The Bequia Easter Regatta is one of the destination’s premiere events and the southern Caribbean region’s most popular regatta. A cosmopolitan mix of participants converge on the island to enjoy highly competitive yacht racing, thrilling double-ender action, vibrant onshore activities all while relishing the island’s famous hospitality. This festival coincides with the annual Easter celebration.
Bequians have long been famous for their boat-building and seamanship, and this proud seafaring tradition lies at the heart of Bequia’s hugely popular Easter Regatta.
Bequia has held its Regatta at Easter on the sparkling waters around the island for the last 30+ years. The long Regatta weekend has now grown into an internationally acclaimed tourism event, attracting hundreds of visitors and fleets of boats from all over the world for four days of spirited competition. Vessels of every type, size and nationality compete in a wide range of races for yachts, Optimist dinghies, local fishing boats and tiny coconut boats – there’s even a race for ‘Crazy Craft’! But it’s the indigenous double-enders from Bequia and other Grenadine islands that remain the stars of this very special annual event, attracting huge crowds of spectators from start to finish.
The Regatta itself is organized by the Bequia Sailing Club – a small group of dedicated, hardworking volunteers whose aims are to encourage and promote sailing skills in every type of craft, and to ensure that Bequia Easter Regatta maintains its reputation as the best small-island regatta in the southern Caribbean. The CSA-accredited yacht races offer well-planned, challenging courses in Racing, Cruising and J24 Classes.
The Regatta is a true community event – a carnival atmosphere pervades the island, with hotels, restaurants and bars joining in the festivities, community groups organising land-based activities, and visitors from neighbouring St. Vincent arriving by the ferry load to enjoy a day out from ‘the mainland’. It’s undoubtedly Bequia’s biggest and best-loved revelry with visitors and competitors returning year after year to celebrate excellence in sailing skills and to enjoy Bequia’s legendary warmth and hospitality.
Photo credit: SVG Tourism Authority
