Plans for the ‘all new’ Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta, to be held February 7 to 10, 2013, are now well under way and excitement is starting to build.  Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013, the Regatta will be vastly expanded and organisers anticipate that it will become a popular international event as several significant changes are introduced.  Recent promotional activities have included representation at boat shows and events where brochures and other information have been distributed.  Those shows and events include Cowes Week, the Newport Boat Show, the LO 300 race in Toronto, and the Southampton Boat Show.

Sponsorship proposals have recently been distributed to local and international companies and there is considerable interest from several of those companies in terms of supporting the first year of the expanded Regatta.  An announcement is expected in the near future naming the first sponsors to sign on their support for the 2013 event.

As news of the revised format for this Regatta spreads, the feedback received by organisers has been overwhelmingly positive.  Kathy Lammers, Chairman of the Race Committee, explains:  ‘I have spoken about this event with sailors in several different countries over the course of the summer and everyone agrees that the conditions for a fun, professionally run regatta don’t get much better than on the west coast of Antigua which generally sees flat, calm blue waters and consistent trade winds.  The concept of a regatta that incorporates dinghy, one-design and pursuit races alongside the usual more serious racing is exceptionally appealing to sailors and has generated widespread interest in the event.  We have no doubt that the 20th anniversary of the Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta is going to be a huge success!’

For interested sailors who are unable to participate on their own boats, there are a number of charter opportunities available locally from Sunsail and Ondeck in addition to several private race charter boats from throughout the region.  More information on charter opportunities will be announced shortly.

If you haven’t yet seen the new Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta website, check it out here:  www.jollyharbourregatta.com.  You will find everything you need to know about the event but if you still have any unanswered questions don’t hesitate to contact kathy@jollyharbourregatta.com for clarification.

The first online entry was received soon after the new regatta format was announced in early August – Geoffrey Pidduck’s modified 6 metre, Biwi Magic!  If you haven’t yet submitted your online entry, you can do so here:  http://www.jollyharbourregatta.com/?page_id=9.

Stand by for more exciting information about the all new Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta in the very near future . . . where sailing meets fun!