Yachting World — November 2017

November 2017 15

Next Month

On sale 9 November

Round Britain in a relay

Emily Caruso reports on an

inspiring voyage round Britain with

the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, a

charity dedicated to helping young

people recovering from cancer

Frers – the design gene

Germán Frers and his son, Mani,

share a passion for aesthetic

beauty that has shaped over 1,

different designs. Tim Jeffery looks

at the heritage that has driven

successive generations of Frers

designs

Man back on board

Which man overboard equipment

works best for getting a

crewmember back on board? We

put a selection to the test

Wallycento Tango

Get a close up look on board one

of the lightest and most radical

performance superyachts yet built

by Wally, the ground breaking Italian

yard. Toby Hodges sneaks on board

this new Mark Mills design

[email protected]

In the wake of Hurricanes Irma and

Maria many organisers pledged that

the renowned spring Caribbean regatta

circuit will be up and running as usual for

2018. The St Maarten Heineken Regatta
      was one of the first to announce its
      intention to run next March, despite the
      French-Dutch island suffering some of
      the heaviest damage in the region.
      Regatta director Paul Miller said that
      the decision to go ahead with the regatta
      was made very quickly. “We have a single
      pillar economy, we get almost 100% of
      our income from tourism. It’s deeply
      symbolic that the regatta should go
      ahead, and it’s a rallying point.”
      Miller reported that although large
      numbers of yachts had been destroyed
      in St Maarten, much of the marine
      infrastructure was still intact, including
      sail lofts, riggers, and more. The St
      Maarten Yacht Club’s main building
      remained intact, although docks, decks
      and other structures were damaged.
      “I’ve seen our sailing communities
      recover from this before, and they start
      to recover very quickly.
      “The message is come. This is an
      opportunity to see the real Caribbean.
      There will be a Caribbean season and it
      will be a great season.”
      Antigua Sailing Week also announced
      their intention to run as normal next
      year, along with other Antiguan events
      including the 10th anniversary RORC
      Caribbean 600 race, Antigua Classic
      Regatta, and the Antigua to Bermuda.
      Alison Sly Adams of the Caribbean
      Sailing Association told Yachting World
      after Hurricane Irma: “I am relieved to
      say that Antigua escaped damage and
      with impact on our yachting industry.”
      However, she emphasised that
      neighbouring island of Barbuda (part
      of the nation of Antigua and Barbuda),
      which suffered devastating damage

and was entirely evacuated, will require

support from Antigua – and for that, the

Antiguan tourism and the sailing industry

will need international support.

The BVI Spring Regatta has confirmed

it will be going ahead, based out of Nanny

Cay. Regatta director Judy Petz emailed:

‘It will be a different regatta for sure, but

it will also be a time when sailors unite

and the spirit of the regatta families

is what the people of the country will

need. The waters and winds will still be

magnificent.’

McColl commented. “It will probably

look like the BVIs 20 years ago, the beach

bars will be wooden once again. Come

December 2018 everything will be back in

full swing again.”

Organisers of

Antigua Sailing

Week plan to run

a normal event

in 2018

‘There will be a Caribbean season

and it will be a great season’

Caribbean season continues

Who is helping

The UK marine industry

has formed a new charity,

Sail Aid UK, to help restore

community and sailing

projects in the British

territories and St Maarten.

A fundraising dinner to

be held on Saturday 11,

November on the ‘Flight

Deck’ at Land Rover BAR,

the home of the British

America’s Cup challengers

in Portsmouth has already

nearly sold out of tickets.

http://www.facebook.com/

sailaiduk

Sea Mercy, which

coordinates yachts,

superyachts and

volunteers visiting areas

in need of relief work, has

launched a new Caribbean

programme

http://www.seamercy.org/

caribbeanrelief

A Facebook group

called Sailors Helping

lists yachts visiting

affected areas, volunteers,

supplies needed/

available and more. http://www.

facebook.com/groups/

sailorshelping

The CSA has a list of

resources: caribbean-

sailing.com/how-to-help-

those-devastated-by-

hurricane-irma

Paul Wyeth

Jesus Renedo