St. Lucia making way for cruisers, racing sailors return to St. Thomas and BVI’s host pirate ‘Fungatta.’

BVI hosts pirate-themed ‘Fungatta’

Dean Barnes Photo

A ‘Ding Dong’ start, a Crazy Eights course and the Pirate’s Ball are all part of the fun at the Gustav Wilmerding Regatta. It is hosted by the West End Yacht Club (WEYC) on Tortola on December 3rd. “This is an ‘all comers’ regatta that celebrates the local pirate hero of Great Thatch island,” says organizer, Mike Kirk. “Like any fun regatta, showing up at registration for the Friday night (December 2nd) party can get visitors a ride on one of the local entrant’s boats—usually for the price of a six-pack.”
Wilmerding, an 18th century Danish pirate who confined his plundering to the British Virgin Islands, was known to always ring a bell when he returned from a successful raid. Therefore, organizers have dubbed the start of this one-day regatta as the “Ding Dong Mark.” The pursuit-style start out of Soper’s Hole sends the fleet out on a course dubbed the “Crazy Eights,” in honor of the pirate’s most prized booty, and into the unpredictable winds and currents surrounding Wilmerding’s former hide-out on Great and Little Thatch islands. Then it’s over to The Bight off Norman Island and Pirate’s Bight Bar before the return race back to Tortola. There will be the usual Pirate’s Ball awards party at the Jolly Roger Restaurant after racing ends, which is where all entered yachts win a rum ration and prizes.
The Gustav Wilmerding Regatta is one of the WEYC’s annual ‘Fungattas.’ For more information, call (284) 495-4559.

St. Lucia welcomes yachtsmen

The picturesque peaks of the Pitons; activities ranging from hiking a volcano to scuba diving in a marine park; and two full-service marinas and an international airport with direct flights to the U.S. and Europe. These are all just some reasons why the Windward Island of St. Lucia is so attractive to visitors. Now, thanks to the efforts of the St. Lucia Ministry of Tourism and its Yachting Director, Cuthbert Didier, this 238-square-mile island located south of Martinique and north of St. Vincent is especially welcoming to yachtsmen.
More specifically, in a bid to boost visitation by private and charter yachts, the government has just approved a number of new policies. For example, yachtsmen can now stay in St. Lucia waters up to six months. Then there’s a 100 percent import duty and tax waiver on yachts, yacht safety equipment, and water sports equipment. Next, yacht owners temporarily living on St. Lucia can do so duty and tax free for up to three years. Folks who wish to set up a marine business will find it easier with a 100 percent waiver on income tax during the first five years of operation for a local charter company that has at least one captain and three crew members, as well as a fleet of three or more vessels. There’s also a 100 percent five-year waiver on import duties and taxes on imported materials used to set up a yacht service business.
“Yachting is real tourism,” says Didler, “and we must ensure it remains a tourist product that benefits all.”