Jolly Harbour Yacht Club teamed up with a group of interested parties in Jolly Harbour to develop the regatta into a major Antiguan yachting event and to put it on the international regatta calendar. Designed to be an inclusive, professionally run, fun regatta, it provided racing to suit everyone – from CSA classes to pursuit races to a Laser Pico fleet. The all-new version of the regatta, now known as the Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta and Rum Festival, featured racing held over three days in the turquoise waters off the west coast of Antigua, followed by social events ashore after each day’s on-the-water activities. The quality of racing was exceptional and enjoyed by a growing fleet of yachts which, without exception, vowed to return for the 21st anniversary of the event in February 2014. A unique and very special addition to this all-new regatta was the Rum Festival which completely transformed the shoreside events. No other regatta in the Caribbean is associated with a Rum Festival and the concept was welcomed by sailors and partygoers alike. With seven Caribbean rums on board for the first year of the event, there was something to suit all palates. Rum and Bites on the lawn on Friday night was followed by Rum and Rhythms in the middle of Jolly Harbour’s Commercial Centre on Saturday night and Rum on the Beach on Sunday featuring the final awards presentation, beach games and exciting local entertainment. The all-new Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta and Rum Festival is ideally scheduled in the middle of the Caribbean racing calendar – next year from February 13-16, 2014 and is an inclusive regatta with something for everyone,
whether on the water or on the shore. Once you arrive in Jolly Harbour you may never want to leave. As we like to say – Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta and Rum Festival . . . where sailing meets fun! Visit www.jollyharbourregatta.com for full information and to enter online.
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Captain’s Guide MEGA YACHTS 2013
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