The final day’s race saw a number of competitors vying for positions within a point of each other. This made the sailors all very keen to do give their best performance and leave nothing to chance.

It seemed as though the wind was picking up earlier than usual and many yachts hesitated before hoisting the jib, waiting until the last minute to decide on the size of sail. Those who raised larger sails were rewarded as conditions softened closer to the start and the big sails powered up tightly and converged on the Committee Boat listening for the gun.

All the races took place close into Store Bay, beating upwind and surfing down wind in full regalia all spinnakers full against the lush horizon. Whatever small infractions took place were resolved without protest, so the sailors were soon into shore and preparing for the prize giving.

A superb dinner was served beneath the flamboyant trees on the lawn at Crown Point Beach Hotel and we all raised our glasses to Bruggadung II, the racing boat from Barbados which took home the ultimate prize in 2006.

The visitors who we befriended assured us that it made all the difference to be at a small family regatta where so many of he competitors were locals and everyone is gearing up already for next years Angostura Tobago Sail Week –Where Friends Meet!

Things are certainly picking up speed in Tobago with solid conditions out on the race course for the third day of racing. Winds blew constantly between 17 - 20 knots sometimes gusting as high as 24, with a well formed sea for the sailors to contend with.

Today all classes followed more or less the same route around the course with Charter and Cruising class finishing earlier then those flying spinnaker.  Race 3 includes the marker buoy IFD which commemorates veteran sailor Dougie Myers. 

IFD is positioned off the shallows on the south coast and it is a tricky mark to round because of the current that throttles down the coast.  A good 2 knots of current forced many yachts onto the yellow buoy and before they could raise the pole and set the sails to go downwind into shore those who had made the infringement were obliged to take a self imposed penalty and perform a 360 to compensate.   It was entertaining to see yachts pirouetting in the midst’s of others who had cleared the mark successfully and were already on the next leg!

Baccanal! As they say in T&T and all thanks to CLICO who sponsored Race Day 3.

There are some regattas that dispense with “Lay Day”, racing on four consecutive days and wrapping up the event in the space of a long weekend. Thankfully, Angostura Tobago Sail Week stays true to its motto, for this is a regatta ‘Where Friends Meet’ (or as some people say ‘Where Friends Eat!’)  Food, friends and family were all in attendance for Lay Day ensuring that the fine spirit of Tobago did not flag.

No Mans Land is the most sublime setting for a day of sun, rum and socializing.  After a good soak in the balmy coral lagoon, ample helpings of curry crab and dumpling or goat roti, the crews were ready to put their backs into a bit of shore-side sport.  Fun events had been arranged by the crew of High Tension B Mobile including ‘chug and shuffle’ which involved two of sailors’ vital supplies – Crix water biscuits, and Carib beer both consumed in very quick succession.   MC ‘Fish T’  from Crash Test Dummies did a fine job of  managing the events, leading the teams through the water balloon contest and the family favorite ‘slip and slide’,  which is always a winner with the kids.

The happy campers folded up their picnics as the sun set in the azure sea, everyone full of fun and the spirit of friendship.  No one knew which team had won the Lay Day sports – and no one really cared, the best part of it was just being there and taking part! 

Sponsored by Chaguaramas Boatyards and Angostura Caribbean Club Tuesdays race was fraught with controversy with no less then three protests – including a protest against the race committee!  Mother Nature proffered the most perfect conditions, with the winds slightly more muscular then Monday and rolling seas. 

Tobago Sail Week is a small regatta (40 yachts on the start line this year) but boasts a very dynamic racing fleet. In fact, the racing class is always the largest group in the regatta. In order to keep up the caliber of competition, the Committee this year has endeavored to challenge the racers to multiple races on each day.  For practical reasons the start line must be kept clear and so two committee boats have been mustered, one for the start line and one for the finish line.

James Benoit – the Race officer issued strict instructions that all yachts had to avoid the start line after the race had begun. The reasons are clear, it avoids congestion and confusion that would occur if one class were to finish while another was starting.

Nevertheless a number of yachts clipped through the start line on the dash for the finish line which was further inshore. 

A flurry of protests followed but the committee were gracious and instead of doling out a DSQ, many crews opted to take a 40% penalty.

By the time judge and jury were out of the protest room the crews had spent a good few hours round the bar discussing the pros and cons of each decision and were on fine form for the ensuing fete. Local band ‘Imij & Co’ rocked the regatta village well in to the night with DJ Scoobie picking up where they left off.  No one protested at that!

The regatta kicked off to a superb start in ideal conditions with a winds varying between 12 – 18 knots on tame seas. Some skippers even pulled their blades on deck anticipating the gusts, but these were quickly stowed away in preference for larger sails particularly as there were a number of downwind legs outside of Buccoo Reef.

The racers stayed close in to the committee boat as they had three separate races to contend with in fast succession. The rest of fleet kept well clear of the racers by doing figure of eights between ‘Chguaramas Boatyards mark’ and ‘Hilton’ -- the most windward mark in race one. From afar the cluster of colourful spinnakers looked gorgeous on the horizon but evidently the group was so tight that competition must have been hot and we imagined some serious action rounding the mark.

Back on shore we had the first days prize giving, sponsored by the Yacht Services Association (a very proactive group who manage and coordinate the Marine Industry in neighbouring Trinidad.) The rest of the evening was spent liming around the bar while crews wet their whistles in preparation for the nights karaoke competition.

Yasmine Baksh from the yacht Lil Darlin blew the crowd away with his creative rendition of I did it my Way and even the Regatta Promoters office staff joined in the festivities. All fun and games for sailors who look forward eagerly to the rest of the week.