BEQUIA EASTER REGATTA 2017

The 36th Bequia Easter Regatta ended on April 17th 2017 with the closing ceremonies and prize giving taking place at The Plantation House, Bequia. Ceremonies & prize giving were honoured by the attendance and kind words from Dr Godwin Friday Parliamentary Representative for The Grenadines & GOP Leader and Hon CES McKie SVG Minister for Tourism, a proud supporter of Bequia Easter Regatta.

With Registration taking place on Wednesday 12th and 13th April, a total of 51 boats were signed up for the four days of racing -27 yachts, 21 Heritage boats(double enders) and 3 Youth Optimist boats. Yachts flew the flags of France, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Ireland, Great Britain, United States and Canada. Two yachts of note (first time in Bequia) BRIZO a Cal 39 from Chicago Ill. and CELTIC SPIRIT a 72’ ketch from Ireland, arrived here without crew. BRIZO got an entire crew of locals from Paget Farm, Bequia and placed a respectable 3rd overall. CELTIC SPIRIT enlisted a crew of 12 people from Bequia who all claimed it to be their most fun regatta in years. One of the crew actually signed on for the continuing voyage to Spain.

Bequia Heritage Division hosted competitors from Carriacou, Mayreau and Canouan in the weekend of racing and fun. The three Optimist boats were new to Bequia Easter Regatta as Bequia Sailing Club has just added a Youth Division and plan to invite competition from Saint Vincent & The Grenadines to compete here next year.

The weather for Regatta was sunny & warm with light winds.

Yachts – Divided into 4 classes- Racing (CSA Certified), Cruising 1(CSA Certified), Cruising 2 (Simplified CSA rating) and J-24 (One Design). The seven J-24 entries included boats from Trinidad, St. Lucia, Granada, Barbados and St Vincent & the Grenadines competing in six races for the J-24 Southern Caribbean Championship Title for 2017 which was won by Ambushe of Trinidad & Tobago .

Yacht Division races were officiated by Principal Race Officer James Benoit from Grenada who again did an outstanding providing guidance and support for the Regatta Racing Team, a job as he has done so expertly for the past 18 years. Our appreciation to the Judges of the Regatta, Harry & Melinda Keith from Florida who provided great feedback and support, Geoffrey Pidduck from Antigua and Timer Randy Mainwaring from Grenada.

Heritage boats were divided into 7 classes by length ranging from 12 ‘ to 28’

2017 EASTER REGATTA 2017 WINNERS

YACHT DIVISION

Cruising 1 1st Place – Nirvana Sloop

2nd Place – Chanticleer Beneteau Oceanis 43

3rd Place – True Form Shields

Cruising 2 1st Place – Sail La Vie Burk 32

2nd Place – Papagayo Choate 40

3rd Place – Brizo Cal 39

Racing 1st Place – Category 5 Hobie 33 Modified

2nd Place – Regis Guillemot Melges 24

3rd Place – Gaya Xtreme

Single Handed CSA – Hallucine Pogo 40

Non CSA Brizo Cal 39

J-24 1st Place – Ambushe

2nd Place – Diehard

3rd Place – Jabal

Optimist Youth Sailors !st Place – Orion Ollivierre

2nd Place – Kelroy Phillips

3rd Place – Jossal Bynoe

HERITAGE DIVISION

Class 1 1st Place – Knowledge

2nd Place – O Connie

Class 2 1st Place Never D

2nd Place D Shark

3rd Place Slip Away

Class 4 1st Place Ark Royal

2nd Place Y Knot

3rd Place Lightning

Class 5 1st Place Kiss

2nd Place Camille

3rd Place Shanna Lou

Class 6 1st Place Eclipse

Class 7 1st Place Blackberry

2nd Place Confusion

3rd Place Slip Away

In closing the Bequia Sailing sends our heartfelt thanks to our Major sponsors Mount Gay, Flow, Hairoun, SVG Tourism Authority, Action Bequia and to those small businesses & individual donors who contributed, without whose support this Regatta would not have taken place. Thanks also to the many volunteers who stepped up to the plate and made it happen. Look for our 2018 Easter Regatta notices Mar. 28th to Apr.2nd later this year.