St Maarten
With less than two weeks to go organizers are counting the days, hours and minutes to the 3rd Golden Rock Regatta. Scheduled for November 11– 16, increased US and local participation is expected. The classic 12 metre “Kate” will also participate and will be accompanied by the gaff-rigged schooner Passaat. The Golden Rock Regatta program takes the racers from St. Martin, to St. Barths, southwest to St. Eustatius, southeast to St. Kitts, back to St. Eustatius and finally north back to St. Martin.
Most regatta participants will fly into St. Martin from the US and the Netherlands, board their chartered yacht in Oyster Pond and after completing their entries at Captain Oliver’s Yacht Club sail around the horn into Great Bay where they will be joined by most of the local participating boats. On Sunday evening the festivities get underway around the bar at the Pasanggrahan Royal Guest House where after the regatta briefing and buffet diner have been organized.
After leaving St. Martin on the first day of racing, the first port of call is Gustavia, St. Barths, the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Rather than plan a function, organizers have opted to give the sailors the opportunity to explore the many restaurants for themselves.
In St. Eustatius (Statia), organizers have invited four school children to come aboard the support catamaran so that they can watch the action on the race course and see what a regatta is all about. The children, ages ten – twelve, will be chosen by lottery by the officials from Sport Affairs on Statia. The young lottery winners will be present on November 13th on the podium in Oranjestad during the daily prize giving. The two days the regatta fleet spends on Statia have become part of the annual “Statia week” celebration.
In Frigate Bay, St. Kitts, the fleet will be welcomed at the newly built dinghy dock by a band and the island’s Secretary of Tourism. Customs has moved office especially for the regatta to Frigate Bay so sailors do not have to go in to the harbour master’s office in Basseterre
To facilitate smooth entry for the yachts and the crews, harbour authorities in Gustavia, Frigate Bay and Oranjestad are preparing for the arrival of between 100 and 120 sailors. Communications with these authorities and the Golden Rock Regatta Foundation has resulted in a good working relationship. Information such as crew lists and expected arrival times will be emailed to the various customs offices to expedite the clearing.
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