Bequia Easter Regatta sails off this Wednesday

The Bequia Sailing Club, in its its milestone 30th anniversary Regatta, kicks off activities Wednesday, April 20, with the first day of registration for yachts.{{more}}

In fitting recognition of 30 unbroken years of the Bequia Sailing Club’s internationally renowned meet for sailing boats of all kinds, long-time major sponsor Heineken has increased its commitment to the event for 2011, which is now known as the Bequia Heineken Easter Regatta.

Joining the SVG Tourism Authority and Mount Gay Rum as major Bequia Regatta sponsor in 2011 is Barbados-based United Insurance, which has also lent its name to the J24 three-race series on Easter Saturday, creating an exciting “event within an event” – The United Insurance J24 3-Race Challenge.

Over the last 30 years, the annual Bequia Easter Regatta has grown into one of the region’s most popular small island regattas, which bring visitors and competitors from all over the world to Bequia for the four days of racing action over the long Easter weekend.

For non-racers, the Bequia Sailing Club also organizes fun for all the family, with the highly popular Sandcastle Competition and Crazy Craft Race by the Bequia Beach Hotel on Easter Sunday. On the same day, the local double-enders finish up their Easter Sunday Heineken Challenge in Lower Bay – the perfect place for an Easter Beach Splash!

The three days of competition for locally-built double-enders from throughout the Grenadines continues to be one of the highlights of the Bequia’s Easter Regatta, with followers thronging the shore for the starts and finishes. Despite the exceptionally late Easter date, which is likely to impact on the number of yachts still in the region, the tiny Grenadine island expects to be packed with visitors and competitors at regatta time. The attraction of highly competitive yacht racing, skilful double-ender action and Bequia’s famous hospitality makes the Easter Regatta virtually irresistible!

The ability of the Bequia Sailing Club to continue to stage this important sporting and tourism event is dependent on the support of both long-standing and its newest sponsors. Apart from SVG Tourism Authority, Heineken, Mount Gay and United Insurance, this list also includes Mountain Top Water, Tradewinds Cruise Club, The Bequia Beach Hotel and the Frangipani Hotel which doubles as the Yacht Race Headquarters. Businesses on Bequia and on St. Vincent and a number of private supporters also make a critical contribution to the Regatta’s success, each with generous donations of some kind.