Living Barbados Magazine November 2014 Edition November 2014 edition | Page 25

The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series

“Barbados’ Ultimate Sailing Challenge”
By Daphne Ewing-Chow
Photos by Peter Marshall and Nigel Wallace

F

rom January 16th to the 24th 2015, The Cruising Club, Mount Gay and the Barbados
Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) will host the 79th annual Mount Gay Round Barbados
Race Series, which will include three spectacular days of coastal racing and the third
annual ocean passage race to Antigua. This is the official “kick off” event on the Caribbean
yachting calendar.

The Round Barbados Race, which is the pinnacle event, is scheduled to be staged on
Errol Barrow Day, January 21, at Carlisle Bay and will consist of approximately 50 entrees,
10-15 of which are locally-based vessels. The boats will follow a clockwise route around
the island, passing the West and North coasts, followed by the East coast and ultimately
returning to Carlisle Bay. The race itself spans just under 70-miles.

Event organizers, Howard Palmer and Alene Krimholtz, have an infectious passion for
sailing. Howard refers to Alene as “Chief Delegator” of the event and the two excitedly finish
each other’s sentences, sharing anecdotes and challenges surrounding the regatta. “People
love this event because of the personal touch that we offer”, says Alene.

Indeed the two have been very diligent about listening to the feedback of spectators
and participants alike, and responding to issues and ideas by carefully refining the agenda
each year. “There is so much potential for a growing tourist offering with this spectacular
event,” says Howard. “Aside from the hundreds of sailors who come from abroad to
participate, there is a growing number of tourists that come to Barbados just for the regatta.
This is extremely important to us and we have developed a very successful collaborative
relationship with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc to make this the best event that it
could possibly be.”

Superior conditions and active public interest have made this a very popular event, with
a significant number of local and foreign entrees as well as enthusiastic public participation
from a spectator perspective, with many groups congregating at bars at specific vantage
points along the coastline, eager to catch a glimpse of the vessels racing each other to the
finish line on Errol Barrow day.

In addition to the Round Barbados Race, the itinerary will include three days of coastal
racing, including “The Two Restaurants” which serves as an 18-mile practice session, taking
place between Tapas Restaurant on the South Coast and The Beach House Restaurant on the
West. Social events will include a polo day, parties and dinners.

A unique feature of the Round Barbados Race is the limited restrictions placed on
participation and the variety of offerings on the agenda. Alene refers to the heterogeneity
of the event, stating “We bring you Brigantines... Windsurfers... and Polo Ponies!”

LIVING BARBADOS NOVEMBER 2014 - MARCH 2015

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