Wow… What a week of knife-edge excitement and thrilling sailing that was! With a fantastic crew of 11 on board, Chao Lay from Grenada Bluewater Sailing, battled her heart out against some very strong competition during Grenada Sailing Week 2014. The reward was sweet and Chao Lay scooped 2nd place overall in CSA Cruising Class I. Congratulations to Jaguar for taking 1st place and Boxxer who closely followed us in 3rd place.
Jon, who flew out from Europe to join our team for Grenada Sailing Week 2014 commented:
“It was a very exciting week’s racing. Every second counted. The team got better and better as the week progressed. It was so close that we felt that everything we did mattered, as we competed every inch of the way. It was worth all the effort to come in second, separated from the winner by only 2 points over 8 races.”
Grenada Sailing Week 2014 – The Best Racing in the Windwards!
Day One proved to be a scorcher with fair winds and following seas. The races were based in Grand Anse, and were the perfect mix between racing and cruising courses. All of the team on Chao Lay did a great job of securing us 1st and 4th places for the opening races of Grenada Sailing Week 2014! After the racing, with weary, sun-kissed limbs, the team managed to pull on their Mount Gay Red Caps and all enjoyed a fabulous night at Port Louis for the Mount Gay Red Cap party!
Watch out for Pirates at Grenada Sailing Week 2014…
Following the lead from Alex, Grenada Bluewater Sailing’s skilled skipper, the team welcomed Day Two with renewed vigour. The first course was an exciting sausage-shaped race around Grand Anse and we happily came in 3rd place. The second race was where our excellent local knowledge gave us an advantage – by tacking upwind inside the reef and close to shore we stayed out of the tide. The navigator, Jon, and skipper, Alex, ensured we comfortably won 2nd place. Le Phare Bleu also provided much excitement in the evening, with a fabulous Pirate Party full of wenches, captains and scallywags.
The Trials and Tribulations of Grenada Sailing Week 2014
Day Three’s racing results turned out to be better than we expected. The three courses were based on the south coast from Prickly Point to Glover Island. The team did a wonderful job in working together to triumphantly take 1st place in the first race. Jamie on the main sheet worked like a Trojan, and the team rallied brilliantly around him. We had a debatable start to the second race and had to perform a 360, but once again the team excelled and Chao Lay took 2nd place. Our luck was not to hold that day, and on the third race the jib halyard suddenly snapped on the start line. An excellent and speedy recovery by Stuart, Roger, and Stefan, meant that skipper Alex could lead the team jubilantly into 3rd place.
Grenada Sailing Week 2014 – Excitement to the Very Last Moment!
Finally, Day Four arrived and the rallying team atmosphere was palatable. Everyone knew what they had to achieve out there, and all were braced for a fight. Sadly the Anemoi had deserted us, and we were left with delightfully warm, but windless, squalls to contend with. The south coast still provided a good race and the team blazed home in 2nd place. The final race was called off in lieu of poor winds; this meant that everyone was now on tenterhooks wanting to know the final results – there were only two points between 1st, 2nd and 3rd places overall.
Stuart, UK:
“Grenada Sailing Week 2014 was worth every minute and every aching muscle.”
Grenada Sailing Week 2014 – A Whirlwind of Success
Prickly Bay Marina was the perfect host venue for the packed-out prize giving ceremony. Sponsors, supporters and racers all intermingled for a wonderful evening of celebration and good cheer. The Grenada Tourism Authority, Island Waterworld, and Mount Gay proudly took to the stand alongside the hardworking and much appreciated organisers, board members, and race committee. Continued support was pledged by many sponsors for the years ahead, and Grenada Bluewater Sailing is proud to announce our ongoing support too. Prizes, trophies and photographs championed the whirlwind of success that was Grenada Sailing Week 2014.
What more can the team from Grenada Bluewater Sailing say than thank you to everyone involved and… “ROLL ON GRENADA SAILING WEEK 2015!!”
The next regatta we are competing in is Grenada Sailing Week 2015. Click here for more information.
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