New Look Scotiabank Work Boat Regatta One of Best Ever
A record fleet of 39 work boats; three newly built boats from Woburn joined by two new designs from Petite Martinique; three visiting boats all the way from Mayreau, and for the first time ever, the sought after US$1,000.00 cash prize for the final GSF16 ‘Champion of Champions’ Match Race was shared by Joel Lewis of Sauteurs and Samuel Forde of Mayreau, who jointly brought home ‘Tomorrow’s Worry’ with a mixed crew from both communities. Add to this a new location of the Regatta Village on the beachfront and inside Camerhogne Park and one of the biggest crowds on Grand Anse Beach for the first of the Independence Celebrations and you get a record list of high points marking the first Scotiabank Work Boat Regatta as one of the most exciting and best quality sailing events in its long history.
The sailing action was fast and furious and some of the most competitive ever, with crews fighting very strong and gusting wind conditions. There were thrills and plenty of spills that kept the big crowd of local supporters and visitors on the beach all week-end. This year the traditional sailing communities of Carriacou, Gouyave, Grand Mal, Petite Martinique, Sauteurs and Woburn were joined by three boats from Mayreau and the competition in the Community Class Racing Series was high octane from the start. There were all the well known competitors including Classic, Unity, Endeavour, Swift, Planass, Top Ranking, Eterion, Solo and D Rage, but this year they were joined by new competitors with newly built boats – Bacchanalist, Trouble and El Tigre from Woburn and Purple Blast and Dutch Man from Petite Martinique.
After the Community Class Series of seven races was finished on Sunday, the excitement moved up to another level as the teams were picked for the United Insurance National Team Sailing Match Races in the fleet of 16’ work boats owned by the Grenada Sailing Festival. The racing was as tough as ever and it was Gouyave that stole the day with a win in both races, with Skipper Ted Richards bringing in Pink Gin in the Seniors and Kwaisi Paul helming the Juniors. Shakim Collins skippered the Woburn team in Homer to a second in the Junior event in front of Carlos Williams of Sauteurs in third in Tomorrow’s Worry. Woburn took second again in Homer in the Seniors with skipper Michael McQueen, and Sauteurs also completed a double third place with skipper Jason Charles.
Then it was time for the final high spot of the day when Community Class winners raced off for the ‘Champion of Champions’ Prize. This proved to be one of the most competitive and exciting finals for many years. Positions and fortunes changed again and again as the marks were rounded over the course, but it was the joint skippers and crew from Sauteurs and Mayreau that finally crossed the line first to take the title, the trophy and the US$1,000.00 prize. Petite Martinique came through with a strong charge to the line to take second and the US$500.00 prize, with the third place prize of US$250.00 going to a combined Gouyave Sloop/Gouyave Canoe crew.
Mr Sterl Lyons of Scotiabank presented winners with cash prizes, trophies and gifts from Scotiabank, Mount Gay, Carib, Budget Marine and Courts. The Community Class Winners were also presented with a prestige LIME phone by Ms Josephine Walters, LIME Corporate Communications Manager.
The record crowd enjoyed great live entertainment from LIME Commancheros and Festival favourite DJ Blackstorm, games and activities including a Fitness Challenge sponsored by Fit For Life Gym & Mitchell’s Health & Wellness. There were arts and crafts on sale, and food stalls in a Community Kitchen, where all the best traditional dishes were on offer. The whole event was rounded off with a wonderful firework display courtesy of Spice Island Fireworks, ending with a set piece in the country’s National colours – a true high spot of the week-end Independence celebrations.
Grenada Sailing Festival wishes to thank all its sponsors and supporters of the 2012 Scotiabank Work Boat Regatta: the Government of Grenada; the Grenada Board of Tourism; ScotiaBank; United Insurance; Grenada Breweries Ltd; Mount Gay Rum with agent Bryden & Minors; Grenada Bottling Co. Ltd; Budget Marine; True Blue Bay Resort; The Victory Bar & Restaurant; GBN; LIME; Spice Island Marine Services; Grenada Union of Teachers Co-Op Credit Union; Steele’s Auto Supplies; Harris Paints (Barbados) Ltd.; L.L Ramdhanny & Co Ltd; Spice Isle Fish House; Country Cold Store; Courts; Marketing & National Importing Board; Mitchell’s Health & Wellness, and Spice Island Fireworks.
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Scotiabank Work Boat Regatta
4 & 5 February 2012
Full Results
Community Class Racing Series
Gouyave Canoe
- Eterion – Skipper Carlyle Joseph
- 4 Cup People – Skipper John George
- D Country Hard
Woburn
- Trouble – Skipper Alan Noel
- Pattern – Hector George
- Bacchanalist – “Boyo”
Sauteurs
- Bad Feelings – Skipper Samuel Forde
- No Retreat No Surrender – Skipper Jason Charles
- Planass – Skipper Christan Phillip
Gouyave Sloop
- VOOP – Skipper Israel Dharangit
- Reborn – Skipper Devon Ashton
- Riot Act – Skipper Lennon Marshall
Carriacou
- Full Force – Skipper Verol Compton
- Pimpy – Skipper Adolphus Forde
- Wet – Skipper Wendell Patrice
Petite Martinique
- SOLO – Skipper Adian Bethel
- D Rage – Andy De Roche
- Storm – Brent DeLisle
Scotiabank Work Boat Regatta
4 & 5 February 2012
Full Results
United Insurance National Team Sailing GSF16 Match Racing
Junior
- Gouyave – Skipper Kwaisi Paul in GSF16 Pink Gin
- Woburn – Skipper Shakim Collins in GSF16 Homer
- Sauteurs – Skipper Carlos Williams in GSF16 Tomorrow’s Worry
Senior
- Gouyave – Skipper Ted Richards in GSF16 Pink Gin
- Woburn – Skipper Michael McQueen in GSF16 Homer
- Sauteurs – Skipper Jason Charles in GSF16 Tomorrow’s Worry
Final GSF16 Match Race: ‘Champion of Champions’
- Sauteurs – Joint Skippers Samuel Forde & Joel Lewis in GSF16 Tomorrow’s Worry
- Petite Martinique – Skipper Shem Decoteau in GSF16 MR X
- Gouyave – Skipper Moses Simon in GSF16 Pink Gin
