By Kim Ramsay-Moore From Caribbean News Now

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Some of the fastest yachts in the world will converge on Barbados over the next few days to participate in the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, minister of state in the ministry of tourism and international transport, Senator Irene Sandiford Garner, explained that the event, which is scheduled for January 16 to 19, will for the first time see overseas multihull boats participating.

“The organisers have ensured that each year the race boasts an abundance of attractions. This year is no exception. BTMI has worked in conjunction with Team Concise from the United Kingdom to bring MOD 70 trimaran Ms Barbados, Concise 10, to Barbados for the event. Phaedo 3, an identical MOD 70, will also participate in the race. These 70-foot trimarans are two of the fastest racing boats in the world and this will be the first time they would have raced each other in the Caribbean,” she said.

Garner also noted that other yachts scheduled to compete include Superyacht Adix, a three-masted 65-metre racing schooner; Ocean Phoenix, a 24-metre racer registered in Spain; The Blue Peter, a 65-foot yacht based in the South of France; Spirit of Juno, a 65-foot racer from Antigua; Island Water World Die Hard, J24 out of Grenada; Beneteau 47, a 47-foot schooner from Belgium; and local vessel the schooner Ruth.

The yachting events will begin with three days of coastal racing, from Sunday, January 17, to Tuesday, January 19. On Thursday, January 21, there will be the Round Barbados Race, followed by the Ocean Passage to Antigua Race on Sunday, January 24. There will also be an “off the water” event in the form of a regatta polo match on Wednesday, January 20.

This is the 80th anniversary of the Round Barbados Race. The first race was held on January 1, 1936, and the winner was the Sea Fox. The record for the fastest boat around the island is currently held by the Silver Bullet, with a time of 4 hours, 24 minutes and 27 seconds; while the record for the fastest monohull around the island is held by Monster Project at a time of 4 hours, 42 minutes and 20 seconds.

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