Barbados kick starts the Caribbean race season
By Shanelle Weir From PanAmerican World
Race teams planning next season’s calendar could do worse than sign up for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series 2015 which runs from January 16-24.
This event, which kick starts the Caribbean race season, was re-launched in 2014 with a new race format and plenty of record-breaking opportunities. It proved such a success that an even bigger entry is expected in 2015.
Organised by the Barbados Cruising Club in association with the Barbados Tourism Authority and Mount Gay, the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series encompasses the already established Mount Gay Round Barbados Race plus a series of coastal races, and a final 300-mile sprint to Antigua to tie up with the Superyacht Challenge.
The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series is one of the most appealing events on the circuit, attracting race teams keen to use the event as a warm up for the Caribbean season. One of the biggest draws, other than the warm Caribbean waters, miles of gold sandy beaches, and constant 12-18 knot east to east-north-east trade winds, is the opportunity to break records.
The headline event is the 60-nautical mile Mount Gay Round Barbados Race on Wednesday 21 January in which teams race to break and set Round Barbados Records. There are currently 14 established records, all of which offer the skipper’s weight in Mount Gay extra Old Rum if broken.
Raphaël Grisoni and his Mount Gay team aboard the British VO70, Monster Project are the current outright monohull round Barbados record holders with a time of 4 hours 42 minutes 28 seconds. Andy Budgen, owner of the charter yacht Monster Project says he will be back in 2015 to compete in the 89th edition of the race and to defend the title. Budgen commented: “This event is arguably the best of the circuit not just because of the fantastic racing and legendary parties, but also logistically. Most of the event is run from one location, which means you don’t need to have to travel miles round the island if you don’t want to. Even if we don’t manage to pick up a charter, we’ll be back in January to defend our title for sure.”
Other big boat teams already lined up for the 2015 event include two VO60s – Cuba Libre and Spirit of Adventure, two TP52s including BOSS and Baleria, the Farr 65 Spirit of Juno, and Ralph Johnson’s Beneteau 53 Rapajam – overall winner of Racing Class 2014. It is also hoped that the 55m racing schooner – Elena – will take part in the Classic fleet.
IMAGE: The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series is one of the most appealing events on the circuit, attracting race teams keen to use the event as a warm up for the Caribbean season.
For more: http://www.panamericanworld.com/en/article/barbados-kick-starts-caribbean-race-season
