Monday 27th January
The first horn of the 2025 interCaribbean Airways & Pure Grenada Sailing Week blew this morning. The International fleet of boats were treated to great weather and racing conditions for the Around Carriacou Race, sponsored by Island Water World.
At 9.10am the first Class of the fleet, adjusted their sails having discussed their tactics for the 17-knots of wind with much stronger gusts and crossed the start line. All four Classes had good, clean starts, making life easy for Race Officer, James Benoit and his Race Committee. With 252 crew over the start line in Tyrell Bay, the boats headed out along the 30-mile course around Carriacou, one of the two sister isles of Grenada.
The final Class order confirmed Multihull, Classics & Simplified, CSA 2 and CSA 1.
The Multihulls were up first with Grenada’s very own Robbie Yearwood with Spirit of Everest crossing first, followed by Catalyst with Gus Reader of Barbados. The combined Classes for Classic and Simplified boats were up next to start and The Blue Peter crossed the line first, followed closely by Galatea. It really is a joy to see these two beautiful classics glide through the water. First time competitor Navasana, a beautiful Carriacou Sloop from Antigua, followed in third. CSA 2 and CSA 1 soon followed, both with 7 boats in their Class.
CSA 2 saw Hooligan take the right line to cross first, with Heuy Too hot on her tail and Dandelion a close third. There was quite a battle to get in to the open air shortly after crossing the start line with Hooligan, Huey Too, Dandelion and Sea Wyf all jostling for space whilst spinnakers were being deployed and set.
CSA 1 saw another clean start with Emily of Cowes out front with Richard Oswald, with Whistler flying his spinnaker just before crossing the line. With Panacea X just pipping Jaguar over the start line.
The wind conditions were ideal and allowed the fleet to keep close to the desired course as they tacked upwind along Carriacou’s leeward coast and between the offshore islands of Mabouya and Sandy. The wind picked up as the boats rounded Carriacou’s northern point, Gun Point, and began their downwind run outside Windward’s barrier reef, many hoisting their spinnakers. Kialoa III with Lennart Davidsson took line honours at Tyrell Bay and crossed the finish line, having circumnavigated Carriacou, in just under 3 hours (2:48:02). Following only a few minutes behind Richard Szyjan with Category 5. Whistler and Peter Lewis finishing before Emily of Cowes with Richard Oswald. The next few hours saw the majority of the fleet cruise back into the bay as corrected times were calculated and results accumulated. Just after 2pm, the last boats crossed the finish line.
Final results saw Richard Szyjan’s Hobie 33, Category 5, take first place in the CSA 1 class, followed by Jaguar and Emily of Cowes only 2 seconds apart on corrected time for second and third spots.
In CSA 2 Mark Chapman’s Dingolay took first place, followed by Dandelion with Geoffrey Evelyn in second and Huey Too with Bernie Evan-Wong following closely behind.
The Alfred Mylne 65, The Blue Peter, placed first in the Classics Class, with Judd Tinius’s Galatea taking second. Navasana, the locally-built sloop built by Windward resident Alwyn Enoe, now stabled in Antigua and owned by Aidan McCauley came in third.
Simplified has 4 boats in the class, but only 2 started. A great first race though for Steve Townsend on Clearlake II Dufour 445 in their first ever regatta, but they have a secret weapon onboard with Mark Norman who has raced this course many times before. Bluejay of Portsmouth, with Ollie Bowden coming in second.
With only two Multihulls competing today, the Leopard 47 Spirit of Everest placed first, followed by Catalyst.
The prize-giving for Race Day 1 sponsored by Island Water World took place at Original Slipway Restaurant, where delicious locally made dishes including chicken or goat roti and vegetable buss up shut were served, just what hungry racers needed.
The night before at the Welcome Party the participants of interCaribbean & Pure Grenada Sailing Week were thanked by Brian Sylvester, Chairman of GSW and welcomed by The Hon. Tevin Andrews, Minister for Carriacou & Petite Martinque Affairs. Minister Andrews said, “6 months ago we would have never we of thought that we could have hosted events like these in the future but thankfully being resilient as we are as people we are here”. The Minister was obviously referring to the complete devastation Hurricane Beryl caused back in July 2024. It is testament to the people of Carriacou & Petite Martinique and all the support received not only from Government of Grenada, but by so many organisations and individuals who wanted to help the sister isles and still do as there is much more work still to do. This is why it was important to the Board & Managers of GSW to return to Carriacou to bring much needed awareness that Carriacou & Petite Martinique are open for visitors again.
The sailing industry and community within Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is a close one and due to this the interCaribbean Airways & Pure Grenada Sailing Week brings many marine related businesses together in support of the sport, industry and community. One big shout out for the Hurricane Beryl relief (and there were many great initiatives) must go to our Sponsors Spice Island Marine Services who set up, along with some long-term cruisers and creatives, Rise Grenada. Dane and Sarah Evans worked with the team of other liked minded people and through marketing activity, live streams etc raised US$130K via Gofund Me. Some funding for projects is still available through an application process.
This year’s edition of Grenada Sailing Week saw the welcome return of the ‘Rum to Spice’ feeder race from Barbados to Carriacou, cementing the partnership with Barbados Sailing Week who start the race and Grenada Sailing Week manage the finish line in Carriacou. The crew of the 6 boats that raced from Barbados were welcomed by Brian Sylvester, Chairman of Grenada Sailing Week, who hosted a tour of Carriacou and lunch at the newly re-opened Paradise Beach Club for them.
A great start to this year’s edition of Grenada Sailing Week and tomorrow offers an off shore course from Carriacou to Grenada.
With special thanks to all our Sponsors including, Island Water World, Mount Gay Rum distributed by Bryden & Minors, Clarkes Court Boatyard & Marina and Sea Hawk Premiere Yacht Finishes. Venue Sponsors include, The Original Slipway, Las Iguanas, Carriacou Marine, Le Phare Bleu & Island Fever Tropical Tavern, Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Victory Bar & Restaurant and Prickly Bay Marina. Premier Sponsors Camper & Nicholson Marinas, Sol EC Ltd. Spice Island Marine Services, National Lottery Association NLA, North Sails and Falmouth Harbour Marina Antigua. NSS Grenada Charters, Vibe Seltzer, Doyle Guides, Driftwood Fine Yacht Services, Island Dreams Yacht Services, Sea Safety, Home Hospitality Grenada, International Support Group, Glenelg Spring Water, True Blue Bay Resort and J&J Printers.
End
