The Grenada South Coast Yacht Club hosts their third annual Grenada Round-the-Island Easter Regatta March 24th – 28th, 2005 at its old stomping ground – The Boatyard at the Prickly Bay Marina in L’Anse-Aux-Epines.

The launch was hosted by the organising committee on Thursday January 27th at Club Bananas in True Blue. Mrs. Nikoyan Roberts, Cruise & Yachting Development Officer for the Grenada Board of Tourism performed the official cutting of the ribbon to welcome in the third year of the rejuvenated regatta, declaring it officially open stating that the regatta sold itself as a tourist attraction.

The decision to host the Regatta was not an easy met one. The committee was divided, not wanting to put pressure on previous sponsors to commit in light of the after effects of Hurricane Ivan which ravaged the island September7th, 2004. Many businesses were also looted in the hours following the impact leaving the private sector uncertain as to where it stood financially. However, support from the sailing community and sponsors alike brought life back to the committee and the Regatta and preparations ensued.

Race Director, Mrs. Claire Budhlall-Spronk, in her remarks commented on the solidarity shown by the Trinidadians and regular competitors who have already marked the dates on their sailing calendars in efforts to support Grenada as she recovers from Ivan.
The GSCYC were pleased to note that the event is featured on the Grenada Board of Tourism’s calendar as well as various websites internationally.

The competition dates back to the early 1960’s when the Grenada Easter Regatta began as a cruise convoy from Trinidad. They ended up racing to Grenada and therein the Regatta was born and held at Easter from then onwards. The feeder race from Trinidad to Grenada, got its name from the fact that Bob Leverson and his yacht “Girl Pat,’ which was the smallest boat in the original race, won. Since then the Trinidad to Grenada race has been called the Girl Pat Feeder race.

The original Round-the-Island Race was first held in Grenada in 1960. This prestigious race was the forerunner for all the ‘Round the Island’ races which take place in many of our neighbouring islands today. This race was held until 1971 then it was discontinued. It was re-initiated in 1990 but run intermittently without any real planning for the next five years.

Before 2003, the last year that the Girl Pat Race was run in 1995; the same boat that won in 1995, Titan, also won in the first year that the GSCYC revived the race. The Grenada-Round-the-Island Easter Regatta, as it has been revived by GSCYC , is now a combination of these three age-old racing traditions, the Round-the-Island race, the Girl Pat Feeder race and the Easter Regatta.

Carib Beer, the Platinum sponsor, claims the main event – the Round-the-Island Challenge on Saturday March 26th. Thursday 24th will see the arrival of the Girl Pat racers; on Friday the 25th and Easter Sunday the 27th the South Coast races will take place and on Easter Monday the 28th is the all day party.

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