(Gustavia Harbour, St Barths)- From the 11th to 16th April, St Barths is
hosting the 7th edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth, an event which,
since its creation in 2010, has quite simply become indispensable thanks
to the unique sporting atmosphere and conviviality that colors
activities both on the water and on shore in this lovely little quadrant
of French style in the Caribbean.Bernie Evan-Wong’s crew aboard the chartered J/120 Team Taz is 80% women. Wong, who has missed only one Les Voiles since its inception, made the valiant effort to secure the charter after his own boat was damaged in a collision at the recent St. Thomas International Regatta. “We were just starting to get a grip this season when we had this knockout with the boat (which was new for him last season).”
As for the J/120, Wong’s crew, which includes his daughters Meiling and Sarah, could be the poster team for Caribbean circuit sailing, what with it having started in Grenada for this season’s first regatta, then moved on to the RORC Caribbean 600, the Heineken Regatta in St. Martin, St. Thomas, the BVI Regatta and now Les Voiles before heading to Antigua Sailing Week.
“We love this event,” he said. “The organizers outdo everybody else, and it’s innovative in many ways, like the cold bucket of champagne that a rib brings you when you finish on the last day. And, of course, it’s a lovely location and the course racing is very different, around the rocks where sometimes, I must say, the seas get a bit challenging. They do a brilliant job of making it fun, and obviously this is building every year, which is great.” To keep track of all that fun in the sun, please be sure to visit the Les Voiles St Barth website here.
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