By Mark Stevens, photos by Sharon Matthews-Stevens
It is the best of times, I think to myself as the first line of that Dickens classic A Tale of Two Cities comes to mind.
That’s because the events of the past few days are best described as a tale of two regattas — junior sailing events spanning the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and a series of international cruising events that together make up the first ever SVG Sailing Week, held in mid-April, a partnership featuring the Bougainvillea Cup and the resurrected Bequia Easter Regatta, returning full-speed after a hiatus of several years.
Today I’m crewing on a sleek 60-foot vessel called CJ Legend, grinding winches for the round Bequia race.
It is the best of times, but for the pain in my shoulder from grinding winches on a breezy Easter Saturday morning as we practice tacks and wait for the race start, perfectly executed thanks to both Sayie Adams, SVG Sailing Week coordinator, who’s spent hours with her team to make this new initiative a success, and principal race officer Grenadian James Benoit.
Even so, I’m filled with a sense of anticipation at the chance to experience the conditions that have justly earned St. Vincent and the Grenadines a reputation as one of the world’s prime sailing destinations. Think exhilarating passages with fair winds, routes snaking through some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular scenery.
A tale of two regattas. The best of times.
Then, awaiting the race start, I remember yesterday: a fleet of traditional wooden sloops chasing each other around the island — boats known locally as double enders.
Now I redo my calculations.
For SVG Sailing Week is actually a tale of three regattas.
And even better times.
The fun began a week ago back in Blue Lagoon off St. Vincent’s south coast. That’s when young sailors began to negotiate the buoys in five separate dinghy classes.
This partnership of four organizations — Vincy Sailing, The Mayreau Junior Sailing Club, Okean’s Youth Sailing Club Canouan, and Junior Sailing Academy Bequia — included races at Blue Lagoon, and then, through the course of the next few days, moved the action to Mayreau, Canouan and Bequia.
Adams is particularly proud of this regatta component. “For the first time ever,” says Adams, “a full calendar of junior sailing racing is taking place throughout the country.”
In his speech kicking off the event at Blue Lagoon, Minister of Tourism Carlos James shares Adams’ pride and enthusiasm.
“Sailing is an integral part of our islands and the involvement of these young people points to the potential of sailing in their lives,” says James. “Today you’re looking at future captains of boats, at sailing instructors, at the future of our nautical culture.”
As the dinghy races continue now the big boats join the fun, starting with an inter-island Canouan-Mayreau race, followed by a series of races including this round-Bequia event.
Next, under the umbrella of the Bequia Easter Regatta, it’s the double enders.
These boats, part of island history itself, participate in four classes — two small boat classes and two bigger boats, 26 and 28 feet.
One crew has journeyed from Mayreau to participate, and two crews made their way from neighboring Carriacou to compete for line honors.
The boats themselves are just as fascinating as the races themselves, events that seem to my eye as unpredictable and freeform as a no-holds-barred pro wrestling match.
The enthusiasm of locals congregated along the course, cheering on their favorites, yelling instructions to the crews (even though those instructions will never be heard), is just as enjoyable as the spectacle of the races themselves.
“Locals are incredibly passionate about these races,” says Adams. “Just wait for the finish.”
From our vantage-point at Hamilton, high above the race finish, I ask one cheering local who he’s rooting for. “I’ll tell you when they cross the finish line,” he quips.
This enthusiasm is characteristic of the entire Sailing Week, testament to both the incredible efforts of Adams and her crew and the vision of SVG’s tourism minister and Annette Mark, CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority.
“No doubt about it,” says Adams, “without the support of tourism this event would never have been possible.”
SVG Sailing Week began as a vision of James in 2021. He saw it as a way to share the advantages of tourism across the islands, and to reinforce international recognition of SVG’s primacy as a sailing destination.
When I asked Adams for a review of the festivities during the closing ceremonies, she was positive but realistic.
“This has been a stepping stone to 2026,” she said, pointing to the potential addition of two more classes in the yacht category. “We’re ready to build on the successes of this year.”
Mark shared that positive assessment. “What we witnessed this week was more than just a regatta,” she says. “It was a celebration of destination St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
At the closing ceremony at Bequia’s Plantation Hotel, a generous race host throughout Sailing Week, minister James addressed a huge crowd of participants and supporters, even as the sun set over yet one more perfect day in paradise.
“This evening might well mark the end of this year’s Sailing Week but it’s not an ending at all,” he said. “It’s really a beginning.”
And truly, the best of times.
The next edition of SVG Sailing Week is planned for Sunday, March 29, to Monday, April 6, 2026. For more information, results and event highlights, visit www.discoversvg.com or www.svgsailingweek.com.
