ANTIGUANICE YACHTING INSIDER NEWSLETTER

True North is the re-branded name given to the Volvo Open 70 Green Dragon which competed in the 2008-2009 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. She has now been chartered by Dubai Expo 2020 to carry out a tour of the Caribbean to promote Dubai as a candidate city to host the World Expo in 2020.

The countries to be visited, including Antigua and Barbuda, are member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions. Each member country has a vote which when cast in November 2013 will determine which city will host the 2020 Expo. Every five years, World Expos attract millions of visitors who explore and discover pavilions, exhibitions and cultural events staged by hundreds of participants including nations, international organisations and businesses. Shanghai 2010 World Expo which had 73 million visitors, featured a Caribbean Community Pavilion.

If all goes according to plan, True North along with the Dubai Expo 2020 promotional team will be in Antigua from the 16th to the 22nd of January and during some of that time will be moored at Antigua Yacht Club Marina. The promotional team's aim while in Antigua is to get as many people as possible out sailing on this incredible yacht! The 19th and 20th of January have been set aside for taking guests out and up to 20 people can be onboard at a time so there's plenty of room. The other days have been scheduled in for necessary maintenance work.

True North's visit to Antigua is timed perfectly to allow her to participate in Antigua Yacht Club's Round the Island Race which will be held on the 19th of January.  True North is delighted to be able to enter the race and plans to have local sailors of all ages and abilities join the crew of eight to compete in the event.  If time allows, it's possible that True North will be able to do a separate trip with 20 people following its trip around the island.  On Sunday there will likely be two trips planned: 10:30 to 12:30 and 2:00 - 4:30; or if there is enough interest, the trips may be shortened slightly so a third trip can be scheduled.

Following True North's visit to Bequia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines last week, Graham Wiffen of Bequia Youth Sailors wrote a blog on his group's experience on board.  The blog can be viewed here: http://bequiayouthsailors.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/bequia-youth-sailors-head-true-north/. Soon afterwards, a group in St. Lucia enjoyed flying along at 24 knots!

Check Antigua's Yachting Insider's Facebook page regularly to find out how you can participate in one of True North's cruises while in Antigua.