ONDECK

A great season coming up for Caribbean Regattas and Transatlantic Sailing

The regatta calendar is looking full and exciting this season with some wonderful events.  All the regattas have their own feel and showcase the unique character of each of the islands. Whilst Antigua Sailing Week and the St Maarten Heineken are still the biggest, the other events shouldn’t be ignored with many of our regulars doing a different event every year.  After all it’s not just about the racing.

We are offering individual and small group places at all of the evets and usually welcome a mix of novice and experienced racers on board.

Whole yachts are available for bareboat charter or with skipper/owner’s representative on board.

This year will see the return of the Santa Cruz 37 for the whole season, the Benetau First 40.7s, two Dehler 39s and Voilactus, a very competitive cruising Sun Odyssey that was 2nd in class at Antigua Sailing Week last year.

The calendar for the season is below giving the event dates.  We normally include two training days beforehand and clients can in some cases take part in the deliveries from Antigua.

Mountgay Round Barbados Race 19th – 23rd January and this year includes the 18 mile Restaurant Race on the 19th, the MGRBR itself on the 21st and a new 300 nm race to Antigua starting on the  23rd [allow 36 hours].

Grenada Sailing Week  1st – 5th February with lay day on the 3rd. Newly revamped to separate out the bigger boat regatta and exciting new courses.

Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta 7th – 10th February. What better way to spend time with your loved one?  Again, this regatta has been completely revamped on the water and off with a great party scene.  This is a great and inexpensive regatta to cut your teeth on.

RORC Caribbean 600 Starts 18th February and allow 3-4 days.  The 5th running of an event that goes from strength to strength combining a tough course with Caribbean conditions and an Antiguan celebration.

Heineken St Maarten 28th Feb – 3rd March. It’s got to be on your bucket list before you lose your energy to sail and party.

Rolex St Thomas, USVI  22nd – 24th March. Great sailing in ‘America’s home in the Caribbean’ and a perfect partner to combine with the British Virgin Islands.

BVI Regatta 26th -31st March Revamped and all based out of Nanny Cay with the Festival beginning on the 26th with the Round Tortola Race followed the next day by an Island Hopping race and then lay day. The Regatta then runs 29th – 31st.

Les Voiles de St Barth 9th – 13th April with lay day on the 11th  A unique event combining the sophistication of St Barths with challenging racing and excellent organisation.

Antigua Sailing Week  27th April – 3rd May.  The last couple of years has seen an improved format centralised in Falmouth and English Harbours with the excellent facilities, bars and restaurants.  Blessed with great racing conditions, this event continues to be a main attraction for serious and fun racers.

Sail the Atlantic

With the 2012 event a sell out on both Farr 65 Spirit of Isis and the 72 ft x Challenge yacht Challenger 1, we are now planning for 2013.

2013 sees a new event with Ondeck having exclusive usage of Challenger 1 from Tall ships which will sail from Antigua to Portsmouth via the Azores.  Challenger 1 will depart  9th January arriving UK around mid-February with a few days in the Azores before the final push.  This is likely to  be a tough event departing the Caribbean in warm sunshine and 85 degrees, arriving back in UK to somewhat colder February conditions but hey it can’t be much worse than August was!

Plans for a May 2013 event will be announced in the next few weeks.

Learn or improve your sailing in the Caribbean

Ondeck Maritime Training in the UK and Caribbean offers a huge range of professional and leisure courses from complete beginner to Ocean Yachtmaster catering for those who just want to be comfortable getting on a yacht to those looking to pursue a career in the industry.

Contacts:

Peter Anthony
Director
Ondeck Group
+1 268 720 5313 Antigua Cell
+1 268 562 6696 Antigua Office
www.ondecksailing.com
www.ondeckmaritimetraining.com
skype: peteranthony1106
See our school brochure http://www.ondeck.co.uk/pdf/ondeck-sailing-school-brochure.pdf
Check out Caribbean Regattas http://www.ondeckoceanracing.com/caribbean/index.htm.