BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jan 13, CMC – Close to three-dozen boats have so far registered to participate in the annual Round Barbados race series which begins next week.
The regatta, which is now into its 81st year, is being hosted in partnership with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. and Devon Chase, manager for sports, said he expected the event from January 16 to 24 to be as exciting as last year’s competition.
“Last year, we were privileged to have had the team Concise rebranded Miss Barbados, and as a result of that we also had another competing boat, Phaedo 3, and combined it was an exciting finish,” he said. “We expect that this year will be equally exciting and we really look forward to welcoming them again.”
Chase said since its inception, the series had established itself as one of the premier events on the island’s sporting calendar.
“We cannot overlook the impact this race series has had on the island to date as it has arguably been one of the major catalysts in announcing Barbados to the world as a desirable yachting and sailing destination, the fruits of which we have seen manifested in the hosting of the Fireball Worlds Championship and the GP14 Sailing Championships to just to mention a few,” he said.
The BTMI has designated 2017 the year of sports tourism, and there are four new additions to this year’s calendar of regular sporting events.
The OK Dinghy World Championships 2017 and the Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival will be held in May, while the Finn Masters World Championship 2017 is scheduled for June. In October, the island will host the finals of the stand-up paddling competition, the Dragon World Championship.
The Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival was first staged in 1984 with the first event featuring a number of former Test players, and 17 games on the Auckland Domain. It is held every two years at venues selected by the Golden Oldies Cricket players and their partners.
Around 30 overseas teams have registered to date for the event to be contested from May 7 to 14 and the BTMI estimates over 600 visitors, including players, friends and families will attend. A further 10 local teams are also registered to take part.
The Dragon World Championships, meanwhile, is the first dedicated paddleboard team racing competition and the finals will be held at Carlisle Bay just outside the Barbados capital of Bridgetown from October 28 to 30.
“There are going to be a series of events all across the world and the winners will be coming to the island to compete in the finale in October this year, so that’s another exciting thing we have planned,” said Chase.
He noted that while sports tourism is not new to Barbados, officials are looking to capitalise on the growing interest in sporting events being hosted here.
“Following the completion of our Sports Tourism Plan last year, a number of key sporting activities were identified – these on the basis of their ability to increase visitor arrivals and yield a higher return on investment,” said Chase.
“It was felt that these activities would blend harmoniously with the destination given the infrastructure and resources currently available, and that ultimately they would contribute to our objective as it related to establishing Barbados as the number one sporting destination in the Caribbean region.”
CMC mcw/ed/17