Cool breeze, high seas

High seas action at the 2006 Angostura Tobago Sail Week

  • Nautical action at the 2005 Angostura Tobago Sail Week. Photograph by Tim Wright
  • Nautical action at the 2005 Angostura Tobago Sail Week. Photograph by Tim Wright

Sailing has been a means of transport forever, it seems, and this call of the sea has endured the passage of time, as man has sailed for exploration, for battle, for leisure, and for sport.

Every sailing enthusiast knows that the first thing a sailor does before leaving the docks is check the weather, and in the waters off Tobago, more often than not the weather is simply ideal. The island is quickly establishing itself as a destination of choice for sailing enthusiasts from all over the world. Apart from the fine weather and ideal sailing conditions, top class sailing events take place during the year, and the Angostura Tobago Sail Week Regatta is one of the premier yachting events in the Caribbean, with more than sixty boats competing in varying classes last year.

Governed by the International Sailing Federation, Tobago Sail Week’s racing categories include racing (spinnaker), cruiser-racer (non-spinnaker), cruising (non-spinnaker), charter (non-spinnaker), comfort cruising (non-spinnaker), and catamaran.

The Trinidad and Tobago Sail Association, which hosts the event, is certain that Tobago Sail Week will continue to grow, with competitors coming from the host island, Trinidad, Guadeloupe, Barbados, the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands.

Two days of racing are rewarded by the infamous Lay Day, with crews competing against each other in three-legged races, a tug-of-war, and a cook-off. Specially trained goats even provide additional racing action.

 

The 2006 Angostura Tobago Sail Week runs from 14 to 19 May at the Crown Point Beach Hotel. For more information on accommodation, crew sign-up, and the schedule of events, visit www.sailweek.com or email regattapromotersltd@tstt.net.tt

Funding provided by the 11th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme Direct Support Grants Programme.
The views expressed on this website are those of the the authors and do not reflect those of the Direct Support Grants Programme.

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