Grenada & Carriacou / Special Interests / Events

Regattas are well worth attending if you are on island (or to make a special trip for). You might go as a group of friends, renting one of the charter yachts and entering the charter yacht division, but if you just turn up you should be able to get a place as crew. And then there are all the fetes or parties ashore afterwards.

Grenada and Carriacou regattas include:

Grenada Sailing Festival - The island’s main regatta, sponsored by Port Louis, takes place at the end of January/ start of February. Yachts from nearby islands and local workboats take part in five days of racing – from junior Laser class, through charter and cruising fleets and multi hulls - and partying. If you wish to participate, Ondeck Sailing, offers individual spaces for their full race/training package at around £1,150 (or the equivalent in US dollars).

Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta - A new event, it takes place on the third weekend of February and joins the flotilla of other Caribbean classics in a year, with the St Maarten/St Martin Classics in January and the Antigua Classics in late April. This four-day event, in co-operation with Fred Thomas of Shipwrights Ltd, will see three race days in and around St George’s and the Grand Anse Beach coast and the main race from St George’s Harbour to St David’s Harbour and back (with a stop at The Water’s Edge, Bel Air Plantation). Entry costs US$4 per foot and is likely to include between 20 and 30 classic yachts, vintage yachts, schooners, wooden boats, and the spirit of tradition.
 
Grenada Round the Island Easter Regatta - This is staged by the Grenada South Coast Yacht Club with races over four days and attracts yachts from Trinidad whose crews come to participate in the races and, of course, the parties.

Carriacou Regatta - This is a very lively event held in the run up to Emancipation Weekend at the beginning of August. The sailing is fiercely contested and takes place between local crews from all along the Grenadines and as far afield as Antigua, in locally-built boats as well as yachts in their own classes. It is partially intended to keep the sailing traditions of the island alive. Carriacou has a long tradition of yacht-building, the techniques of which have been handed down over the generations from the island’s early Irish and Scottish ancestors. The week’s sporting and cultural activities also include local beauty pageants, Calypso shows, road relays, tug o’ war and walking the greasy pole. All in all there is a really festive and lively atmosphere, great family fun and suitable for those not taking part in the actual sailing. Also it can be combined with Grenada Carnival, which takes place the following week. 

Petite Martinique Whitsuntide Regatta Festival - As the name suggests, this celebration takes place over the Whit Bank Holiday Weekend with four days of races accompanied by onshore festivities such as beer-drinking competitions, swimming races, greasy pole contests and even a crying competition!

Contributors: Sara Macefield (update)