Deh Double Enders ....Local Racing Boats in the Bequia Regatta

On the third day of racing Rob and I paddled our kayaks over to the beach where the local double enders were getting ready for their day of races.  The excitment is palpable as the guys get their boats ready for action.  The boats are all wooden with spars of bamboo.  Some of the boats are brought on small ferries from some of the other islands...Mayreau. Canoan and as far away as Grenada.  The regatta itself had 14 French boats, 8 boats from Barbados, several from St. Lucia, Antigua, and of course Bequia.  Skye 1 was the only Canadian boat and with a fully Canadian crew.

There were several categories based on size.  The smallest boats were about 14 feet and the largest 28.

The race is started when everyone is in the water.  As you can see from the pictures it is no small challenge to get the boats launched through breaking waves and swell.

  The sails are large for the size of the boats. It makes for exciting sailing as the guys hike out to balance the rig.

Occasionally boats have to be rescued.  This boat had to be towed back in and it was quite a job getting it emptied and back floating.  The race took the boats out around the southern coast of the island and the ocean was quite rough, so much so that they cancelled the 28 foot class.  They must have been very disappointed after waiting for hours for the race to start.  Ultimately racing conditions have to be safe.

It was a great spectator sport and we were delighted to have had the opportunity to watch the racing.  Despite the crowded anchorage, northern swells and late night music it had been a good weekend.  For the most part we like to get away from it all but every once in awhile it is fun to be immersed in the local goings on.

Mount Gay Rum from Barbados is one of the sponsors of the regatta.  Obviously all of the double ender racers were given T-shirts!

D Shark was a great paint job.  The racers are very proud of their boats and there is a fierce on going competition between the islands.

Some of the other sites of Bequia.

One of the Bequia wooden boats at rest.    Notice the kids in the background.  They were having some kind of chemistry lesson with salt water.