As cruisers, charterers and racers cast a hopeful eye on the 2022 sailing season in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Sailing Association is hosting a well-timed Zoom call this weekend to provide up-to-date information on the islands and to answer questions local and visiting skippers and crews may have. The CSA Zoom hour, set for Saturday morning, October 9, is designed for sailors planning to join the 2022 regatta and race events.
CSA has invited regatta organizers from the major Caribbean international regattas to present quick updates from their islands, then the floor will open for questions. Questions on 2022 regatta itineraries along with the islands’ COVID-19 protocols are expected. Some sailors are seeking information on which islands to target for flights in and out of the islands, while cruisers may be searching for check-in procedures and updated race rules.
With a full docket of events scheduled for the season, Alison Sly-Adams, CSA president, said cruisers are often drawn to the early-season Grenada Sailing Week, January 30 through February 4.
“It’s a destination event, with a race around the island. Racers sleep on board, which is suited for cruisers. And the Sailing Week is preceded by Grenada’s popular sailing festival, the week before the regatta.”
The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta March 3 to 6 is another cruiser favorite, along with Antigua Sailing Week, set for April 30 to May 6.
The CSA recently added a club class rule, opening up some of the most popular races with a cruising class.
“We realized that there are loads and loads of boats that want to get involved,” Sly-Adams said. “CSA said, ‘Let’s look at a rule for the cruising boats.’”
CSA’s chief measurer Bastien Pouthier, based in Trinidad, and treasurer Jaime Torres, based in Puerto Rico, were instrumental in adding the club class to the events, Sly-Adams said. “We want the regattas to be safe, competitive, and fun.
Sail, then go in and have a beer, have a meal ashore in the islands. We look forward to seeing you there!”
The RORC Caribbean 600 is a perennial favorite of racers, cruisers and sail charterers. With a February 21 start from Antigua, the 600-mile race takes competitors around 11 Caribbean islands. A dozen teams from around the world have expressed serious interest in taking line honors this season, including the 100-foot Supermaxi Comanche. A strong crew and solid trade winds could set the VPLP-Verdier 100 on a record-winning streak around the islands.
The line-up of 2022 CSA races and regattas include:
- Barbados Sailing Week, January 18 to 23
- Grenada Sailing Week, January 30 to February 4
- Caribbean Multihull Challenge, February 4 to 6
- RORC Caribbean 600 February, 21 to 25
- St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, March 3 to 6
- Antigua Superyacht Challenge, March 9 to 13
- St. Barths Bucket Regatta, March 17 to 20
- St. Thomas International Regatta, March 25 to 27
- BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival, March 28 to April 3
- Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, March 30 to April 4
- Les Voiles de St. Barths, April 17 to 23
- Antigua Sailing Week April 30 to May 6
For information see the CSA website caribbean-sailing.com.
For the Zoom meeting, see the registration link below:
When: Oct 9, at 8 a.m. EDT, 9 a.m. ADT.
Register in advance for this meeting: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckd-utqj8tGNf0odifbGD0bBBaDaHFj8p_.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
