Local Yachtsman takes the Big Prize at Grenada Sailing Festival 2012

ST GEORGE’S, February 1, 2012 - Grenadian yachtsman Robbie Yearwood in his J24 yacht Die Hard, the smallest boat in the fleet, finished triumphant after four days of fiercely competitive racing and took the prize of Overall Festival Winner 2012.

This was an extremely popular result, welcomed by all participants, as Robbie notched up six first places and one second place over the Festival’s seven race series - just one point short of the perfect result.

Robbie and his crew also won the True Blue Bay Resort Pursuit Race, making him the man to beat at the Grenada Sailing Festival Camper & Nicholsons Racing Series 2012.

Robbie’s prize, a Jeroboam of Moet & Chandon Champagne, the North South Wines Moet & Chandon Trophy, two British Airways return tickets to London, a bottle of Mount Gay 1703 and a bottle of 18 Year Old Chivas Regal was presented by the Honourable Peter David, Minister of Tourism, at the final night Gala Party staged at The Victory Bar, Port Louis Marina.

The Minister thanked all participating yachtsmen for coming to Grenada, and emphasised the significant contribution they make to the island. He went on to say that the Marine and Yachting Sector is a vital part of the economy and events such as the Grenada Sailing Festival are important in encouraging more skippers and crews to visit and experience the wonderful racing waters and marina facilities on offer.

The prizes for the Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Race Series, the final day’s race, were also presented by Mr Simon Stiell, Director of the Grenada Board of Tourism. The full results were as follows:

MULTIHULL	Yacht Name	Skipper
Class Prize	Rush	Chris Long

CHARTER	Yacht Name	Skipper
Class Prize	My Mistress	Robert Mills

CRUISING 2	Yacht Name	Skipper
First Place	Die Hard	Robbie Yearwood
Second Place	Bloody Mary	Jerry Stewart
Third Place	Apero	Jason Fletcher

CRUISING 1	Yacht Name	Skipper
First Place	Jaguar	Peter Morris
Second Place	Boxxer	Scott Watson
Third Place	Diamonds Are Forever	Anne O’Sullivan

RACING	Yacht Name	Skipper
First Place	Lost Horizon	James Dobbs
Second Place	Category 5	Richard Syzjan
Third Place	Slippery	Peter Peake

The cumulative results were also announced for the final positions after the four days of racing in each Class: Racing, Cruising 1, Cruising 2, Charter and Multihull, with the Overall Class Winners receiving a Magnum of Champagne courtesy of North South Wines, a unique Grenada Sailing Festival trophy designed by Rene Froehlich and a bottle of 18 Year Old Chivas Regal. Results were:

MULTIHULL	Yacht Name	Skipper
Class Prize	Rush	Chris Long

CHARTER	Yacht Name	Skipper
Class Prize	My Mistress	Robert Mills

CRUISING 2	Yacht Name	Skipper
First Place	Die Hard	Robbie Yearwood
Second Place	Rasmus	Dieter Huppenkothen
Third Place	Apero	Jason Fletcher

CRUISING 1	Yacht Name	Skipper
First Place	Jaguar	Peter Morris
Second Place	Boxxer	Scott Watson
Third Place	Diamonds Are Forever	Anne O’Sullivan

RACING	Yacht Name	Skipper
First Place	Lost Horizon	James Dobbs
Second Place	Slippery	Peter Peake
Third Place	Blackberry Enzyme	Paul Solomon

Another Festival tradition for the final night is to present skippers and crews with a great selection of special prizes donated by local hotels, restaurants and tour companies. These are fun and not related to results over the finish line, times or places in the fleet – they are a big thank you to everyone who entered, and a chance to experience more of the island.

Company	Prize	Yacht Name	Skipper
Spice Island Beach Resort	2 Nights Accommodation	Great Escape of Southampton	Phil Munday
Laluna	Balinese Massage	Pipaluk	Francesco Massaro
Maca Bana	4 nights Accommodation	Tanga Langa	Richard Jerrom
La Source	2 Nights Accommodation	Bruggadung	Paul Johnson
Le Phare Bleu	Dinner for 2 on the ship	Bloody Mary	Jerry Stewart
Le Phare Bleu	2 Nights Accommodation	Shambhalla	Herve Pugin
Mt Cinnamon	3 Nights Accommodation	Jaguar	Peter Morris
First Impressions	Whale watching for 2	Spirit of Isis	On Deck
Mount Gay	Bag of goodies & Rum	Spirit of Isis	On Deck
Charcoals	Meal Vouchers	Apero	Jason Fletcher
Mount Gay	Bag of goodies & Rum	Apero	Jason Fletcher
Adventure Tours	River Tubing for 10	Diamonds Are Forever	Girls for Sail
BBs Crabback	Meal for 2	Cricket	Sandy Mair
Horizon Yacht Charters	Charter	Lost Horizon	James Dobbs
Spice Island Marine Services	Haul-Out	Rasmus	Dieter Huppenkothen
Spice Island Marine Services	Haul-Out	Tulaichean 2	Mike Bingley
First Impressions	1/2 day sail and snorkelling for 2	Kotari	Chris Clark
Belmont Estate	Lunch for 4	Kotari	Chris Clark

The Festival was hailed as a great success by all skippers and crews who took part, many already booking their place on the start line for the next event, which will take place from Friday 25 January to Tuesday 29 January 2013. As this will be a milestone event celebrating the 20^th Grenada Sailing Festival, the planning has already started to make it the best ever.

Grenada Sailing Festival wishes to thank all its sponsors and supporters on board already for 2012: the Grenada Board of Tourism; Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; ScotiaBank; United Insurance; Mount Gay Rum with agent Bryden & Minors; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Moorings; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; North South Wines; SOL EC Ltd.; Grenada Breweries Ltd.; GBN; LIME; Chivas Regal; British Airways; Horizon Yacht Charters; Spice Island Marine Services; Grenada Union of Teachers Co-Op Credit Union; Insurance Consultants Grenada Ltd; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Turbulence Ltd.; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Harris Paints (Barbados) Ltd.; Coca Cola; Real Value IGA; Grenlec; Glenelg Spring Water; Spice Isle Fish House; Country Cold Store; Courts; Marketing & National Importing Board; Mitchell’s Health & Wellness; Spice Island Fireworks and unique trophies from Rene Froehlich, Passion Furniture Design.

SOURCE: Grenada Sailing Festival

Local Yachtsmen Gearing Up for Prize Positions in Grenada Sailing Festival 2012

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 31, 2011 - Several of our strongly competitive local yachtsmen are already making plans to ensure they will be in contention in the 2012 Grenada Sailing Festival Camper & Nicholsons Racing Series. Spearheading the Grenadian entry is well known local business entrepreneur & tenacious racer Peter ‘Champie’ Evans with his fast Swan 48 Julia.  ‘Champie’ has been a regular and successful competitor in the annual event since it started in 1994, and in 2011 was in hot competition for the Cruising Class title right up until the last race. Once again in 2012 he will be pitting his tactical skills against Peter Morris and his crack Trinidadian crew in Jaguar, who not only won the Class title, but went on to take the prize of Overall Festival Winner.

Watch out for other local skippers and crews on the start line, including Richard Szyjan with Category 5, a regular entrant in the Racing Class; a crew from Grenada Marine in St.David’s with Apero, owned by Jason Fletcher and Jerry Stewart from Carriacou with his distinctive red hulled yacht Bloody Mary. Festival organisers are also hoping to have a dedicated Class for Carriacou Sloops, the traditional island vessels built in Windward.

The Festival’s international keelboat racing, the Camper & Nicholsons Racing Series, will be run from its Home Port and Race HQ at the company’s Port Louis Marina, and will be staged from Friday 27 January to Tuesday 31 January. As well as this strong local contingent, event organisers look forward to welcoming skippers and crews from neighbouring islands in the Region including Antigua, Barbados, Trinidad and St. Lucia to take part in what is building up to be a very strong international fleet. Check the Festival website www.grenadasailingfestival.com or follow us on Facebook for more news of yacht entries as they come in.

For the third year, the 2012 Grenada Sailing Festival will offer two week-ends of contrasting sailing action, with local boats from Carriacou, Gouyave, Grand Mal, Petite Martinique, Sauteurs and Woburn heading for Grand Anse Beach the following week-end 4 & 5 February, when the traditional Work Boat Regatta will take place as part of the island’s National Independence Celebrations. Grenada’s talented young sailors will also be demonstrating their skills to the crowd on Grand Anse Beach on Saturday 4 February, in a Junior Dinghy Sailing Championship organised by the Grenada Sailing Festival and Grenada Sailing Association, and sponsored by Budget Marine and Grenada Union of Teachers Credit Union.

Grenada Sailing Festival wishes to thank all its sponsors and supporters on board already for 2012: the Grenada Board of Tourism; Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; United Insurance; ScotiaBank; Mount Gay Rum with agent Bryden & Minors; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Moorings; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; North South Wines; SOL EC Ltd.; American Airlines; British Airways; Horizon Yacht Charters; Spice Island Marine Services; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Turbulence Ltd.; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Grenada Union of Teachers Credit Union; Grenlec; Mitchell’s Health & Wellness; Glenelg Spring Water; Spice Island Fish House; Marketing & National Importing Board and Country Cold Store.

PHOTO: 'Champie' Evans with Julia (Centre) in very tight competition with Peter Peake in Storm (Left) and Peter Morris in Jaguar (Right) in 2011 Grenada Sailing Festival action.

SOURCE: Grenada Sailing Festival

Bigger Fleet of Junior Sailors to compete in Grenada Sailing Festival 2012

Young sailors getting off to a good
start at the 2011 Grenada Sailing Festival

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 17, 2011 - Grenada Sailing Festival organisers are pleased to announce that there will be an even bigger fleet of talented young sailors taking part in the 2012 Junior Dinghy Sailing Championship, to be staged on Saturday 4^th February on Grand Anse Beach as part of the Festival’s popular and busy Work Boat Regatta.

For the first time, youngsters from the Carriacou Junior Sailing Club as well as from the newly formed Grenada Marine Optimist Club in St.Davids will be racing, joining participants from the Gouyave Sailing School and the Grenada Yacht Club. There will be two classes of dinghies racing – Optimists and Mosquitos – and the organisers expect over 20 keen young sailors to take part in a great day of competition and have the opportunity to show their skills to the crowds on Grand Anse Beach.

Also for the first time for 2012, the Grenada Union of Teachers Co-Op Credit Union will be part of  the event as a new sponsor, providing valuable support funds; medals and trophies as well as setting up Smart Saver Accounts for first second and third place winners in each class. GUT Co-Op Credit Union joins long term sponsor Budget Marine who will once again be providing the essential infra-structure for the event; safety boat support, crew T shirts and more prizes. Festival organisers would like to thank both these companies for making it possible to expand this important part of the event.

For more news on all the action taking place in the 2012 Grenada Sailing Festival, check the event website www.grenadasailingfestival.com; follow us on Facebook or contact the Festival office on gsail@spiceisle.com

Grenada Sailing Festival also wishes to thank all its sponsors and supporters on board already for 2012: the Grenada Board of Tourism; Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; United Insurance; ScotiaBank; Mount Gay Rum with agent Bryden & Minors; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Moorings; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; North South Wines; SOL EC Ltd.; American Airlines; British Airways; Horizon Yacht Charters; Spice Island Marine Services; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Turbulence Ltd.; Coca-Cola; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Grenada Union of Teachers Co-Op Credit Union; Grenlec; Mitchell’s Health & Wellness; Glenelg Spring Water; Spice Island Fish House; Marketing & National Importing Board and Country Cold Store.

Grenada Sailing Festival Work Boat Fleet Gets An Overhaul Thanks to United Insurance

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 10, 2011 - Thanks to valuable additional support from long term sponsor United Insurance, providing funds for much needed maintenance on the Grenada Sailing Festival’s own fleet of work boats, an important element of the event’s sailing tradition will continue for another year at the 2012 Work Boat Regatta.

Since its beginning in 1994, the Grenada Sailing Festival has become famous for its traditional Work Boat Regatta staged on Grand Anse Beach.

In this popular and crowd pulling National event, skippers and crews from the strongest sailing communities of the Tri-Island State take part in some spectacular and competitive racing in their locally built ‘work boats’, based on the original design of the fishing boats used in these waters.

Over the years, communities taking part have grown to include Gouyave, Grand Mal, Sauteurs, Woburn and sister islands Carriacou & Petite Martinique.

As part of the Festival’s commitment to traditional community sailing, the Grenada Sailing Festival commissioned its own fleet of five matched-design 16 foot work boats – the GSF16s - especially for the event. These were built in Gouyave in the mid 1990s, and have been used ever since in what has become the high spot of the event - the National Team Sailing & Skipper of the Year Finals.

The boats are now showing signs of age and need essential maintenance to be ready to race in 2012. This has been made possible by the contribution of additional funds for the work required from United Insurance, a long term major sponsor of the Grenada Sailing Festival. “We are keen to support the work of the Grenada Sailing Festival Work Boat Regatta in highlighting and maintaining the important traditions of local sailing in our communities.

In 2009 we contributed to new sails for the fleet and now we are pleased to help make sure the boats are ready to race. The Grenada Sailing Festival GSF16s are ‘In Safe Hands’ with United for the next event,” said Mr. Trevor Renwick, Manager of United Insurance.

The work will be carried out in Gouyave and the GSF16 fleet can be seen taking part in the 2012 Work Boat Regatta on Grand Anse Beach on Saturday & Sunday 4^th & 5^th February.

Grenada Sailing Festival wishes to thank all its sponsors and supporters on board already for 2012: the Grenada Board of Tourism; Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; United Insurance; ScotiaBank; Mount Gay Rum with agent Bryden & Minors; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Moorings; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; Coca Cola; SOL EC Ltd.; American Airlines; British Airways; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Horizon Yacht Charters; Spice Island Marine Services; Turbulence Ltd.; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Grenada Union of Teachers Credit Union; Grenlec; Mitchell’s Health & Wellness and Glenelg Spring Water.

Grenada Hotels Already Onboard for Grenada Sailing Festival 2012

Crew from Norway taking part in the
2011 GSF and planning to return in 2012

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 4, 2011 - Skippers and crews coming to Grenada to take part in the 2012 Sailing Festival are being offered great discounted rates at several of the island’s Hotels in the Stay Sail Programme being promoted by the event organisers in liaison with the Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association (GHTA).

The Grenada Sailing Festival Camper & Nicholsons Racing Series organised in association with the Grenada Board of Tourism, will run from Friday 27 January to Tuesday 31 January 2012. Based at the world class Port Louis Marina, the Festival will again be four days of top class competitive racing plus fun parties and entertainment. Already True Blue Bay Resort, Maca Bana, La Luna, L’Ance Aux Epines Cottages and Flamboyant Hotel & Villas have come on board to offer discounts on their published rates on accommodation bookings for visitors coming to enjoy this ever popular annual Festival.

Local sailing action on Grand Anse Beach
that always attracts the crowds.

Please check direct with the Hotel for details and to make bookings. For updates on other members joining the list, check the GHTA office at grenhota@spiceisle.com or Grenada Sailing Festival office at gsail@spiceisle.com

Every year the Grenada Sailing Festival welcomes hundreds of sailors, their friends and families from overseas who come to Grenada to enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere of this popular event. The Stay Sail Programme initiative has been running for several years and is designed to give those taking part the chance to enjoy the sailing, then relax, explore and experience even more great Grenadian hospitality and fun – including the Grenada Sailing Festival Work Boat Regatta taking place on the following week-end 4 & 5 February on Grand Anse Beach - Pure Sail Pure Spice.

Grenada Sailing Festival wishes to thank all its sponsors and supporters on board already for 2012: the Grenada Board of Tourism; Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; United Insurance; ScotiaBank; Mount Gay Rum with agent Bryden & Minors; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Moorings; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; Coca Cola; SOL EC Ltd.; American Airlines; British Airways; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Horizon Yacht Charters; Spice Island Marine Services; Turbulence Ltd.; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Grenada Union of Teachers Credit Union; Grenlec; Mitchell’s Health & Wellness and Glenelg Spring Water.  

Ondeck Onboard for Grenada Sailing Festival 2011

Global yacht charter, training and events company Ondeck have confirmed entry of one of their fleet of magnificent Farr 65 ocean racing yachts for the 2011 Grenada Sailing Festival, which will run from its Home Port and Race HQ at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina from Friday 28 January to Tuesday 1 February. Spirit of Juno is sailing to join the Festival direct from Barbados, where she has just taken part in the new prestigious Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race, winning the much sought after title of ‘Fastest Monohull’.

Ondeck have a reputation for providing some of the most exciting and friendly sailing experiences at all of the major Caribbean regattas, as well as giving sailors and non sailors the chance to participate in Trans-Atlantic sailing, as well as major race events in the UK and the USA, with Royal Yachting Association bases in the UK, Portugal and Antigua. Grenada Sailing Festival organisers are pleased to welcome Ondeck to the event, and look forward to working with the company to bring a bigger fleet of these high performance yachts to the event in the future.

Final preparations are now being made for the event, From entries received to date, event organisers look forward to welcoming a high proportion of new visiting yachts, skippers and crews, including an all-female crew from Cowes, Isle of Wight – the home of sailing in the UK. The Racing Classes will also cover a wide range of yacht types, designs and skills – from competitive racers to cruisers and charters, plus this year for the first time, a traditional Sloop, built in Windward on the sister island of Carriacou.

Once again the Grenada Sailing Festival will be characterised by a great mix of competitive sailing, followed by fun parties and entertainment based at the newly built Victory Bar at Port Louis Marina. There will also be a chance for new entrants to enjoy another one of Grenada’s attractive waterside venues, with a party at the Dodgy Dock, True Blue Bay Resort. 

The 2011 Festival will again offer two week-ends of exciting sailing, with the traditional Grenada Sailing Festival Digicel Work Boat Regatta taking place on Grand Anse Beach on the following week-end 5 & 6 February, as a central part of the island’s National Independence Celebrations. The all-action competition on the water between the sailing communities will be matched on the beach with Beach Aerobics, a Fitness Challenge and Strong Man competition courtesy of Body & Soul Gym, as well as the ever popular Bungee Run with Horizon Yacht Charters and Fun Five Aside Football sponsored by Courts. There will be something for everyone, so make sure to get to Grand Anse beach and join in the Independence week-end celebrations.

The Grenada Sailing Festival wishes to thank its sponsors and supporters: the Grenada Board of Tourism; Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; Digicel; United Insurance; FLOW; ScotiaBank; Mount Gay Rum & Heineken with their agent Bryden & Minors; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Moorings; North South Wines; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; Coca Cola; SOL EC Ltd.; American Airlines; British Airways; The Moorings; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Horizon Yacht Charters; Independence Agencies; Turbulence Ltd; Court’s; Deyna’s Tasty Foods; Grenada Electrical Contractors; Southern Electrical; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Grenlec and Glenelg Spring Water.

SOURCE: Grenada Sailing Festival