christmas sailing festival

THE FOURTH ANNUAL ST. LUCIA CHRISTMAS SAILING FESTIVAL

The Fourth Annual St. Lucia Christmas Sailing Festival took place on 26th, 27th and 28th December.

Heineken, a loyal supporter of sailing events were a main sponsor as were Diamonds International and Discovery Marigot and the Marina at Marigot. Other main sponsors were Cable and Wireless, another entity that has supported sailing events for many years, and “The Landings” development.

A new sponsor this year was Sunset Harbour development. Martin Lawless of Sunset Harbour gave cash, visited Gran Canaria at his own expense to talk to the ARC boats, served on the Festival Committee and lent his yacht to be the Committee Boat. One could not ask for more.

Registration and Skippers’ Briefing took place at the Yacht Club on Friday 22nd December. T-shirts were given out to all, as were “goodie bags” supplied by Diamonds International and containing gifts donated by them and by Cable and Wireless. After the formalities there was entertainment and the sailors departed for the weekend and Christmas Day.

The first race started at around 10.30am on 26th December. The racing class boats and the local J’24’s raced “around the cans” in Rodney Bay in ideal sailing weather. There were three boats in the J’24 class; “Loose Cannon” skippered by our own Frank Capers with a mostly St. Lucian crew, “Grayling” skippered by one of our newly arrived British policemen and “Attitude” (generously lent by Charles Devaux, our Commodore,) skippered by Mandy who worked for ARC office and stayed over especially to take part in the Festival.

In racing class a 33foot X class boat “X-Factor” was guest skippered by the ARC skipper of a Swan 86 yacht. “X-Factor” showed the rest of the racing class a clean pair of heels in this and every other race.

At around midday the boats started their race down to Marigot Bay. The ‘fun” class did the now traditional treasure hunt on the way down. There was evening entertainment at J.J’s.

On the morning of the 27th free breakfast was laid on by Discovery Marigot. The racing class and J’24’s then raced back to Rodney Bay. The “fun” class had an unorthodox start: they had to consume dry crackers and coca cola before being allowed to sail off for Rodney Bay. There followed another race in Rodney Bay for racing class and the J’24’s and then a beach barbeque and entertainment at the Club.

The final day of the Festival consisted of a race “around the cans” in Rodney Bay for the racing and J’24 classes, which took place, at least initially, in high winds and big seas, making the sailors’ task challenging.
There was then a fancy dress sail past for the “fun” class who did themselves proud in the way they decked out their boats and themselves.
The Christmas Festival came to a close with a prize giving with a difference.

First the frozen t-shirt competition, then a pig roast on the beach and then the actual prize giving. The prizes so kindly donated by sponsors included: vouchers from Diamonds International, Island Waterworld and Johnsons Hardware; cell ‘phones from Cable and Wireless; free rides from Rain-Forest Sky Rides; cases of Heineken; other alcoholic beverages from Peter & Co. and St. Lucia Distillers. Club members had put their hands in their pockets to purchase “beer kegs” and the Club thanks them for that.
The “fun” class prizes were presented by Jonathan Powell of Peter & Co. who have donated a generous amount of liquid prizes to each of these Festivals. The overall winner was “Sara II’, second equal were “Barkas” and “Onyx” and fourth was “Temptation”.

Then came the J’24 class. Prizes were presented by Martin Lawless of Sunset Harbour. In first place was “Loose Cannon”, a popular win given the crew was mostly Looshan. Second was “Attitude” skippered by Mandy of ARC office and third was “Grayling” skippered by our British policeman.

The racing class prizes were presented by Sharon from Diamonds International. The winner was “X-Factor”, second local boat “Whitea” and third “Twist”, an ARC boat.

The “spirit of the regatta” prize was awarded to Mandy from ARC office, skipper of “Attitude”, a deserving winner of this prize.

Michael Bryant concluded the prize giving by thanking sponsors, crews and the Festival Committee and those present then settled down to enjoy the entertainment from the “Harmonites” and a Shak Shak band.

All participants said they enjoyed themselves enormously. Next year the Club hopes to see more of its members supporting at least the social events. As with previous years the Club’s Kids’ Sailing Programme will benefit from this event; all profits go to help fund that Programme.