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Sweethearts Regatta growing again!

- Royal West End Yacht Club celebrates another successful regatta staging
In place of the traditional trophies and plaques, all participants received gifts such as a dinner for two, a t-shirt, along with a bottle of Mount Gay Rum XO. Photo: VINO
Some of the persons at the presentation ceremony of the Royal West End Yacht Club’s Sweethearts Regatta in Soper’s Hole, West End at the weekend. Photo: VINO
Some of the persons at the presentation ceremony of the Royal West End Yacht Club’s Sweethearts Regatta in Soper’s Hole, West End at the weekend. Photo: VINO
The winds were mostly light and variable, with great weather for the 39th Sweethearts Regatta and 35th Classic Regatta which took place in Soper’s Hole in West End from Friday February 17 to Sunday February 19, 2017. Photo: VINO
The winds were mostly light and variable, with great weather for the 39th Sweethearts Regatta and 35th Classic Regatta which took place in Soper’s Hole in West End from Friday February 17 to Sunday February 19, 2017. Photo: VINO
West End, Tortola, VI- Commodore at the Royal West End Yacht Club, Louis “Lou” Schwartz has reported another successful staging of the 39th Sweethearts Regatta and 35th Classic Regatta which took place in Soper’s Hole in West End from Friday February 17 to Sunday February 19, 2017.

The regattas, which are one and the same, begun just as the Sweetheart’s Regatta 39 years ago with Schooners and after four years the Club introduced the Classic yacht regatta and different classes of races.

Mr Schwartz described the turnout as “excellent” and the winds as mostly light and variable, with great weather. The races took place from Soper’s Hole up to Pelican Island, down to Flanagan Island and back to Soper’s Hole.

On Sunday, there were three classes of races: the Classic Class, which were boats of 30 years or older and saw participation of 12 vessels; the Couple’s Class Lover’s Race, in which four boats took part, and the Open Class, which saw seven boats.

On Saturday, the races entailed the Schooner, Single Handed, and Open Class. Some 14 boats took part.

“We ran what you call shortened courses so it wouldn’t be too arduous for some of the Classic boats which are heavier wooden boats and much older boats so that everybody can finish in time, enjoy their time.”

History

According to Mr Schwartz, when the RWEYC was conceptualised close to 40 years ago, they wanted to begin a race for Valentine’s day, hence the name Sweethearts, and because of their closeness with the islands of St John’s and St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, they became a permanent fixture of the yearly race.

Participation increased in the last few years.

“We had at one point over fifty boats racing, and as time went on, a lot of the wooden classic boats got too old, and the participation went down. In the past few years it has started to rejuvenate, so now we are up in the thirties,” Mr Schwartz explained.

In place of the traditional trophies and plaques, all participants received gifts such as a dinner for two, a t-shirt, along with a bottle of Mount Gay Rum XO.

“It’s the spirit of participation, it’s not racing for the plaque or the trophy, we give a prize to every boat that enters. Some people win a dinner for two, a lunch, so everybody wins a prize. People have taken their time to come from St Thomas, St John’s all over in the BVI, they came for the spirit of the competition so we appreciate them coming,” Schwartz reasoned.

Charities to benefit

While it was too soon to identify the charitable organisations that will benefit or the total figure raised, the Club’s Commodore said it is their norm to give back to the sailing community with the aim to perpetuate sailing in the Virgin Islands.

Sunday’s race results

Couples Race- First place was the vessel Marie, in second was Evanescence, third O Be Joyful and in the fourth position was Saphire Breeze

Open Class Race-First place-Girasoli, second-Winch Wicked, third-Sea Biscuit, fourth-My Dere, fifth–Chipeta, sixth-Sea Otter, Seventh-Island Hopper

Classics Class Race-First –Osprey, second-White Wing, third-Flying Circus, fourth-Stella De Mare, fifth- Rascal, sixth-Tern, seventh-Blue Star, eighth-Ariel and ninth-Ruffian.

Saturday’s race results were not available.

6 Responses to “Sweethearts Regatta growing again!”

  • Online Now (20/02/2017, 16:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good going boys
    • Rtw employee (21/02/2017, 07:03) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Wherc is Martin....Not seeing him in the photo....lord how these people do just come last minute and take all the praises for other people effort
      • tretretrete (21/02/2017, 18:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Whose fault is it that he is not in the pictures? Maybe he was a no show.
  • help help (20/02/2017, 17:54) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    BRING BACK OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING
  • Employees F n L (21/02/2017, 06:53) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where is Mr. Leroy. The sales man who was always there talking to the boss making sure everything was OK. With the regatta plans. Tryng to sell this trying to dell that. I didn't dee him. I saw a new set of people I never see before... Just making sure Mr Leroy is not forgotten..
    .


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