Caribbean Racing

Rolex International Regatta Rolls On

by Peter Nielsen, Posted May 25, 2012

We were maybe half a mile from the leeward mark, surging along relentlessly aboard the X-65 Karuba V, when the rig came down to the accompaniment of a collective gasp from the crew. Thankfully, it wasn’t our rig—but we did feel sorry for the guys on Highland Fling XII, Irvine Laidlaw’s spanking new Reichel-Pugh IRC 52.

Fourth Annual RORC Caribbean 600

by Don Street, Posted May 9, 2012

A varied fleet sailed the fourth-annual RORC Caribbean 600 in perfect conditions. The largest boat was line-honors winner Hetairos, a 141-foot Baltic ketch drawing 30 feet with her drop-keel fully extended.

Friendly Competition

by David Schmidt, Posted August 7, 2008

CREEEEEEEEEEK.Five heads snap toward the boom as an eerie sound emanates from the gooseneck on our Freedom 30. There were once four bolts binding the boom to the fitting, but now only two remain, and, judging from the groans of the metal-on-metal joint, this is one marriage that will likely be separated by death. And soon. “Traveler up, main out two inches,” barks Rod

Racing Charters in the Caribbean

by Amy Ullrich, Posted August 11, 2008

David Schmidt had an exciting time at the Culebra Heineken International Regatta ("El Dragón," page 54), but Caribbean regattas aren't the sole province of locals and sailing journalists. Three big ones—the St. Martin Heineken Regatta (early March), BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival (early April), and Antigua Sailing Week (late April)—have charter (no-spinnaker)

Dream Week

by Sail Staff, Posted October 22, 2008

“You gotta be kidding me!” exclaims a muscle-bound member of the crew of Leopard, a brand-new Farr-designed, British-owned 100-foot Super-Maxi, from our observation post aboard her tender. “The RC’s set the finishing line just off that reef. Leopard’s doing 15 knots, easy. There’s not much time to gybe, get that kite down, and head up.” Seated around me are other

North of Twenty

by David Schmidt, Posted October 22, 2008

“This thing is like a Volvo Open 70 except it doesn’t have a canting keel and its systems are more refined,” says veteran bowman Jerry Kirby as Numbers, Dan Meyers’s newly splashed Judel/Vrolijk 66, hits a big wave and jostles the crew, most of whom are stationed near the stern to keep the bow up. All around us are choppy seas; the true-wind instrument reads 18 to 21 knots, and our

Blast Reaching

by David Schmidt, Posted December 19, 2008

I admit that I was skeptical about racing on a big catamaran for a day at Antigua Sailing Week. My previous cat experience was limited, and I wasn’t expecting much. I’d seen the fleet of exotic-looking Gunboats—three GB48s and three GB62s—dockside on day one of this annual regatta. With their synthetic-fiber halyards strung from Marstrom carbon-fiber rigs and their chisel-like bows practically

Wooden warhorses

by David Schmidt, Posted July 30, 2009

Fiberglass, check; steel, check; carbon fiber, check; wood — uh, no, actually. So went my resume regarding the boats I’ve sailed. Okay, a few wooden Blue Jays and Lightnings as a kid, but for experience on proper wooden displacement boats, I had nothing. “Had” being the operative word. My eyes were opened to this fascinating subset of sailing at the 22nd-annual Panerai Antigua

Course de l’Alliance: a race, a tour, an adventure

by Meredith Laitos, Posted December 21, 2009

“What you have to remember about this regatta is that it’s not just racing,” said race organizer Herv Dorvil, his speech drifting seamlessly between French and English. “It’s about bringing together the French and the Dutch and the sailors from three different islands and doing something we all love.”The sixth annual Course de l’Alliance, hosted by the Sint Maartin Yacht Club

Key West Set to Begin

by Adam Cort, Posted January 15, 2010

Some of the hottest sailboats and crews in the world have begun arriving in Southern Florida for next week’s Key West Race Week, scheduled for January 18-22.Although the island has been experiencing record cold temperatures as a result of the recent cold snap, the forecast is for more seasonable balmy conditions by the time of the first start on Monday. Numbers are down, with just