The upcoming Anguilla Regatta, to be held May 7 - 9th, is adding a new race class, the West Indian Workboats. Laurie Gumbs, one of the organizers of the Regatta and owner of Tradition, a wooden Carriacou sloop, is challenging all West Indian workboats in attendance at the upcoming West Indies Regatta in St. Barth, April 30 – May 2, to a pursuit race back to Anguilla. Gumbs who is racing Tradition in both events thinks it's a great way to invite and encourage other workboats to attend the Anguilla Regatta.

These island-built boats constructed on beaches from the Virgin Islands to the Grenadines, including Anguilla, are the traditional trading boats of the Caribbean, known in the past for carrying goods like bananas, coconuts, and cargo throughout the West Indies. It was once a common sight to see these boats sailing up and down the Caribbean, delivering cargo from Trinidad all the way to Santa Domingo. However, with motor vessels becoming the norm, the traditional workboat has become a rare breed. By opening up this new class, the Regatta hopes to celebrate and honor traditional boats of the Caribbean.

"We used to see a lot of these boats trading up and down the islands. They are beautiful boats with a long Caribbean history and it would be great to see a fleet of them in our Regatta", says Gumbs.

Laurent Perrier Champagnes, through their agent Le Grands Vins de France of Anguilla, is generously sponsoring a prize package of a Grand Siecle Gift Box to the winner of the pursuit race. The gift box includes two glasses, a wine bucket and, of course, a bottle of the finest Laurent- Perrier Grand Siecle champagne.

The 8th Annual Anguilla Regatta is being hosted by the Anguilla Sailing Association (ASA) and the Anguilla Tourist Board, along with administrative support provided by Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The Anguilla Regatta is a major fund-raising event in support of the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club. The ASA welcomes donations in support of the Regatta or directly to the AYSC. Arrangements have been made through the Anguilla Progressive Association of New York (APANY) that will allow contributions from US citizens to be tax deductible in the United States.

For more information on this procedure, please contact regatta@sailanguilla.com.
For registration information and more details, please visit www.anguillaregatta.com

The ASA may be contacted directly as follows:
Tel: (264) 584-SAIL (7245) Fax: (801) 705-3877 www.sailanguilla.com

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