The 8th Annual Anguilla Regatta, held last weekend in Road Bay, successfully wrapped up another fantastic weekend of racing. Twenty boats, including visiting yachts from Antigua, St Barths, Dutch and French St. Martin, and Anguilla B class local boats, raced for trophies, prizes of Laurent-Perrier champagne and, more importantly, glory. Although there was the threat of rain both Friday and Saturday mornings, by the time the racing started the clouds dispersed making weather and wind conditions near perfect for racing.

Some of the trophy winners

Four teams were represented in the Spinnaker class. Two Melges 24 boats provided heavy competition with Frits Bus and his crew on Team Coors Light and French Connection, skippered by Roualt Didier and his crew. The Beneteau First 36.7 Kick 'Em Jenny skippered by Ian Hope-Ross and the Jan Vanden Eynde's Open 750, Panic Attack were also worthy contenders. In the end, it was Team Coors Light winning first place bragging rights with Kick 'Em Jenny taking the second place trophy.

Another exciting struggle for domination was in the non-spinnaker class. Richard West represented Anguilla in Charm III, a 1928 Alden Malabar V schooner, while St. Martin entries included Colin Percy in his Nonsuch, Antares; Philippe Herve in his Beneteau, Vanille; Garth Steyn in his Catalina 36, Moondance; and Leo Ligthart sailing a Jenneau Sun Odyssey, La Diablotin. This race also saw the welcome return of Charm III's nemesis from St. Barth, Ira Epstein's vintage Robert Clarke- designed ketch, Lone Fox.

One of the winning yachts

Despite blowing out the mainsail on the first day of racing, Vanille managed to win every other race and took home the first place trophy for that class. Colin Percy stepped to the awards stage to grab the second place trophy for Antares.

In Multi-hulls, Sylvie and Jean Ricour in their Brazapi 41 cat, Guinmamalou, could not repeat their first day win, but provided very stiff competition to Robbie Ferron of St Maarten in his Lagoon 410 catamaran, Katzenellenbogen, who swept the rest of the series to take first overall.

In the newly added West Indies Workboat class, both Carriacou sloops, Genesis from Antigua skippered by Alexis Andrews, and Laurie Gumbs' Tradition of Anguilla put on a sideshow of an older era of sail in the Caribbean with Genesis winning all three races.

Always an exciting feature of the regatta are the local Anguilla boats racing under Anguilla Boat Race Authority rules. This year, the B-class boats took to the water, and in a close finish, just after sunset, F5 captained by Orris of Island Harbour took the win. He was closely followed though the line by ROBB captained by Beggar. Third, fourth and fifth places were taken Eddie in No Big Ting, Gerard in De Storm and Tube in Legal Rights, in that order.

The Anguilla Regatta is organized by the Anguilla Sailing Association in partnership with the Anguilla Tourist Board. The regatta is the flagship fundraising event for the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club. Their mandate is to provide Anguillian children with the opportunity to sail while learning seamanship, boat safety, environmentalism and leadership skills.

In keeping with the AYSC philosophy, Richard and Maryse West have been using students from the sailing school to crew Charm III for the past three years. This year was no different as the deck of Charm III was filled with young and eager sailors ready to sail hard and fast. “We really enjoyed having these students as crew”, says Maryse West. “They have great energy and enthusiasm, and it's obvious that the Anguilla youth have had some great training, thanks to the sailing school and the people who have made it work over the last few years.”

Gary Brown, host of the sailing show Yacht Blast on Island 92 (91.9) in St. Maarten and author of just released first novel, “Caribbean High”, joined Charm III on Sunday. Gary sailed on her many times and knows how difficult a big schooner can be to handle. “I was really impressed with the way the students handled the yacht”, said Gary. “It's good to see Anguillian youth carrying on this great tradition. For once, I didn't have to work, and I still have the skin on my hands to prove it!” Gary noted that Richard and Maryse West enjoy teaching the students as much as they enjoy sailing the famous yacht, and are excellent role models for youngsters who come from the only country in the world where sailing is the national sport.
In addition to media coverage from Island 92, journalists from Caribbean Travel and Life, Islands Magazine and The Daily Herald , as well as the local press, were on hand to cover the event.

The success of this year's regatta was in large part due to the fantastic support of all the sponsors involved. The regatta could not have happened without the financial contributions from the Anguilla Tourist Board and regatta organizers are deeply grateful for the ATB's commitment to the AYSC as well as to an event that attracts sailors and race fans from throughout the Caribbean. In addition, Sint Maarten Yacht Club once again provided their expert administrative assistance in handling the event.

Many local businesses also rallied behind the event, providing everything from champagne for prizes, fuel for the race committee boats, sandwiches for the volunteers, rental cars and accommodation for the judges and VIPs, stages, sound systems, telephones, and waste management. “This really is a community event and the Anguilla business community and our wonderful volunteers went a long way to ensure that this event is the success that it is”, says Peter Parles, President of the Anguilla Sailing Association.

Next year's regatta will be held May 6 -8th, 2011.

- Press Release

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