Last year’s active hurricane season has led to a decline in the number of yachts participating in the upcoming Barbados Sailing Week.
This was revealed by chairman of the organising committee, Howard Palmer, during the launch of the event at The Drift, The Beach House, which has been rebranded from the former Round Barbados Race Series.
“The problem we have got is a lot of the yachts that normally come over from Europe to the Caribbean in the winter have unfortunately decided not to come because of all the destruction,” he said.
“Luckily, Antigua wasn’t too badly damaged. There has been a decline in that, even though we are trying very hard to get more classic yachts involved because it started out as a classic race back in 1936. We would love to get that spirit and that history continued. We try to get the classic yachts and we try to get the state-of-the art yachts, such as the CQS, which is tremendously fast.”
Though there has been a drop in participation, Palmer was pleased to have attracted more than 40 yachts thus far.
“There was a lot of destruction and yet we have managed to attract over 40 yachts, which is a tremendous effort considering what has happened to yachting and boating in the region.
“In the north there was tremendous destruction and yet we still managed to get a lot interested in our race, the first of the season in the Caribbean.
“It will show that the Caribbean is still on its feet and still open for business as far as sailing goes and we wish all the best to the other regattas in the region, which are really trying hard to get back on their feet, to get people entered and get people back up to the north.”
Despite the number of entries, there is still diversity among those countries that have already registered. These include Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Europe.
Palmer added that the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race, which is set to sail on Errol Barrow Day, was one of the highlights of the now week-long event, which begins today.
He added that the race was also a celebration of the sport and the involvement and role Errol Barrow played in sailing.
Manager of Sports at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Devon Chase, said that with the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race reaching 82 years it represented both the value and reputation of the event.
“It is therefore fitting that after 82 years of growth, we take Barbados’ biggest sailing affair to the next level,” he said.
“We think that the expansion from a series of events to a week-long experience accentuated with the best in Barbadian culture is in keeping with the developing tourism trends worldwide.”
Chase added that the rebranding made space for the promoting of the event in the largest markets.
Mount Gay events and luxury brand manager Rameses Brown said that by rebranding, the BTMI would be able to take marketing beyond the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race.
He added that the event surpassed racing but was one which could be considered an experience since it was meshed with a number of activities which represent Barbados.
Yachting and development consultant Peter Gilkes said Barbados’ character in the sport has matured and is now well accepted by many.
Commodore of the Cruising Club, Bryn Palmer, is appealing to Barbadians to come out and get involved in the event. (RG)
