(St Georges, Grenada, West Indies)- Racing for the international fleet at Island Water World Grenada Sailing Week started, Monday 27 January. Grenada delivered perfect conditions for the first day of racing with 12-15 knots of trade winds from the south east with a comfortable sea state. The regatta features enthusiastic fleets of CSA Handicap classes and a very hot fleet of J/24s.
Pure Grenada Race Day One
The CSA Classes enjoyed three races varying in length from 7-14 miles on the leeward side of Grenada. The J/24 Class had five short, sharp races on their own windward leeward course.
In CSA 1, Pamala Baldwin's J/122 LIQUID from Antigua, skippered by Jules White, led the class after three races, having scored a 2-1-1.
"LIQUID has a young team that has a lot of agility," commented Pamala Baldwin. "We had a few errors today, but the team recovered well, and a lot of our success is down to time on the water, we practice a lot."
Robbie Yearwood's DIE HARD from Grenada has won nine titles at the regatta in the J/24 Class and came out on top after five races.
"We switch crew positions each race to make it interesting," said Robbie. "The racing is really close with just seconds deciding the winner. We love it here."
Racing on a windward leeward course off Grand Anse Beach. The J/24s got a good square course with plenty of small shifts in the breeze which oscillated between 100 and 120 degrees. DIE HARD scored three bullets, but only lead the class by three points from two boats tied on points for second which both won races today: Gus Reader's FADEAWAY from Barbados and Nick Forsberg's JABAL (LCA).
Kimron Corion, Communications Director of Grenada Tourism Authority, awarded prizes for Pure Grenada Race Day. The After-Race Party featured DJ King Turbo at the Victory Bar, Port Louis Marina, with the whole party jumping late into the night.
Silversands Race Day Two
Principal Race Officer James Benoit reported a light south easterly wind of 8-10 knots, which built during the day, veering south and pumping up to 14 knots.
Race winners again included Baldwin's pretty blue J/122 LIQUID. The CSA and Classic Classes enjoyed races varying in length from 7.6 to 14 nm on the leeward side of Grenada.
In CSA 1, Baldwin’s J/122 LIQUID extended their lead by scoring a 1-3-1 for the day. Peter Lewis’ J/121 WHISTLER from Barbados scored two podium finishes to move up to third place.
“Starts were important today, as was sail choice, especially downwind,” commented LIQUID's skipper Jules White. “In general, the start of each race was more competitive and getting a good start into clear air is so important when the wind is on the light side. Local effects made sail choice downwind another key area, with plenty of gusts and lulls and changes in wind direction.”
The J/24 Class had another five short, sharp races on their own windward leeward course. Gus Reader’s FADEAWAY was the new leader after scoring three bullets. Forsberg’s JABAL (LCA) won two races to close the gap to a single point after ten hotly contested races. Yearwood’s DIE HARD (GRN) was knocked off pole position down to third and was now three points off the lead.
Silversands is a ground-breaking hotel in Grenada, which opened December 2018. Located on the award winning Grand Anse Beach, the design of the hotel is under-stated using natural materials and landscaping of indigenous plants to Grenada. The location is amazing, one of the highlights is the sunset and the floor-to-ceiling windows letting the natural beauty of the island flow through. Intelligent guest room connectivity includes the Silversands App. The spa features treatment rooms, sauna, ice cave, and a modern fitness center with equipment by Technogym ― all built around a beautifully serene private pool. A focus on community and culture flows through the menus at Silversands Grenada, along with global influences. From a casual, beach club-style poolside restaurant to a refined Asian-influenced dinner venue, showcasing the wild abundance of local ingredients and spices.After racing, the "Pirate Party" at Victory Bar, Port Louis Marina was a real show with prizes for the best pirates! With no racing the following day, the dance floor was alive to the Fahrenheit Band long into the night!
There will be three more days of racing, with the event concluding by the weekend. Sailing photo credits- Tim Wright/ Photoaction.com For Grenada Sailing Week scores For more Grenada Sailing Week sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.
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