Coral Bay Yacht Club Flotilla and Spring Regatta
What’s better than leaping off the bowsprit of a haunted schooner into the sea on a hot spring day? A boatload of kids from St. John’s Guy Benjamin Elementary School did just that at the Coral Bay Yacht Club’s Flotilla on Saturday, April 1. The event raised $17,000 for the school’s playground.
Providing the bowsprit was the Silver Cloud, a 100-foot, iron, three-masted restored schooner that once spent 20 years resting on the bot tom of Lake Ontario after sinking in a storm. Her captain, Elliot Cook Hooper, says you can hear the faint sounds of a radio down below, still tuned to a 1930s Cleveland Indians baseball game.
More than a dozen boats raced the First Annual Coral Bay Spring Regatta course with first place going to Jason Dmitrieff in Mystic, followed by Denise Wright in Reality Switch and Sara O’Neill with O’Dege.
Graduation Day for St. John’s KATS
The 19 th annual Kids and the Sea (KATS) graduation and promotion ceremony took place on June 10 at Coral Bay’s Skinny Legs restaurant. After a morning of rowing and sailing classes, 49 young St. Johnians were recognized for their achievements and treated to a picnic.
Royal BVI Yacht Club’s Virgin queen Pizza Pursuit
Weather gods played their parts for a great Virgin Queen Pizza Pursuit 2006 on Saturday, June 10, reports Emma Paull, Captain of Sailing Development. Eight children from the Royal BVI Yacht Club’s Optimist Training program took part in an Optimist regatta consisting of five races in Brandywine Bay. In first place was Amanda Putley, in second place Dontae Hodge and in third place Annika Forde.
IC24s and larger boats raced in pursuit style with handicaps applied at the start, each boat starting at its own allotted time, and the first boat to finish being the winner. Mistress Quickly took first, led by owner Guy Eldridge who credited youth sailors Bryshaun Scatliff, Godfrey Gumbs, and Kevin Wrigley for the win. This year a dinghy class was added and Lasers were won by Clair Burke.
News from Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba
The Nanaimo Yacht Club from Vancouver, Canada and the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba recently signed a reciprocal agreement. Commodore Escrich reports that he welcomes friendly relations with all Caribbean clubs as well.
Early March 19, a group of seven vessels took part in the HIYC’s annual fishing tournament. After six hours of fishing, teams gathered at the club for awards. First place went to “Mescal” owned by associate Carlos Herrero, second to “Tag and release” headed by Richard Vivian Perry and third place went to “Club Náutico II” led by Kimmo Vilkuna.
Ski and Motor Boating teams of the HIYC of Cuba, first tested during Hurricane Wilma, are training to participate in rescue tasks in case the city is hit by a hurricane this season.
A Tourism International Fair May 10-14 held in the Cabaña Fortress in Havana, Cuba included an international workshop on nautical tourism. Keats Compton, ( Saint Lucia) President of the Caribbean Marine Association, was among those participating.
Dates and Directors named for 2007 St. Thomas Rolex
The 34th International Rolex Regatta, hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club, will be Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2007.
"All sailors can count on cool breeze, warm water and a splash of rum," said Regatta Co-Director John Sweeney. "Every year we have a well-rounded fleet, ranging from small cats to maxis, with sailors from all walks of life and levels of experience. For 2007, we’re working to add classes for Farr 40s, Melges 32s and Swan 45s." The winner of each class will take home a Rolex timepiece.
Bill Canfield, who coordinates operation of St. Thomas Yacht Club’s facilities, will serve as Regatta Coordinator while Sandy Symkens will join Sweeney as a Regatta Co-Director. Contact Bil l Canfield at [email protected] or 340-775-6320. www.rolexcupregatta.com
