1ST BIG WIN FOR WOBURN – at Grenada Sailing Festival United Insurance Workboat Regatta

FOR the first time in the 20-year history of the Grenada Sailing Festival’s Workboat Regatta, Woburn took centre stage and set some records. Since 2012 this sailing community had promised to return with more boats, and they fulfilled this by bringing the biggest Class fleet of 9, then their Senior team took first place and their Junior team took second in the United Insurance National Team Sailing Finals; and to round off the weekend, Woburn skipper Alan Noel and his crew from Trouble stormed home to take the United Insurance Skipper of the Year title and the sought after cash prize of US$1 000.

Despite very bad weather and sea conditions on Saturday, the spirit of the workboat sailors could not be diminished, and a strong fleet of 25 boats from Gouyave, Petite Martinique, Sauteurs and Woburn lined Grand Anse Beach – bringing their well-known and much loved colour to a grey day. Even with
such challenging conditions, the racing was as close and competitive as ever in the Community Classes, with every skipper and crew sailing hard to take first place and the chance to go through to race in the United Insurance Skipper of the Year Match Race Final. At the end of the first day of racing, positions were close, leaving everything to race for on Sunday.

Teams fought hard against wind and tide to win.

Teams heading out to start the competition.

With weather conditions much improved the following morning, the organisers were able to complete the Community Class Series and set the scene for an afternoon of Match Race Finals. The excitement levels moved to a new high as the growing crowds on Grand Anse Beach waited for the teams to be picked for the United Insurance National Team Sailing Match Races in the fleet of 16’ workboats owned by the Grenada Sailing Festival. The racing was as tough as ever and particularly close in the Junior Final, with skipper Kwesi Paul and Team Gouyave in Gybe Talk just taking first from Team Woburn, with Petite Martinique taking third.  Now Woburn started the charge with Skipper Michael McQueen bringing in Tomorrow’s Worry in front of Gouyave in the Senior Final, with Sauteurs taking third.


From then on Woburn could not be stopped - as Alan Noel and his crew from Trouble took the GSF16 Tomorrow’s Worry straight into a commanding lead in the final race for Skipper of the Year. No other boat could come close and skipper & crew were able to start celebrating even before they crossed the finish line – the first Woburn crew to take the title, the trophy and the US$1 000 prize.

As ever, there was a great atmosphere on the beach as well, with Festival favourite DJ Blackstorm making it a party all the time. The crowds were treated to a wide selection of local foods, traditional dishes and drinks from Community Kitchen food stalls, and Fit For Life Gym joined in the fun again with their popular Fitness Challenge. The whole event was rounded off with a special surprise – a visit from Mr Killa and a wonderful firework display courtesy of Dodgy Dock and True Blue Bay Resort -a true high spot to start the week of Independence celebrations.

The Grenada Sailing Festival would like to thank United Insurance for taking up the Title Sponsorship of the Work Boat Regatta for 2013. Thanks also goes to all other sponsors for their valuable support:  Carib; Budget Marine; the Grenada Board of Tourism; Mount Gay Rum and Bryden & Minors; True Blue Bay Resort’s Dodgy Dock; Victory Bar; RBTT Bank; Sailing School Grenada;  Coca Cola and Etang Water; Mecca Trading; Island Water World;Camper & Nicholsons Marinas; Unique Trophies; Grenlec; Boss FM; L.L Ramdhanny; Courts; DeSign Factory; Country Cold Store; CocoNet; Horizon Yacht Charters; Island Dreams Yacht Services; Grenada Postal Corporation and  Spice Isle Fish House.

The organisers would also like to thank the Grenada Board of Tourism beach cleaning crews; the Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority; the Royal Grenada Police Force, the Grenada Coastguard, W & R Electrical Contractors and all volunteers and helpers for their support and assistance, helping to make the event such a success.

Full results are as follows:

Grenada Sailing Festival United Insurance Workboat Regatta 2013

Community Class Racing:

Gouyave Canoe
1.  Etieron - Skipper Carlyle Joseph
2.  Sonic - Skipper ‘Kimron’
3.  Sky Red - Skipper John George

Gouyave Sloop
1.  Endeavour - Skipper Andy DeRoche
2.  Reborn - Skipper Kwesi Paul
3.  Swift - Jahuld George

Petite Martinique
1.  Purple Blast - Skipper Orlando Decoteau
2.  Elect - Skipper Andre Lauia

Sauteurs
1.  No Retreat No Surrender - Skipper Jason Charles
2.  La Diablesse - Skipper Kenton Olive
3.  Planass - Skipper Marvin Jeremiah

Woburn
1.  Trouble - Skipper Alan Noel
2.  Lion Heart - Skipper Michael Joseph
3.  Unity - Skipper Lennox Julien

Match Race Finals - raced in the Grenada Sailing Festival’s own fleet of workboats - the GSF16s:

United Insurance National Team Sailing - Junior
1. Team Gouyave - Skipper Kwesi Paul
2. Team Woburn - Skipper Shakeem Collins
3. Petite Martinique - Skipper Orlando Decoteau

United Insurance National Team Sailing - Senior
1. Team Worurn - Skipper Michael McQueen
2.  Team Gouyave - Skipper Israel Dharangit
3.  Team Sauteurs - Skipper Bertrand Noel

United Insurance Skipper of the Year Final
The winning Skipper & his crew from each Class in the Community Class Racing enter a Match Race Final in the GSF16 workboats to find the ‘Skipper of the Year’

2013 Skipper of the Year: Alan Noel & his Woburn crew - winning US$1 000.