Caribbean Regattas

If you’ve never tried it, participating in a Caribbean sailing regatta is a thrilling experience and one that we highly recommend.

No matter how much you love your powerboat, there’s no denying the beauty and draw of sailboats, especially when they’re racing on a clear day, their colorful sails filled with the wind.

Sailing schools can be found in nearly any coastal city in the U.S. as well as in the Caribbean, and course programs are offered to accommodate all levels of interest. If you’re not ready to fully jump in the deep water but simply want to dip your toe in the shallow end of sailing, a great option is to join one of the many Caribbean regattas in which you pay to play. Based on Antigua, Ondeck Sailing lets guests reserve a spot (for a fee) on one of the yachts in the regattas. (Prices range depending on the event, yacht, and other factors.)

Foilers, dinghy sailors, superyacht owners and crew, sport boat enthusiasts, racer-cruisers and race charterers will all find something to love in the Caribbean this month. The fun starts off with Martinique International Sailing Week March 1-5. Hosted by the Nautical Center of Schoelcher, located near the French island’s capital of Fort-de-France, this event features large European participation with a focus on small boats, such as Optimist, Laser, and Sunfish. New this year is the addition of windfoils.

The next weekend, March 8-10, the St. Croix International Regatta takes place in the Buck Island Channel off the northeast shore of this U.S. Virgin Island. There’s a highly competitive Rhodes 19 fleet plus classes for racers and cruisers. The winning skipper earns his or her weight in island-made rum.

Over 60 Optimist dinghies will sail in the shadow of cruise ships on San Juan Bay in Puerto Rico for the Pan Pepin International Regatta March 17-18. This highly competitive event offers a Laser class too.

Yachts at the opposite end of the size spectrum are the focal point of the St. Barths Bucket Regatta March 21-24. Entries include the 220-foot Baltic Yachts-built, Dykstra/Reichel/Pugh-designed Hetairos, the 154-foot Perini Navi Aquarius and the 111-foot Royal Huisman-constructed, Frers-planned, Spiip. The prize-giving Bucket Bash is at the Hotel Collectivité.

Racers, cruisers and beach cats cast off in the St. Thomas International Regatta March 22-24. The one-day warm-up Round the Rocks Race, a circumnavigation around the
neighboring U.S. Virgin Island of St. John, takes place March 21st. Nearly a dozen race charter companies based in Europe and the U.S. are offering yachts for both events.

Finally, March Madness Caribbean regattas wrap up with the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival March 25-31 at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina. The Round Tortola Race on March
26th and Scrub Island Invitational on March 27th preface the traditional three-day regatta. Over a dozen bareboat charters from companies such as The Moorings and Sunsail are expected to race in a class of their own. While March is likely to be the busiest month, Caribbean regattas take place every month of the year.

caribbean-sailing.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating February 2019

Caribbean Multihull Challenge

Check out the inaugural Caribbean Multihull Challenge

Multihull classes were virtually nonexistent in most major Caribbean regattas. Sure, some events like the St. Thomas International Regatta run a small beach cat fleet and in recent years, the BVI Spring Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week have hosted a half dozen Gunboats, but the only regatta through the years to consistently welcome nearly 30 large multis, enough to divide them into three to five classes, is the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. It’s no wonder then that St. Maarten Yacht Club members, originators of the Heineken regatta, will kick off the Caribbean first this month.

The inaugural Caribbean Multihull Challenge is scheduled for February 8-10. “This is a 100-percent multihull event, catamarans, and trimarans, in five classes,” says Steve Burzon, a member of the race committee chaired by St. Maarten racing legend, Sir Robbie Ferron. “That means the race courses will be designed for multihulls with reaching or downwind starts, long legs as much as sixty miles and no windward/leewards. This all comes on the heels of the huge interest in multihulls today, for everything from cruising to racing.”

Over 30 entries are expected. Some include the Spronk 50 Twin Sister, the Dick Newick-designed trimaran Tryst; and the Bieker 53 Fujin. Burzon says there will also be a Pirate Racing Class for those owners and crew who just want to participate in an informal way. Parties, beach games, and even a small boat show will round out the fun.

smyc.com/caribbean-multihull-challenge

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating February 2019

38th Annual Key West World Championship

The Truman Waterfront in Key West, Florida, becomes race central November 4-11 as super boats from around the world gather for the 38th Annual Key West World Championship.

There is little that compares to the excitement of watching boats race at speeds more than 180 mph at the Annual Key West World Championship. From high-performance outboards to the unlimited super boats, racing teams prepare all year for this final event of the season. The rectangular race course will set up on the Truman Waterfront in Key West for great spectator viewing, and all of the boats will be on display for an up-close look at these impressive machines.

Local boaters can also become a part of the action by volunteering to work as an “Official Watercraft.” Interested boaters can assist and carry emergency medical personnel or sweep the course of recreational boaters that may inadvertently enter the race area.

Founded by John Carbonell in 1989, Super Boat International races take place all around the country. With more than 37 years experience as a powerboat events promoter, in addition to 10 years experience racing powerboats, Carbonell uses his hands-on knowledge to attract some of the most competitive racing teams in the world.

Super Boat

Super Boat International is the premier national and international sanctioning body for offshore powerboat racing around the world. The series has attracted many celebrity racers over the years, including Don Johnson, Kurt Russell, Chuck Norris, Caitlyn Jenner, and Jason Priestley. With an estimated million race fans attending Super Boat International races yearly and a significant increase in membership and attendance over the past three years, Super Boat International is poised for future success.

The rectangular racecourses average five miles in length, and the aptly named offshore boats power through the waves at speeds up to 180 mph. The action-packed races have attracted a large fan base, and superboats have even been highlighted in big-screen productions such as the 2006 hit, “Miami Vice,” starring Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell and on NBC Sports television.

Download the Patrol Boat form to volunteer and check out the schedule at superboat.com/key-west-2018.

RORC Caribbean 600

The RORC Caribbean 600 celebrates its 10th Anniversary

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 celebrates a decade with a stellar reputation as a must-do offshore race by some of the best teams in the world. The 600-nautical- mile, 14-island race starts outside Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, on February 19th and ends in the same place. Spectators can get a great view of the start from Fort Charlotte or Shirley Heights.

This year, entered teams include George David’s maxi, Rambler 88. David’s Rambler 100 set the still-standing course record (1 day 16 hours 20 minutes and 2 seconds) in 2011. New entries are three Gunboats: Arethusa, skippered by NYYC Commodore, Phil Lotz; Flow, sailed by owner Stephen Cucchiaro and Elvis, skippered by two-time Melges 32 World Champion, Jason Carroll.

Armchair sailors not in Antigua can follow their favorites via online fleet tracking from the event website.

caribbean600.rorc.org

by Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating February 2018

More Caribbean Updates:

Race sailboats in the Caribbean

MarineMax Vacations is Open

Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament

APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES SOUTH of Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, are a series of underwater ledges and cliffs known as the “Big Rock”—a relatively small area of ocean about 10 miles long and 1 mile wide, where the warm, clear waters of the Gulf Stream intersect the North American Continental Shelf. The spot is a haven for small reef fish and the larger fish that prey on them. It is over the “Big Rock” where, in 1957, a recreational sport fisherman  caught the first Blue Marlin  along the Carolina coasts and from which a billion-dollar industry has grown. That history is celebrated June 9-17 with the 59th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament.

The Big Rock has become the Super Bowl of fishing tournaments with an impressive fleet of private and charter boats going after the million-dollar title catch. What began as a small fishing club’s attempt to spur growth in a depressed area has grown into one of the world’s most respected fishing tournaments. Its mission statement—promoting conservation among sport fishermen, raising money for local charities preserving the maritime culture and promoting marine education— has been an overwhelming success. Since 1988, the tournament has donated more than $3.5 million to local charities.

Fishing takes place Monday, June 12th to Saturday, June 17th from 9am to 3pm. The scales for game fish close Monday to Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 6pm. Watch the weigh-in of each day’s catch at the weigh station on the Morehead City waterfront. Complete tournament information is available at thebigrock.com.

Jacksonville Powerboat Races

Be a part of the action when Powerboat P1 brings the exciting P1 Panther to the St. Johns River at Memorial Park in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, on Saturday, June 3rd. The Panther one-design race boat was formed and built in the U.S. especially to bring the thrill of powerboat racing close to shore and spectators close to the action. The Panther is one of the fastest powerboats of its size, reaching speeds of up to 70 mph. Also running in conjunction with the Panthers will be the AquaX Series of personal watercraft races. For more information, visit p1superstock.com

MARINE INDUSTRY DAY

Many enjoy boating as an escape from their everyday lives; a day on the water fishing or sailing is a much-needed break from the workweek. Others, however, enjoy boating for the careers and livelihood it provides for them and their families. The Marine Industries Association of South Florida’s Marine Industry Day celebrates both by showcasing the marine industry and career opportunities in a fun weekend event. Last year’s function drew thousands of attendees, who participated in more than 30 interactive and educational exhibits. This year, the public is invited to join the families of marine industry professionals at Fort Lauderdale’s Esplanade Park on Saturday, June 17th to enjoy food, music and games. In South Florida alone, more than 100,000 jobs are supported by the boating and marine industry, and over $10 billion of economic bene t impacts the region. Event details can be found at marineindustryday.org

Bob Arrington Southern Boating Magazine June 2017

Fishing, Festivities and Fees

The Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) is one of the world’s best resorts for sailors, from its nearly always placid North Sound Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands setting to its over 100 vessel fleet of monohull sailboats, performance catamarans and windsurfers. It’s in this vein of catering to sailors of all skills that the BEYC started its Pro Am Regatta 30 years ago. The event is set for October 22-29 this year and pairs professional sailors with amateurs during a week chock-full of festivities that includes fleet racing, team racing and match racing. “We are pulling out all the stops for our 30^th anniversary,” says John Glynn, vice president of sales and marketing. “The skipper’s list includes past winners like Ed Baird and Taylor Canfield, plus crowd favorites and industry legends like Dave Perry and Dave Ullman, plus three to five other skippers to be announced.” The event is sailed in IC 24s, a modified J/24 design, with four guests per boat and a rotating pro sailor on the helm. In addition to the racing, guests and pros can mingle at nightly dinners, cocktail cruises and entertaining gatherings. Guests can ask the pros pointed questions about the America’s Cup, Olympics, One Design Racing, and other topics at the highly anticipated Scuttlebutt “State of the Sport” Forum. Cruisers are welcome at the cocktail functions and, in some instances, can join the racing fun. The Pro Am’s Defiance Day coastal races to The Baths for lunch and back are open to all boats, including cruising catamarans. beyc.com/compete

Fishing on B.V.I. charters

As of July 1^st, The Moorings power catamaran fleet in the B.V.I. are registered fishing vessels, which allows charter guests to fish after obtaining a proper fishing license. The decision to register the yachts followed a reinforced fishing policy by the B.V.I. government. Fishing in the B.V.I. is highly rated with plentiful amounts of tarpon, kingfish and barracuda. moorings.com

U.S.V.I. mooring fee increase

Unchanged for more than 20 years, annual costs for anchoring and mooring in the U.S.V.I. were increased in May to $10/foot for pleasure craft, $15/foot for liveaboards and $20/foot for commercial craft. Visiting craft can still moor or drop anchor for free for up to 14 days per year; moorings in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John still charge a fee for overnight use.

Trio of Billfishing Tournaments

Whether you’re cruising to the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles or further south to the ABC islands this month, you’ll find a great billfishing tournament. The Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament takes place October 1-8 out of the same-named port on the northeast coast of Jamaica. The week of angling for big blues is punctuated by a native canoe fishing tournament on the layday plus nightly parties. Next up is the Varadero Aruba Caribbean Cup set for October 20-23 out of Varadero Marina & Boatyard in Aruba; the opportunity to catch a Grand Slam has long hooked anglers on this event. Finally, the St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament is scheduled for October 25-29 out of Island Global Yachting’s Rodney Bay Marina on St. Lucia. Newly placed fish aggregration devices (FADs) should increase the likelihood of fantastic fishing as well as an opportunity to break the island’s 707-pound blue marlin record and win a new car. jamaicasportsfishing.com; preschallenge.com; facebook.com/slugamefishingassociation

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine October 2016

Mercury Marine makes a mark in Miami.

At every boat show there’s at least one company that makes a big splash with new technology or multiple product introductions. At the 2015 Miami International Boat Show last February, that company was Mercury Marine, which launched an entire fleet of new engines—the Verado® 350-hp outboard, Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard, Mercury Racing QC4v 1550 sterndrive, and Mercury 4.5-liter 200-hp sterndrive. Since then the Fond du Lac, Wisconsin-based division of Brunswick Corporation continues to garner attention for winning awards, sponsoring a Major League Fishing sweepstakes, and building a government “stealth” product that few boat owners will ever see.

Mercury wins Top Product

Mercury Marine’s 4.5L 200-hp sterndrive was named a 2015 Boating Industry Top Product of the year. Winning products were selected based on factors such as innovation, impact on the industry, and how they advanced their category or created a new category. Designed for marine environments, the Mercury MerCruiser 4.5L 200-hp sterndrive (based on the 4.5L 250-hp sterndrive introduced by Mercury in 2014) creates new standards for acceleration and overall performance with design innovations such as a long-runner, scrolled intake manifold and high displacement, which produces an outstanding power-to-weight ratio. “We are proud to introduce the next generation of sterndrive technology with this groundbreaking new engine,” said Mercury Marine President John Pfeifer. “This is a great power source that provides features, benefits and technology that make boating more enjoyable and worry-free. This engine was purpose-built for marine use, and it delivers Mercury’s proven performance, durability and ease of service.”

Win a Major Fishing Trip

If your summer boating and fishing calendar—and budget—is already booked solid, enter the Major League Fishing “Ultimate Dream” sweepstakes for your chance to win an all-expense paid weekend October 9-12. Winners will receive round-trip airfare to Orlando, Florida, three nights of hotel accommodations, meals, a guided half-day of fishing with a pro angler, a $250 gift card from Bass Pro Shops, and some major swag from Major League Fishing. Mercury Marine engines will be on all boats used during the fishing trip. The fishing spots will not be revealed until October 11^th. Sign up through July 31, 2015, at majorleaguefishing.com.

Mercury goes into stealth mode

Mercury Racing® recently released a second “stealth” outboard developed for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The OptiMax Diesel is an exclusive spark-ignited, direct fuel-injected two-stroke that operates on ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, which is readily available around the globe. “A Navy ship crash in 1995, which resulted in an explosive gasoline fire, spawned a DOD directive for all gasoline-powered engines and gasoline fuel tanks be removed from Naval ships by 2010,” said Tony Nahitchevansky, Mercury Marine government accounts manager. The 3.0 Liter V-6 Diesel, which produces 175 prop-shaft horsepower, shares 95 percent of its components with the gasoline engine from which it derives. And, with only a handful of unique parts, there are minimal additional training requirements necessary for maintenance.

A two-stage, direct-injection system uses a small charge of compressed air to finely atomize the diesel fuel as it injects into the combustion chamber. Atomizing the fuel into a fine mist allows for ignition via spark to occur, while delivering enhanced high rpm running quality. A glow plug works in concert with the spark plug for improved cold weather starting and idle quality. An on-board Propulsion Control Module (PCM) microprocessor optimizes fuel and spark timing for improved running quality and performance throughout the engine’s operating range. SmartCraft® Engine Guardian provides real-time, self-protection engine fault diagnostics and messaging. The advanced 3.0-liter powerhead, customized with a unique cylinder head designed specifically for combustion of diesel fuel, is matched with high-performance cylinder liners for maximum horsepower and optimal engine running quality.

By Frank Lanier, Southern Boating Magazine July, 2015

Race, Sail and Party in the B.V.I.

Relaxation, team racing and partying is the best way to describe the Moorings Interline Regatta, set for October 14-23 in the British Virgin Islands. In 1983, the regatta began as a way to make use of the territory’s large charter fleet during the slow fall season by staging a battle on the seas among airline personnel, and continues today as a laidback weeklong yachting competition. True to its roots, the regatta features island-to-island sailing aboard sleek yachts such as Moorings 41- and 43-foot monohulls. Each night, spectators and racers alike celebrate at legendary parties that coincide with the regatta at some of the hottest night spots in the B.V.I.

The Moorings Interline Regatta is set for October 14-23 in the British Virgin Islands. Photo: The Moorings

This year includes a sail to Peter Island that ends at the Oceans 7 Beach Club with a Greek Mythology Theme Party; a race up to the Bitter End Yacht Club in North Sound, Virgin Gorda followed by a Viking Theme Party; and a cruise to Norman Island complete with a Pirates Party Haaard Theme. Best of all, the regatta isn’t open to just members of the airline industry but also to their family and friends. In fact, each team is only required to have one flight crewmember aboard. What’s more, even non-boating visitors to the B.V.I. can join in as spectators to this exciting racing event.

Villa vacation on yacht-friendly Anguilla
No opera, theater or upscale shopping malls are found on the British overseas territory of Anguilla located eight miles north of St. Martin-St. Maarten. Yet this sandbar-flat 35-square-mile Caribbean gem offers everything adventure-loving family groups could ever desire—including beachfront villa accommodations that feel like home. “The clear blue and calm Anguillan waters are idea for yachting,” says Neil Freeman, general manager of Beaches Edge Villas, a duo of 5-bedroom oceanfront sister villas that overlook Pelican Bay. Garfield’s Sea Tours rents Sunseeker Seahawk 48s that are ideal for day trips to Anguilla’s three nearly uninhabited offshore islands: Prickly Pear, Sandy and Dog Islands. Prickly Pear and Sandy have restaurants that serve lunch and are surrounded by superb snorkeling sites. Dog Island is more remote and inhabited only by birds and lizards, but it boasts two great scuba diving sites. Garfield’s also charters a 31-foot Bertram for sportfishing. Or, go for a day sail aboard Capt. Rollin Ruan’s 35-foot Edel catamaran Chocolat and enjoy a barbecued chicken lunch with all the fixings. “Sailboat racing is the national pastime of Anguilla. Locally made wooden boats with as many as 20 in the crew race with gusto around the island for bragging rights,” Freeman says. beachesedge.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating October 2014

Thunder on the Gulf Powerboat Racing

The emerald waters and white sands of the Northern Gulf Coast are normally a tranquil vacation spot except for one week in late August when a “Who’s Who” of powerboat racing storms onto the coast. The growl of high-octane engines screaming just a Frisbee’s throw offshore builds unparalleled energy and excitement for race fans lined on beaches, and in spectator boats and private beachside condo balconies. After a decade of racing, Thunder on the Gulf has become one of the top powerboat racing events in the U.S. and this year will be no exception.

Held over a long weekend August 21-24, the event has expanded to include racing in both Orange Beach, Alabama, and nearby Pensacola, Florida,—now billed the Flora-Bama Shootout Grand Prix Championship. The legendary Flora-Bama bar straddling the line between the two states is famous for their mullet toss and is hosting the kick-off party on Thursday, August 21st. John Carbonell of Key West is the premier race official and Super Boat International is the sanctioning body for this race weekend, which is listed as a top event by the Southeast Tourism Society.

With race villages and wet pits set up in each location, race fans can tour these monster super-boats in a festive atmosphere the day before the races, which run Friday the 22nd in Orange Beach and Sunday the 24th off Pensacola’s historic downtown waterfront at the Plaza de Luna.

Enjoying the Thunder on the Gulf show. Photo: Super Boat International

The 11th annual Thunder on the Gulf. Photo: Super Boat International

Billed as an entire race week experience, food and live music will be featured at each event site, including the Marshall Tucker Band at the Wharf in Orange Beach. There will also be a golf tournament, the well-attended Thunder Motorcycle Run, an offshore fishing tournament, and two bikini contests. A massive street party, boat parade and fireworks display on Palafox Street and the adjacent pier follow the final awards ceremony in Pensacola. All events are staggered and timed to chase the race boats as they transition from Alabama to the Florida Panhandle. VIP packages are available.

Depending on your taste and energy level, there is something for all race fans whether you don’t want to miss a minute of the onshore and offshore events in both cities or would simply prefer to set up your beach chairs with a cooler along the 6.5-mile liquid racecourse in Orange Beach. For those who are new to superboat racing, this is a perfect time to book your family vacation and delight the kids with this NASCAR-type event on the water. thunderonthegulf.com

By Troy Gilbert, Southern Boating August 2014