Rolex Antigua Sailing Week
Rolex has given a remarkable boost to its portfolio of international sailing regattas by coming onboard as the title sponsor of Antigua Sailing Week. Next year’s event, which runs from April 30 to May 6, 2006 will be known as Rolex Antigua Sailing Week. It will be the 39th edition.
Rolex has sponsored the International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas for the last 33 years and is also the title supporter of – among others- the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race, Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship, ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, Rolex Fastnet Race and the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge. For more information please contact: www.regattanews.com
Grenada has new cruise and yachting development
officer
The Grenada Board of Tourism has appointed Danny Donelan as the new cruise and yachting development officer. Mr Donelan will take up the brief of his predecessor Nikoyan Roberts to work with the private sector and promote Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique’s yachting sector.
Mr Donelan has a Master’s Diploma in Natural Resource Management from the University of the West Indies and has experience working in the tourism industry in Antigua.
His mission will be to facilitate the growth of Grenada’s yachting sector. Two marinas are planned for the next two years, with several
more plans on the table for the next five years.
Get in touch with the Grenada Board of Tourism at (473) 440-2279 or visit the web site at www.grenadagrenadines.com
Your country needs you
The BVI hosts the International IC24 Regatta this month, on November 12/13 at Nanny Cay. Dubbed the Nanny Cay Nations Cup, the event requires all crewmembers to carry passports from the same country. According to Richard Woolridge of event organisers Racing in Paradise, “there aren’t really many events out there any more with strict nationality rules”.
We will be reporting in the January issue how the small matter of national honor affected who gave room to whom at the marks.
Caribbean represented in ISAF World Sailor Awards
The BVI’s Finian Maynard has made the shortlist for the 2005 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards, which recognise ‘outstanding achievement’ in sailing. Maynard, who holds the world speed sailing record, is up against legends such as Peter
Gilmour, Bruno Peyron, Vincent Riou, Rohan Veal and Spain’s Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz.
The winner will be announced on www.sailing.org
Major event set for St. Thomas
St Thomas’s Charlotte Amalie Harbor will host the US Nation’s Cup in June 2006, according to an announcement by the ISAF. The
Nation’s Cup is a revival of the International Match Racing Challenge and St Thomas has been chosen as the venue for the North American qualifying round.
Top sailors from the USA, Canada and Mexico will battle it out in the USVI for the right to represent the region in the Grand Final
Nations Cup Regatta, to be held in Ireland.
The St Thomas Yacht Club has offered to provide its one-design IC24 fleet for use to visiting teams. According to Bill Canfield of the STYC, “The match racing format opens up the competition to small countries which can consolidate their best sailors into a team of four ‘ringers’ without worrying about who has enough money to afford the boat-associated expenses.” About 16 teams are expected.
New Grenada Restaurant
Grenada Marine welcomes Alison and Norris Franker of J’s Flambeau to the nautical family in St David’s. The Franker’s have reopened the beach bar and restaurant, and will be providing their famous rotis, curry crab & dumpling and fish diners to sailors and shore side visitors.
Give Alison a call on (473) 443-1064.
St Thomas Budget Marine goes 7/7
Stuck for something to do after church? The trial Sunday opening of Budget Marine in St Thomas was such a success that the store will now be opening 7 days a week in high season. According to Paige Passano, manager at the Independent Boatyard store, boaters will be able to shop from 9AM to 2PM on Sundays. For more information call (340) 779 2219 or email stthomas@budgetmarine.com
Optimist Worlds
In the September issue, we reported how Trinidad’s Matthew Scott had placed an incredible second in the 2005 Optimist Worlds in
Switzerland.
Also at the event were five young USVI sailors, who got in touch with All At Sea on their return to let us know what it was like to be part of the 53 nation, 243-sailor event.
“The boat felt like it was sinking,” reports 13-year-old Tyler Rice, missing the tremendous buoyancy of the Caribbean sea. “The competition was very tough, especially since we come from small fleet racing,” added Billy Gibbons, 12, from St Croix.
“I learned a lot and met people from all over the world,” said Alex Coyle, 12, from St John.
According to team coach Gillian Guiness, from Ireland, “They are a good group of sailors that have all shown potential.” The full squad comprised Alex Coyle, Max Nickbarg, Mimi Roller (St John), Billy Gibbons, Susan Gibbons (St Croix), Tyler Rice, Karen Rice (St Thomas), Gillian Guiness (Ireland).
