JOLLY HARBOUR YACHT CLUB

17 February, 2015
Jolly Harbour, Antigua, WI
For Immediate Release

Jolly Harbour celebrates international participation in annual Valentine’s Regatta

Jolly Harbour Yacht Club Commodore Grahame Williams thanks Antigua’s Governor General.  Photo (c) Jody Sallons-Day.

Hundreds of visitors embarked at Antigua’s Jolly Harbour to join excitement and revelry in this year’s Valentine’s Regatta, hosted by the Jolly Harbour Yacht Club.

International and local participants in 31 boats enjoyed a very tactical regatta with wind shifting in both speed and direction. The surrounding turquoise waters of Jolly Harbour resulted in very positive feedback from the international race goers proving yet again to be one of the best places for yachting. Race Officer Paul Miller of Regattaguru said he considered the waters off Jolly Harbour to be “one of the top places in the world to sail”,
whilst Andy Middleton of Global Yacht Racing said “this event is special, the sailing here is as good as it gets”.

Five of the yachts taking part were taking advantage of the event to warm up for the Caribbean 600 race, starting this week.

Seven races in four classes categorised as CSA 1, 2 and 3 and multihull, together with dinghy sailing in the marina ultimately showed local knowledge won the weekend, as six out of a possible nine podium places went to locally based boats.

Shore side entertainment kept the crowds busy with crew paddle-board, canoe and dinghy racing. The yachtclub also wished local charities to benefit and raised a total of EC$3,200 for Sailability, a charity which provides sailing for the disabled. This was in addition to dinghy racing in the Marina in conjunction with the National Sailing Academy, encouraging local young people to sail. Winners in this category were first place, nine yearold
Benjamin Green, second place a very excited eight year old Jayden Hector, closely followed by third place Noemie Hector, aged nine.

Mount Gay Rum, Banks Beer and Orange Ltd as three of the main sponsors helped to provide very welcome on shore refreshment, with the famous Red Cap Party being supported by live bands all weekend.  Of the regatta, Wim Berends of Orange Ltd said:  'As a first time experience I was excited to be sailing with the boats in the Valentine’s Regatta and proud that Orange Ltd was able to sponsor such a successful event. It is great to see such a vibrant sailing community in Jolly Harbour, enjoying the races, the competition but also each other’s company.'

A jovial crowd was honoured by the presence of Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor General Sir Rodney Williams GCMG who presented medals prizes to the winners.

Bejamin Green aged 9, receives his medal and prize from Antigua’s Governor General.  Photo (c) Jody Sallons-Day

Jolly Harbour Yacht Club Commodore Grahame Williams reiterated that with the help of secured sponsorship by Mount Gay Rum and Banks Beer, they’re committed to continually improving the regatta in future years and wish to thank all sponsors and volunteers who made this year’s event a special success.

Winners in each Class were:

CSA 1:
1st Zarafa, a HOD 35, skippered by Paul Schofield (GBR)
2nd Southern Child, a Beneteau First 40, skippered by Lucy Reynolds (GBR)
3rd TAZ, Reichel Pugh 37, skippered by Bernie Wong (ANT)

CSA 2:
1st Biwi Magic, a six meter, skippered by Geoffrey Pidduck (ANT)
2nd Tango Mike, a Dehler 34, skippered by Tony Maidment (ANT)
3rd Blue Peter, a J30, skippered by Tanner Jones (ANT)

CSA 3:
1st Cricket, a Beneteau First 35, skippered by Sandy Mair (ANT)
2nd Volare, a Grand Soleil 343, skippered by Terry Allan (GBR)
3rd Ocean Harmony, a Sweden 42, skippered by John Wills (CAN)

Multihull class:
1st Bobby Dazzler, a Dragonfly 28 S, skippered by Anthony McVeigh (GBR)
2nd Rebel, a Contour 34, skippered by Canter de Jager (ANT)

Full results can be found here.