better fortunes, having been T-boned in 2005. Whatever the level of competition or class, though, this is a region within the Caribbean that takes its racing seriously, honors its local legends, and knows how to throw a good beach bash. For a whole week. What more could you ask for in May?
