Barbados Sailing Week 2024 Sees Significant Increase in Participants from Around the World

This year’s Barbados Sailing Week is making one of its biggest ever splashes.

The one-week event, which will run from January 12 to 24, has seen a significant increase in both foreign and local participants and with registration open for another two weeks, those numbers are set to climb even higher.

Speaking during a press conference at the Barbados Cruising Club on Thursday to launch the annual event, member of the organising committee Marianna Polacka revealed that in some categories the number of entries had doubled.

“In the Mount Gay Round Barbados event in 2023 we had eight entries, but in 2024 we have 11 entries inclusive of five foreign yachts. In the Coastal Series Racing last year we had eight entries, including four foreign boats. However, this time around we have 16 entries to date with six of those being foreign boats,” Polacka revealed.

She said each boat comprised between seven to 12 persons.

Commodore of the Barbados Cruising Club, Chris Worme, said it was likely more yachts would confirm their participation before the deadline ended.

Additionally, there has also been an increase in the number of participants in the junior dinghy races, with over 20 children already registered.

Kamal Springer, manager of sports tourism at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI), said they were pleased that Barbados Sailing Week was the first sailing event in the Caribbean for 2024.

He said with participants from the UK, Europe and North America, it was proving to be one of the premier sailing events in the region.

Springer disclosed that talks were ongoing with the relevant sailing organisations to grow it even further.

“Our culture for sailing has helped to build an international profile for Barbados throughout the world. This year we have participants from the UK, Europe, North America and the Caribbean as well as local participation and we aim to further develop these markets and expand our reach in Central and South America.

“This is an exciting year for sports in Barbados. We are continuously investing in sports as a key pillar in our sports tourism strategy. Our goal is to ensure that Barbados is known for a lot more than just leisure and business,” Springer said.

He also disclosed that SportsMax had come onboard and would carry live coverage of the event.

Anies Jordan, commercial manager at Mount Gay, one of the main sponsors, said there would be several locations where spectators would be able to view the races.

She said these included La Cabane, Animal Flower Cave, Atlantis Hotel and Blakey’s Bar and Restaurant.

The Sailing Week will comprise several events including kite surfing and wing foil racing, remote controlled boats and the ‘Rum to Spice’, which will see boats racing from Barbados to Grenada.

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