| The Grenada Sailing Festival |
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| Getting around Grenada - Sailing guide for Grenada | |||
  The Grenada Sailing Festival attracts sailing enthusiasts from all over the world, and features four days of races and regattas and a day-long craft market and cultural street festival. In 2009, the festival celebrated its 16th anniversary with activities and races from Jan 30th to Feb 3rd. 2009 30th Jan - 1st Feb Friday 30th January Its all happening on Grand Anse Beach
 The keelboat racing for local, regional & international yachts takes place predominantly off Grenada’s beautiful, rugged southern/south-eastern coast. With courses taking boats from the True Blue Bay area around Point Salines and into the waters off the famous Grand Anse Beach – this gives spectators a chance to watch the sailing from vantage points at the end of southern peninsulas at L’Ance aux Epines Bay & Prickly Bay, as well as from the beach. The traditional Work boat Regatta is run from Grand Anse beach where a special tented ‘Regatta Village’ runs for the week-end and a great party atmosphere attracts lots of families, ardent supporters of the racing crews, and touristsHow long has the festival been going on? Since 1994 – annually without a break – we are particularly proud that we managed to hold the event in January 2005, only 5 months after the devastation caused to the island by Hurricane Ivan What kind of activities take place during the festival? As well as great sailing & competitive racing we have: parties - Mount Gay Red Cap & Heineken of course - with entertainment from local DJs; local Folk Groups with singers & dancers; traditional Drummers; Pan Splash – a showcase of our best steel pan players; live groups from Reggae & Soca to Rock & Roll; Firework display; a Fashion Show; Kiddies Korner entertainment on Grand Anse Beach; Bench Pressing Competitions; Bungy Rope Run  How many boats participate?On average between 30 – 40 keelboats and around 30/35 traditional work boats How many people attend the festival? With skippers and crews, friends, family and supporters – the keelboat competitors alone represent a ‘posse’ of around 500 people. The Grenada Board of Tourism statistics show that many visitors arriving on the island at this time have planned their vacation to coincide with the Festival. The work boat crews come from the traditional sailing communities: Grand Mal, Gouyave, Sauteurs and Woburn on the main island of Grenada, plus boats come from sisters islands of Carriacou & Petite Martinique and visiting boats from Islands further up the Grenadines – Canuan & Mayreau – representing around 200 sailors. Add to this their local supporters, local spectators and overseas visitors joining the fun on Grand Anse Beach and you have crowds of 3 – 4,000 each day over the week-end  Why did the festival start in the first place?It started in 1994 as a location and event for a large party of charter sailors from Canada ( See first question) How has it grown over the years? The event is still young in comparison to some Regattas and continues to grow, the changes seen have been more in the size and quality of boats joining the event and the increased number of international skippers, crew and boats taking part. We now regularly see more boats from the UK, and Europe, particularly Holland, joining boats from the Caribbean and of course skippers and boats from the USA! And we are always happy to welcome more. The event now has title sponsorship from Port Louis and Camper & Nicholsons, the international marina operator, who now own and are continuing the development of the Port Louis Marina – providing world class yachting and marina facilities in Grenada. We are looking forward to an even greater increase in international yachts and crews over the coming years.  Why should sailors consider attending the festival?The event is a great combination: world class competitive racing; excellent and challenging sailing conditions of wind and water; Racing under ISAF Rules, with this year the introduction of an IRC racing class as well as our traditional CSA racing; a full International Jury & Judges, plus the intimacy, fun and friendliness of a small Regatta – we are not too big and impersonal! Hospitality that is special to Grenada For 2009 there is also a further advantage, The Port Louis Grenada Sailing Festival will be part of a newly created Southern Caribbean Regatta Circuit With Carriacou Regatta falling just before on 14 - 17 January. The new & exciting Tobago Carnival Regatta following on 10 – 15 February. Now racing yachts, crews and skippers will have three times the reason to stay in the lovely Southern Caribbean for longer and get more chances to ‘tune up’ for the bigger racing Regattas in the northern Caribbean. Is there anything unique for non-sailors to enjoy at the festival?  Enjoying two days of ‘liming’ Grenadian style on Grand Anse Beach while watching the Work Boat Regatta. The traditional le Mans style starts with one crew member running to join the boat in the surf is a sight you will never forget – ‘Pure Spice’What is unique and different about this festival compared to other festivals of its type? The fun and friendliness combined with high quality racing; the traditional work boat regatta combined with high tech/spec yacht racing.; the mix of parties at different venues and with very different characters and themes – but all showcasing Grenada and its unique hospitality. What is your favorite part of the festival? Watching the final race for the ‘Skipper of the Year’ on Grand Anse Beach at the Work Boat Regatta; with the supporting crowds standing in the surf cheering home their skipper – then carrying him (and sometimes the boat as well) to start the celebrations – that to me is ‘Pure Sail, Pure Spice’! Are there any competitions or races at the festival? A Pursuit Race in addition to the Regatta Racing Series; Beach fun competitions; often kyack racing and dinghy racing as a side event  What things can people buy there?Great Port Louis Festival T-shirts and caps, plus there is always an Arts & Crafts tent on Grand Anse Beach so that visitors can see a wide range of locally made jewellery, clothes, art and woodwork Any educational activities? Information from MAYAG (the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada) is available and our local Coastguard plays a big role on Grand Anse Beach; we also like to encourage young sailors and have a special National Team Sailing competition during the Work Boat Regatta Any other cool activities? Sampling local foods – like fish broth; ‘waters’ and Grenada’s traditional dish ‘Oil Down’ on the beach during the event – not to be missed; enjoying the Champagne Prize reception on the final night If someone is considering attending the festival, why would you tell them that they should? They should come for a unique experience – where else might you get a chance to crew on a state of the art racing yacht & then the next day take part in a challenge race in a local 16’ wooden work boat with bamboo rigging ?  Any other information to share with me?Over the years we have been extremely lucky to have had a great working relationship with world-renowned photographer Onne van der Wal as our official Festival photographer – which has brought the event and Grenada onto the front covers of many international yachting and travel magazines. The 2009 Port Louis Grenada Sailing Festival held from Friday 30 January to Tuesday 3 February, with the Digicel Work Boat Regatta running on Grand Anse Beach on Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February. For more information contact the Grenada Sailing Festival Office on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Or check the website www.grenadasailingfestival.com, where you can register online. For more information about dock space & facilities at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, contact Danny Donelan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina to be Home Port for Grenada Sailing Festival 2009
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The traditional work boat racing was introduced from the first event as a strong local and cultural element that would be new, exciting and different to visiting yachtsmen and give them a taste of Grenada to take home. This unique combination and tradition has been the ‘hallmark’ characteristic of the event, ever since summed up in just four words ‘Pure Sail, Pure Spice’ 
The ever-popular After-Race Party scene will also have a new character thanks to the work of a planning group made up of event organisers and sponsors. Headed by Brian Sylvester, Bryden & Minors’ brand manager for Mount Gay, with key members Brenda Baptiste of Colombian Emeralds; Digicel’s Raelene Lazarus and Joslyn Smith of Heineken, expertise and advice is being pooled from many sources to make 2009 a Fun Festival to remember. Watch out for more details in Press announcements and the Festival website www.grenadasailingfestival.com, designed and managed by TSL Grenada Ltd., the official Internet Partner of the Festival. 
Digicel Work Boat regatta! Real People having real Fun! with Scotia Bank!
Mount Gay & Heineken give away for best dressed Pirate, the most Booty & who knows Jack Sparrow! Music All night Long!
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