Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: Second Edition a Wrap

The Weather Gods blessed St. Barthélemy from April 5 – 9, taking care to offer more than 400 competitors from 20 nations and on 48 yachts a week of perfect Caribbean sailing during the Les Voiles de St. Barth. Dominating the conditions were trade wind breezes that ranged from 17 – 32 knots, a fairly gentle Atlantic swell, and blue skies. After four days of intense racing, the second edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth seems to have etched out a place in the growing list of “must do” Caribbean events.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: Down to the Wire

As if to ensure that competitors had seen all the beaches and sights that St. Barth has to offer, race officers today sent the 48-boat Les Voiles de St. Barth fleet on its final circumnavigation counter-clockwise around the eight-square mile island: a 30-nautical mile course for the Maxis, and a 23-nautical mile course for the Racing, Racing Cruising, Classics, and Multihulls.

Antigua Sailing Week 2011: Maxi Priest to perform live

Antigua Sailing Week prides itself on delivering the sparkling racing conditions that have competitors grinning from ear to ear and the fun doesn’t stop ashore either. The Lay Day Eve is often the chosen night for race crew to let their hair down, during the regatta and everybody in Antigua is in for a rare treat. The most successful reggae solo artist in the world, second only to legend Bob Marley, will be performing live on Tuesday 26th April at Antigua Sailing Week.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: Maxi sailing Yachts Genuine Risk and Rambler tied

Following two spectacular days of racing punctuated by strong breezes sweeping across the Caribbean, the Les Voiles de St. Barth shifted into “lay day” gear today. Understandably, the approximately 400 owners, skippers and crew competing here — on 48 boats from 17 countries — wanted to make the most of their stay on St. Barth, so some took advantage of the rest, relaxation and entertainment (including a remote-control sailboat regatta) offered at Nikki Beach resort on St. Jean Bay while others went off packing to enjoy some of the wonders the island has to offer.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: Day 2 Déja vu all over again

The warm tropical breeze and clear blue sky is not lost on the sailors here at Les Voiles de St. Barth – especially those from the colder climes of the U.S. where spring has not quite yet sprung. Even normally jaded professional sailors were waxing on about the conditions here. Today offered 15 – 16 knots of breeze and a much reduced sea from yesterday, when many boats returned to the quay to lick their wounds and effect repairs, which included torn sails, broken head foils, and damaged rigging.

Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2011: Day 1

The first day of racing at the 2nd edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth dawned with 25 knots of tropical tradewind breeze and showers sweeping over the picturesque French island located midway down the Caribbean chain. The regatta’s fleet of maxis, racing and cruising yachts, multi-hulls and classics – 48 confirmed on race day – set off on a race course around the nearby archipelago, and met with plenty of wind and bumpy seas, especially on the islands’ exposed eastern side.

Motor yacht Ocean Emerald, yacht Ocean Pearl and MY Ocean Sapphire transported by Dockwise Yacht Transport

Some unions are meant to be, and when Floating Life was introduced to Dockwise Yacht Transport (DYT) a year and a half ago, it became clear, almost immediately, that this match between two corporate dynamos would be one made in heaven. In the case of transporting Floating Life’s three 131’ (41 meter) Norman Foster-designed motor yachts (motor yacht Ocean Emerald, yacht Ocean Pearl and MY Ocean Sapphire) back and forth between the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, there is no other yacht transport company with which Floating Life would rather involve itself than DYT.

Pendennis Sailing Yacht Christopher and Classic Yacht Rebecca in dramatic St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta finish

A dramatic end to a fantastic week of sailing with two of Pendennis’ most iconic 40m plus sailing yachts battling for the lead on the final race day of last week’s St. Barth’s Bucket regatta. During the event, which celebrated 25 years of Bucket racing, recently launched SY Christopher and classic ketch SY Rebecca performed spectacularly, culminating in a nail biting downwind leg of the clockwise course with both yachts at the head of the 40-strong regatta fleet.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: 53 Sailing Yachts Ready for Event

The Carl Gustaf Hotel, high on the hill overlooking the main port of Gustavia, provided a great vantage point to watch the Les Voiles de St. Barth fleet slowly filling up the anchorage and quays in the main harbor of this idyllic French island. Boats continued to arrive throughout the day, while others took advantage of the day’s fresh easterly breeze to go through some crew manoeuvres and test sails.

A new Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup

The International Maxi Association (IMA) is pleased to announce the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup, the transoceanic crossing of the Atlantic towards Caribbean at the end of the Mediterranean sailing season will now end in the British Virgin Islands. Simultaneously the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will organize a new event starting on the same day: the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta, reserved to maxi boats with LOA upper than 30.51, boats more cruising than racing-oriented.

Les Voiles de St. Barth 2011: Exceptional Yachts and Crews

There will be more than fifty of them: yachts of every size and class from all over the Caribbean, competing at Les Voiles de St. Barth. For the second year, the St. Barth Yacht Club and their partners have come up with a spectacular program for this international yachting event that runs from April 4 – 9. Some of the most notable yachts with their experienced crew will be on hand for a week of racing on the fantastic sailing waters of the Caribbean

40th Anniversary BVI Spring Regatta fleet features firsts and favorites

The final countdown has begun and racing will commence next week at the 40th Anniversary BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival (March 28-April 3, 2011), giving attending sailors reason to celebrate. Historically, the BVI Spring Regatta has attracted some of the world’s fastest yachts and sailors, and this year’s exceptional entry list is proof that this tradition continues.