Regatta 2004 Wrap-Up
by Penny Sellier

Following weeks of un-seasonal rain, the skies cleared and the wind picked up to a steady 20 knots, just in time for the start of the Angostura Tobago Sail Week, which officially kicked off on Sunday 9th May at Crown Point Beach Hotel, Tobago. On Monday’s THA sponsored race day, Les Crouch’s Reichel Pugh 44 “Storm” took the lead, beating Kimpton, Knox and Amon’s “Guardian Star” a Beneteau 10. Both racing yachts were built in Trinidad by Amon’s company, Soca Sailboats. Rawle Barrow’s “Petit Careme” set the pace for the no less competitive Cruiser-Racers, claiming first place in what was to be the first of three out of four wins, eventually bringing home the prize for first place overall. “Business Machine” skippered by Marsha Farfan took the initial lead in Cruising Class.

The Comfort Cruising Class was truly a laid back affair with each of the three competitors knowing that they would each claim a prize!The Charter Class saw the return of familiar names with Annie T, Saga Boy and Team Mc Fly placing first, second and third, the same names that eventually claimed the overall prizes, with Annie T placing first. Tuesday’s DHL sponsored race day was again won by “Storm” in the Racing Class with “Legacy” and “Stag Brut Force” moving up to second and third.
Wayward and Titan M pushed ahead of Petit Careme, in what was to be a short-lived victory. DHL’s “Express Yourself” party that night featured live band ‘Imij & Co”, who revved up the crowd with rock classics, dub and soca, the fete continuing into the wee hours…Pepsi Lay Day got off to a late start (anything to do with the night before?) with a Galley Chefs competition.

The Start Committee claimed first prize with their Burritos, and everyone ate their fill, standing them in good stead for the volley ball, hoola hoop, slip ‘n slide…..Thursday’s TIDCO sponsored day was the most challenging of all courses (apparently designed to follow Lay Day, when the last day and half of partying has taken its’ toll!) with yachts heading around the South coast, with waves, wind and strong current testing their skills.

Protests ensued with a mark adrift, and the results were delayed, with the Charter Class eventually having their race ‘thrown out”. Friday’s final day of racing sponsored by Angostura Caribbean Club was without mishap, and Peter Peake’s “Slippery When Wet” placed first, ahead of “Guardian Star” and “Storm”. The week concluded with the prize giving and dinner, followed by a party in the Regatta Village. The overall Results are as follows:

Class	3rd	2nd	1st
Comfort Cruising	Scott Free C. Langdon-Wilkins	Udjat Boris D'Juran	Ala Mor Les Thompson
Charter	Saga Boy Savid Downie	Team Mc Fly Anthony Mack	Annie T R Toozs- Hobson
Cruising	Nirvana Lloyd de Roche	Business Machine Marsha Farfan	Mayumi Joe Brown
Cruiser Racer	Titan M Reginald Williams	Wayward Jerome mc Quilkin	Petit Careme Rale Barrow
Racing	Legacy Douglas Myers	Guardian Star Kimpton, Knox, Amon	Storm Les Crouch

The Angostura Tobago Sail Week 2005 is scheduled for May 8th to 13th.

Tobago again. It's another year of the Angostura sponsored Sail Week and the yachts are already under sail by the time I join those gathered to see and comment on the start of the first race. It's the same spot as previous years. I recognize a few of the faces and some of the voices. As US-based Storm takes the first mark in the THA- Department of Tourism race, I relax and think to myself that while some things have changed, the homey atmosphere of this regatta is still consistent. Binoculars scan the turquoise waters and someone says the names of the yachts as they pass by the Angostura Bitters mark. We have Guardian Star, Legacy, Petit Careme, Wayward, Business Machine and Mayumi. Each name will seem like that of an old friend by the end of the week. The names of the skippers have changed too, -a father has given way to a son, a daughter is now in charge. Generations of the same families are out on the water or close by on shore.

The competition is keen, the sailing conditions excellent and it is hoped that more local and foreign boats will join in next year, lured by steady easterly breezes, sunshine and the promise of fun. The course has been changed over time to make the racing more competitive. Racers take part in two races on both Monday and Tuesday. Thursday's TIDCO race follows a course along the southwestern part of Tobago, moving away from the protection of the island and into the Atlantic. That evening, I hear stories about the day's sailing adventures but also about dolphins swimming alongside the boats and frigate birds dipping and swooping overhead - emphasizing that there is much offered in this Caribbean setting. Murmurs of discontent rise up now and then—damaged yachts, drifting marks, protests and a re-start here and there. These are all part of the sailing world and from a non-sailor point of view, it seems that each crisis is dealt with smoothly and efficiently.

Friendly rivalries exist, some throughout the season and some only when there are foreign boats to contend with. Sailing isn't the only focus during this "friendliest regatta in the Caribbean".The Angostura Tobago Sail Week has a good reputation of good liming, good drinking and good on-shore fun. The evening limes around the Angostura Bar in the Regatta Village attest to this. Year after year-and this regatta has been going strong for 23 years-those from abroad make the pilgrimage to Tobago, lured by both the excellent sailing conditions and the welcome they receive time and time again. Come Tuesday, while the sailors are busy on deck, the on-shore activity centres around getting everything ready for that evening. The crowd at Crown Point Beach Hotel is rearing to go by the time Imij & Co. plays at the DHL "Express Yourself" party. Under the night skies, balloons handed out by DHL attach themselves to arms or tank top straps. Bobbing up and down, they add a surreal effect as Imij & Co. stirs everyone into a frenzy of excitement. A light rain has little or no effect on the party.

The music continues well into the morning while down on the beach, waves roll in and yachts rest at anchor. Like the other on-shore activities carded for this regatta, the Pepsi-sponsored Lay Day is held at Crown Point Beach Hotel. The crews get a chance to showcase their talents in a range of ways, from the Galley Chefs cook-off to the hula-hoop competition. Under the spread of an almond tree, groups congregate to laugh, talk and cheer on the various teams. It's a mellow day full of smiling faces and relaxed bodies. Thursday and the buzz of activity is on once more. Crews meet at the floating jetty, dinghies and pirogues dash about, spectators gather to watch the race start. In the afternoon, sails spread out to dry on the lawn.

There's a lime by the pool, a cooler heading down to the beach. There's lots of talk and lots of jokes. The Regatta Village comes alive when the day's results are announced. New friends, old friends . . . chairs and tables take up permanent positions in front of several different apartments. People drift in and out of rooms, in search of food or drink or just good company. The week ends. The Angostura Caribbean Club prize-giving and dinner draws everyone together under the stars to eat, drink and celebrate. Saturday morning dawns quietly. Out in the bay, a few yachts set sail for home. Goodbyes and promises to keep in touch float on the breeze. Next year . . . next year and we'll be back and it'll be like coming home.
The Angostura Tobago Sail Week 2005 will be from May 8th to 13th at Crown Point Beach Hotel.

The Angostura Tobago Sail Week 2004 got off to a lively start on Sunday evening with the opening of the Regatta Village by Mr. Neil Wilson, Secretary for Tourism, Transport, Enterprise Development and Settlement. The Chief Secretary of the THA, The Honourable Orville London, pledged the continued commitment of the THA to the sport of sailing. The Angostura bar attracted a sizeable crowd with old friends and new acquaintances sharing the anticipation of the races to come.. “The friendliest regatta in the Caribbean”, the event’s tag line, is probably one of the few places where a person can be absent for a number of years and, with a hello or a glimpse of a familiar face, one can fall right back into this crowd of sailors and supporters

Monday morning brought fine sailing conditions including a fresh north-easterly breeze and lots of sunshine. While Lucozade, the committee boat sponsor for the entire week, was on hand to give out samples as the various crews headed down to the jetty, the staff committee ladies, attired in their Crown Point Beach Hotel sponsored swimwear, ensured that the start of the THA Department of Tourism race went off smoothly.Slightly before ten o’clock, spectators gathered on shore looking anxiously to see which boats were in the lead as the fleet headed inland towards the Angostura Bitters mark. Storm took the mark first but the rest of the pack was not far behind. On shore, sailors from earlier years gave a blow by blow commentary to those not so well seasoned. Another sail week in Tobago is on. The competition out at sea is fierce and both the sailors and the on-shore crew are looking forward to a fun-filled week.

After an enjoyable Monday evening lime at the Regatta Village, Crown Point Beach Hotel in Tobago, the Angostura sponsored event continued with the various crews gathering at the jetty awaiting transport to their yachts in order to start Tuesday’s DHL race. In a frenzy of early morning activity, dinghies and the Budget Marine water taxis ferried participants as needed. An easterly breeze and choppy seas made the start of the second day of racing very exciting with Monday’s overallwinner in the racing class, Storm, once again off to a good start. Tuesday has been a day of near collisions and protests—all adding a sense of urgency and excitement.

As on Monday, the racing class had two races scheduled back to back while the other classes—charter cruising, cruiser-racing and comfort cruising—had one long race taking them up the coast off Grafton Beach Resort. While spinnaker’s flew and yachts tacked back and forth on sea the action on land centered on setting the stage for the evening’s performance by the well-known local band Imij & Co.—a welcome respite for the sailors after two hard days on deck.

Despite the protests of the day and the rivalries which have made themselves known by the end of this second day of racing, all the crews and on-shore spectators are looking forward to a fun-filled evening at the DHL “Express Yourself” party and at the Pepsi-sponsored Lay Day on Wednesday after which the racing will resume on Thursday.

DHL’s “Express Yourself” party on Tuesday night at the Crown Point Beach Hotel was an excellent lead-in to the Angostura Tobago Sail Week 2004’s Lay Day activities. Under the night skies, sailors and their on-shore crews socialized with those who arrived especially for the Pepsi-sponsored Lay Day festivities. A light drizzle had no ill effect on the crowd and, with Imij and Co. belting out old and new favorites, the dancing went on until well into the morning hours.
With the Lay Day activities not carded to begin before noon, some of the regatta participants had a chance to relax or take the opportunity to visit nearby Pigeon Point. By all accounts, the Galley Chefs competition was a fine opener for the day and the Start Committee walked away with the prize for best pot for their burritos. The crew from Pressure rose to the occasion and showed us how to ‘make the best use of Pepsi as an ingredient’ in their ‘fish brof’. Late into the day, murmurs of approval could be heard as notes were compared on which of the seven entrants best seduced the taste buds.
Under the almond tree, a crowd of all ages—from babies to grandparents—sat comfortably looking on at the Volleyball competition in progress. It is true that there wasn’t a goat racing competition this year but the scheduled events provided more than enough entertainment. In the ski-walking competition, there was an on-land protest as the first team did not realize that the course included two legs of the volleyball court. DJ George stepped in as racing officer and got the situation under control. A few tumbles and many giggles later, the skis came off and the hula-hoops went on. A stiff rivalry formed between the last twocontenders—experience on the one hand and youth on the other. Experience won out in this instance but the upcoming generation is certainly making their mark on the Lay Day action.
There was also a slip and slide event and a salsa competition—all winners walking away with Pepsi hampers which included polo shirts, caps and 2 litre bottles of Pepsi. Angostura’s Caribbean Club was on special at the bar and this encouraged quite a few people to try a new drink as they stood around enjoying both the lime and the games.

Thursday morning, the third day of racing at the Angostura Tobago Sail Week 2004 and at the lookout point the talk is about the previous days activities including the musical talents of the C-Mos crew who are presently under sail getting ready for the TIDCO-sponsored race day. The attention soon focuses on the ocean as the racers line up for the start of a race which will take them down towards the southwest of the island.Another easterly breeze allows Storm the momentum she needs to, once again, take the first mark. Past the mark, Storm’s blue and white spinnaker flies out as Legacy and Enzyme close in behind. The fleet heads down towards the TIDCO mark with Hotel California Too leading the cruisers. After Hours and Mayumi keep the competition for this class keen.

Back on shore, the spectators discuss their plans for the day. One regatta regular takes off for an appointment with a floating cooler which, as it bobs up and down off Store Bay, has become a well-recognized feature of this sailing week. Just after eleven o’clock, after most of the early spectators have drifted off, the racers appear on the horizon. This isn’t part of their course and it soon becomes obvious that there will be a second start for this particular class. The yachts line up and with a sense of deja vu, Storm is out in front. There is a little difference this second time around as Slippery When Wet and last year’s overall winner, Guardian Star, vie for better positions. Near the shore, a cooler sits happily on the turquoise water, oblivious to the mishaps and changes taking place on the big seas.

The opportunity to go out on a pirogue on the forth race day was too good to pass up. Minutes to ten found me out on the ocean, idling close to the Lucozade sponsored start committee boat watching the yachts timing the start for the Caribbean Club race—the last one carded for this Angostura Tobago Sail Week 2004. The cruisers went out first this time around and as they headed upwind towards the Angostura Bitters mark, the other classes waltzed back and forth, mains billowing but jibs down as they waited on their respective warning signals.

Sun, but with some cloud cover, sea spraying up against the hulls and northeasterly trades blowing—the conditions could not have been better. The cruiser-racers dashed by us as we monitored the start line, Wayward and Petit Careme among them. Then, jibs finally up, the racers started. Once again, in the pattern of the week, Storm made an impressive start and kept up her momentum for the entire course.

Slippery When Wet, not to be outdone, stayed close to the front and made the best use of her spinnaker as the different course legs demanded.From my vantage point, I could see the crews at the ready—manning the foredeck, cranking the winches, weight on the windward rail. There was a certain tension as the yachts approached the finish—they had done wh1 at they could, what would be the final outcome of the week? We in the pirogue had the advantage of accompanying a few of the yachts in, including the overall winner in the racing class, Storm. With each horn blast signaling a finish, we felt that we had somehow also managed to complete the course. Yes, Tobago 2005 is already calling—sailors and spectators alike.