Great racing in Montego Bay

Spend Easter in Montego Bay, Jamaica, hunting down the competition in fun races where yachts hop from one bay to another in the Montego Bay Yacht Club Easter Regatta, April 4-9.

The sailing kicks off with the famous Great Yacht Race, the social event of the year, which inspired the same-named 1999-published book by witty Jamaican author, Anthony Winkler.

“Boats cruise down the night before and overnight in Mosquito Cove before an upwind adventure on Thursday to Montego Bay,” says organizer, Richard Hamilton. “Friday is a rest day and the weekend through to Monday will see two or three races per day, some to Round Hill, some to Half Moon and some in and around the bay itself.  Races will be class dependent. Typically, we have two fleets—one of J22s and one cruiser class. This year, the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club in Kingston has planned a round-the-island cruise to coincide with the regatta, so we hope to have 8 to 10 cruisers. Visitors are welcome!”

Montego Bay Yacht Club offers bayside anchorage and berthing facilities on a finger pier where water, diesel and ice are available for sale. Club facilities include a swimming pool, laundry service, restaurant and bar. montegobayyachtclub.com

Classics take to the seas

A record-breaking 60-plus fleet of classic ketches, schooners and sloops are expected to set sail in the 25^th Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.

“The biggest and most exciting entry is Athos, a 183-foot new Andre Hoek-designed schooner, and the largest entry,” says chairman, Kenny Coombs. “Elena of London, a 180-foot Herreshoff gaff-rigged schooner is also returning, as is Kate, a 1908-built 60-foot Alfred Mylne design.”

Racing takes place from April 19-24, 20 miles off Antigua’s south coast with spectator-friendly starts and finishes just outside Falmouth Harbour. Shoreside activities include nightly parties. In addition, the Officine Panerai watch company’s flagship, Eilean, a 1936-built 72-foot two-masted Bermudian ketch, will make her homecoming to Antigua with special exhibits planned.

“We’ll also host a new event where a couple of famous speakers—Halsey Herreshoff and Terry Nathan—will conduct a question and answer session on classic boat design,” says Coombs.

For more information and results, visit: antiguaclassics.com.

Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 2011. Joseph Jones photo.

B.V.I. celebrates official opening 

of YCCS Clubhouse

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), based in Porto Cervo, Italy, officially opened its Clubhouse in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, on January 3^rd.

“Members of the Board and Club wanted to open a second base in the spirit of internationalization,” says Jan Pachner, YCCS Secretary General. “Having a YCCS base in the Caribbean offers a winter destination for members. It is also an attraction we expect will draw yacht owners and sailing enthusiasts from this side of the Atlantic who want a comfortable, safe and sociable base from which to cruise.”

Accompanying the Clubhouse is a 38-slip marina with central T-shaped dock that accommodates yachts up to 328 feet with 30-foot draft. Facilities include onshore electricity, potable water, WiFi, garbage removal and pump-out stations. yccsmarina.com