Thousands of people are expected to arrive on the shores of Carriacou for the region’s largest working boat sailing regatta to be held on July 24th – August 1st. There is an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for the event from both residents and visitors.
Several competitive races will take place including:-
Sailing Races on Friday 29th July
- 09:00 AM Yacht Race from Tyrell Bay
- 01:00 PM Sloop Trial Race at Windward
Sailing Races Saturday 30th July
- 09:30 AM The ever popular ‘Round the Island’ race From Winward
- 10:00 AM The Yacht Race from Hillsborough
- 11:00 AM The Long Open Boat race from L’Esterre
Sailing Races Sunday 31st July
- 11:00 AM First Race in Series – All Boats/Optimist
- 03:00 PM Second Race in Series – All Boats/Optimist
Sailing Races Monday 1st August
- 10:00 AM The Yacht Race from Hillsborough
- 11:00 AM Final Race in Series – All Boats/Optimist
Yachts from the four corners of the globe will sail into Carriacou to participate in the regatta. For a full list of events see the Carriacou Regatta Flyer.
Boatmen are putting their boats into dock, to have them cleaned and prepared for the installation of new sailing gear to ensure they are on top form for the competition. The men are continuously busy, burning the midnight oil, measuring, cutting and sewing their sails. Some of the amazing spinnaker sails used by the boats will make a colorful spectacle, enlivening the festival.
As the boatmen prepare busily for the region’s largest regatta, visitors and locals also excitedly anticipate the spectacular event
As well as local participants form Carriacou, the event attracts competitors from Antigua, Tobago, Bequia, Grenada, Mayreau, Canouan and Petite Martinique.
It is not just the boatmen who are fired up and ready to go and vying for supremacy over their competitors. Not to be out done are the fans, who follow their favorite boat, with a passion. Arguments can be heard in every rum shop, on the beach front and in fact in any place where two or more people are gathered. There is an enormous passion for the sport here, at this time of the year. There are so very many boats on show, which builds an electric atmosphere.
The night time is never short of fun activities, too. The Friday night Green Hype Fete, the Saturday Miss Aquaval Show and the Sunday Night Glow are all events to ensure that everyone have a great time for the whole of the festival.
The Miss Aquaval show usually attracts contestants from Trinidad, Tobago, St Vincent, Barbados, St Lucia, Bequia, Union Island, Grenada, and Petite Martinique, and interest has been expressed from the British Virgin Islands to have a representative in the pageant for the very first time.
Even while the boats are racing there are numerous land events to maintain the lively nature of the festival. Look for the:-
- tug-o-war
- beer drinking competition
- apple eating
- donkey race
- treasure hunt
- marathon
- greasy pole
- buns and cakes
- balloon blowing
- bicycle racing
The stage is being set as, visitors and locals take to the various white sand beaches, to enjoy the warm Carriacou seas under the Caribbean sun.
