There will be a new look and new features to the Port Louis Grenada Sailing Festival presented by Port Louis and Camper & Nicholsons, to be staged from 30 January – 3 February 2009.
As always there will be four days of challenging top quality racing off the island’s southern coast together with the unique crowd-pulling traditional Digicel Workboat Regatta, which will be another fantastic week-end of sailing, music and fun on Grand Anse Beach. There will also be a new look to the party programme for the 2009 Festival. Once the racing is over, skippers and crews will be treated to new events and Themed Parties adding to the ‘must go to’ Mount Gay Red Cap Party. There will also be a different mix of locations to enjoy, including the fantastic new Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina and Le Phare Bleu Marina, as well as the ever-popular Dodgy Dock at True Blue Bay Resort & Marina – Pure Sail, Pure Spice and More Fun for 2009.
There is another exciting change which will encourage yachtsmen to come and participate in the Port Louis Grenada Sailing Festival – a new initiative creating a ‘Southern Caribbean Regatta Circuit’ to kick off 2009 in the Caribbean. The Festival will now take place between the Carriacou Regatta (14 – 18 January), moved from its traditional pre- Christmas dates, and the new Tobago Carnival Regatta (10 – 14 February), creating for the first time a great three-event racing schedule in the Southern Caribbean.
The Festival Steering Committee believes that this initiative will encourage even more of the growing numbers of international skippers, crew and yachts in the Caribbean for the Season to spend more time in the region to enjoy the great racing conditions and famous party-loving hospitality. It will also give them an opportunity to find out more about the growing high class Marina facilities Grenada has to offer. The organisers are very excited by the plans and are liaising with both Regattas to promote this new Regatta Circuit.
To reflect this new style and character for the future, the event also has a brand new logo. Striking and modern, with strong sailing imagery, the logo also incorporates 12 Degrees North – the unique location of the island. So look out for the ‘button’ to get more news and information on courses, entries, parties and events, as they are announced. Check the official Festival Website at www.grenadasailingfestival.com where entry forms are also available, or register direct online. All these changes are complemented by the new Festival Administrator, Ria Delves, who can be contacted on gsail@spiceisle.com
Festival Chairman, Jimmy Bristol commented: “2009 will be an exciting year for all of us and I see the new Southern Circuit being a great incentive to skippers to keep their boats in the Southern Caribbean longer so they can find out just how much there is on offer – not only some of the best racing, but also some of the best ‘partying’ in the region. I am also very pleased to announce changes this year at the Port Louis Grenada Sailing Festival – a new look; new people; a new Racing Class; new parties and more fun, and of course, excellent racing as always.’
The event for 2009 will be run with presentation partners Port Louis and Camper & Nicholsons, in association with the Grenada Board of Tourism. The organisers are pleased to welcome back key sponsors Digicel; United Insurance; Mount Gay Rum; Heineken; True Blue Bay Resort & Villas; Budget Marine; Colombian Emeralds; North South Wines with Moet & Chandon. There will be more news of new sponsors, plans and events coming soon.