The North Sails Regatta Organization recently announced that the majority of entrants invited have accepted the challenge for the 2004 Caribbean One Design Keelboat Champioship. There can be little doubt for anyone who follows the "form book" in Caribbean sailing that the entry list for 2004 represents the very pinnacle of competitive sailors in this type of equipment and represents a truly "Caribbean Championship".

The favourites, last year's winner Robbie Hirst and last year's runner up and the previous year's winner Mike Green, have both confirmed.

Both Green and Hirst have excellent records in short course one design and match racing in Caribbean regattas. Green has won more match racing events in the Caribbean than anybody else and Hirst was the top Olympic finisher in the Laser class for the Caribbean as well as having wins in the J24, IC24 and many other classes.

Chris Rosenberg and Karl James were third and fourth last year and were clearly in contention. Rosenberg has a collection of Rolex watches from the regatta of that name and James is the top Antiguan in Lasers and team racing.

Newcomer to the event, but possibly the most successful sailor in the Caribbean who has not yet competed in this event, is Fraito Lugo of Puerto Rico whose total domination of J24 and Melges 24 racing in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands must make him a likely contender for this event.

In this year's small boat circuit the boat Guardian Star "cleaned up" a number of regattas in very convincing style. Skipper Paul Amon (known locally as "English") is the driver of that boat. He is a regular winner in Tobago regattas and other events in the southern Caribbean . He is also a newcomer to this event but not a newcomer to regatta success in the Caribbean.

John Holmberg is also a newcomer to this event but certainly not a newcomer to Caribbean Regattas. John who over the years has won many regattas be it in the Beach Cat class, the IC 24 class, the J24s, Lasers, and many more in various types of boats. The fact that John is use to small one design racing will without a doubt give him an edge.

The regatta takes place in the last week end of June (26, 27th ) on Simpson Bay Lagoon in Sint Maarten under the auspices of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The regatta is sailed just off "Uncle Harrys Bar" in boats supplied by Lagoon Sailboat Rental.

Racing can be easily viewed from this location and the close proximity of the race course, the short courses and the close competition and the high level of sailing makes this a great spectator event.

The overseas teams to date that so far have entered are:

1. Robbie Hirst from Tortola
2. Mike Green from St.Lucia
3. Paul Amon from Trinidad
4. John Holmberg from St.Thomas
5. Chris Rosenberg from St.Thomas
6. Karl James from Antigua
7. Fraito Lugo from Puerto Rico
8. Carlos Skov from St.Croix

The local teams will be decided with a sail off on Saturday 19th or Sunday 20th of June. Only 4 local teams will be able to enter. So far the teams that have said they will try for the North Sails Regatta are:

1. Simon Manley
2. Bernard Sillem
3. Garth Styen
4. Vassil Beyazov
5. luc Knol
6 Team FKG

For further information: Cary Byerley at director@bigboatseries.com
Tel 599 557 0714

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