All Aboard!

Last Monday, January 12 witnessed the official launch of SVG Sailing Week 2026 at Plantation House, Bequia, triggering what is anticipated to be nine days of sailing and on shore activities.

Set for March 29 to April 6, the event involves sailing races on the mainland, Canouan, with Bequia being the hive, between April 2 to 6.

A hybrid between the previously well- entrenched Bequia Regatta, SVG Sailing Week got its initiation in 2025, through the efforts of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority.

From the evidence of last year’s baptism, and the fact it was executed efficiently, hence warranting another year speaks volumes for the event and the forward thinking of the former government apparatus.

Significantly, the recently installed political administration has fully embraced the week, which augurs well for continuity and enhancement of the product.

One would readily assess that the new guys on the block, from the outside looking in, had acknowledged the greater good and the economic worth of the Sailing Week.

Therefore, it is for them to build on the groundwork laid, solidify the base with new ideas, and innovations whilst keeping focus, ideals, and purity of the annual Sailing Week.

Hence, St Vincent and the Grenadines has to better position itself on the regional and international scene and begin to compete by putting on world class events.

This, as there are other entrenched Sailing Weeks hosted in the Caribbean, so jostling for the attention and purse of globe trotting sailors is at a premium. Sailing is big business and as a country, we are among the small fries in the pond of those who have grafted niches from years of operations. Suffice it to say that it will not be plain sailing for us to immediately challenge our neighbours.

However, with a pooling of ideas, strategic partners and a dint of hard work, the right people at the helm, we can skilfully tack our way across the current winds and tides.

Granted the local responses by way of sponsorship and the involvement of one regional air carrier, the SVG Sailing Week, has a rudder that can steer the event to a prosperous destination.

This column, over the years, has been clamouring for St Vincent and the Grenadines to craft sporting events with a tourism element as part of the overall package and objective.

As such, the SVG Sailing Week lines up essentially as a Sports Tourism product.

Indeed, the week with its spread from the mainland to the Grenadines ensures that the country’s economy gets a spike during that period.

Hence, several sectors have will be the beneficiaries, as hoteliers, persons involved in the growing Airbnb, restaurants, taxi operators, food vendors, crafts people and others in the hospitality sector weigh in and cash in on the events attached to the Sailing Week.

Of note too, the week will add a timely fillip to the local yachting industry which saw a fall off in 2024, because of the passage of Hurricane Beryl. The time is ripe for St Vincent and the Grenadines to put it all together, by strengthening private/public sector synergies, and the Sailing Week provides that perfect opportunity.

Too, with the portfolios of Tourism and Maritime Affairs twinned, this sets the right cue for the two entities to marry resources whilst looking after the environmental initiatives.

The rest is left to the SVG Tourism Authority to set the compass right, keep the jib and mast steady, but not losing sight of the prospective boom.