West End Yacht Club, British Virgin Islands
Tortola's West End Yacht Club will run the 32nd Annual Sweethearts of the Caribbean and the 26th Annual Classic Regatta on February 12 to 15 2010 out of Soper's Hole. Schooners will race on Saturday along with the traditional single hander race for all comers. On Sunday, the Classic will be open to all boats of a design older than 30 years. "Wana-bees" of a classic design older than 25 years will compete along with the ever popular all-comers Couples race for crews of less than three. For more information contact Martin van Houton at 284 495-1002.
The club's Dark and Stormy Race Committee Chairman Marty Halpern sent an invitation for sailors to this year's event taking place March 5 to 8. "Last years Dark and Stormy surely was, in fact it was so 'stormy' that the event was cancelled for the first time in 12 years," he reported. "Friday starts the Dark and Stormy with boat sign-up and welcoming dinner and party at the Loose Mongoose. Saturday's race takes place from Trellis Bay to Anegada. Boats are generously handicapped and are welcomed to Neptunes Treasure with a complimentary smoked fish happy hour. The famous seafood buffet and music follows. Monday's pursuit race follows 'Fundays' and the sleigh ride carries the fleet on the north side of Tortola, where whales have been seen each year, to an exciting finish at the Jolly Roger."
Club Nautico de San Juan, Puerto Rico
On the morning of Saturday, October 31, the club held a 420 Regatta for Parents and Sons. "This is an event we usually do it three times a year, where Sailing Program participants have the opportunity to navigate with their parents in the waters of the bay of San Juan. Eight parents with their children in 420s managed to make four races in a round robin with four boats. The day was sunny with light wind."
On Thursday, November 5th, Club Nautico celebrated the first Twilight Sailing. "The event involved four teams comprised of members and their guests. Partners were able to sail with guests in the J-80, sailing in the Canal San Antonio Bay San Juan. We managed to make four races with two boats. The night was a full moon and the wind light from the southeast. The competition was fairly close. We enjoyed a BBQ-thanks, as always, to the newspaper La Regata and Hato Rey West Marine for their support."
St. Lucia Yacht Club
On Saturday December 12, seven boats turned up in squally conditions for the start of the annual St. Lucia to Martinique race series known as the Sir John Compton Memorial Race held in honor of the late Prime Minister of St. Lucia, a keen yachtsman. The start was off the St Lucia Yacht Club in Rodney Bay and within the fleet included two ARC entries, Akarana and Boundless, and also two Martiniquan boats. The race was hosted by the Yacht Club de la Martinique for the first time, as previous races ran to Le Marin on the south west coat.
The first boat to cross was Akarana, followed by Vaguely Noble, a Martiniquan boat which won on handicap. The boats berthed at the docks provided courtesy of the Yacht Club de Martinique. Later in the evening, the Club hosted a dinner for all the participants attended by the St. Lucian Consul General, Keats Compton. The following day entailed a leisurely sail down to Grand Anse D'Arlet, a bay on the south east side of Martinique. Finally, the boats returned to Rodney Bay where Akarana, the Swan 46, was the first to cross the line after approximately four hours sailing. Prize giving was held at the club with prizes awarded by Lady Janice Compton. Akarana won first overall; Diamonds International awarded first prize to Loose Cannon for "The Diamond Dash," for the fastest time between Grande Anse D'Arlet and Diamond Rock.
