The 18th Annual Fools Regatta!

The 18^th Annual Fools Regatta, Saturday June 14^th, 2008

In my opinion 3 things combine to make a successful Fools Regatta:

1. Good Weather

2. Good People

3. Good Cause

This year was successful on all counts. We could not have asked for a better day. We had great wind around 12 to 15 knots, no rain and a bit of cloud cover to keep people just cool enough. The water in June is warm and inviting and even though it was a little choppy the breezes were strong enough to keep the boats cutting through.

Everyone was having a great time! The Turks and Caicos Football Association (TCIFA) pulled together and served up great Hamburgers and Hotdogs and drinks. Mary Higgs was offering up her usual great island inspired food with her sister and Sonya Hamilton kept everyone cool with her shaved ice machine. The Tug O War tournament kept people entertained on the beach while we waited to see the exciting finishes of the Big Boat Race and the Sloop Race. As well, people cheered on their favourite sailors in each of the Hobie Wave events. There wasn’t a single negative issue in bringing an estimated 500 people from all walks of life to the beach to enjoy the day.

This year the fundraising was a joint effort as the TCIFA took care of Food and Beverages and raised funds for their organization while the Provo Sailing Club earmarked proceeds from the t-shirts and hats sold as well as event fees for the Provo Children’s Home (formerly Nissi House). As well, we chose to bring the Fools Regatta back to the Children’s Park in the Bight this year to softly promote the soon to be Provo Sailing Centre which will be located in the Bight. This facility will be built and operated with a sole mandate of organizing sailing programs – particularly for children - and special events like the Fools Regatta in one of the best sailing locations along Grace Bay Beach.

The event could not have been such a success without the help of a small “army” of volunteers particularly Jaime Hedges and Kelly Hedges who co-manage the Provo Children’s Home and David Douglas of Atabeyra and the Provo Sailing Club who helped pull it all together. As well, special thanks to James Merlevede who came up with this year’s T-shirt and Hat designs – everyone loved them!

I would like to thank our Sponsors for helping us:

The Wine Cellar
Mount Gay Rum
Connelly Zahm Properties
“Blue” from DECR
Lee & Astwood Architects
Abuv-It-All Limited – Mike Rosati
Simon Wood Architects
Provo Golf Course
Mr. Lloyd Evans as our Chase Boat
Provo Primary Steel Drum Band
Dock Direct
Dredknox Sounds / Baller Magazine
Johnston International
Blue Loos
SkyJuice
Beaches Resort

Winners:

Maritime Heritage Federation Sloop Race:

This race was pulled together by J.J. and Goldray Ewing of the MHF and represented the spirit of the Maritime Heritage Federation as the Skippers raced each other for pure braggin’ rights. Everyone on the beach agreed that the colourful Sloops and the traditional cut of the sloop rigged boats were a very pretty sight.

A Class First Place: Mr. Baba Harvey and crew aboard Evergreen

A Class Second Place: Mr. Quentin Dean and crew aboard Eagle III

B Class First Place: Mr. Rob DeMatteo and crew aboard Mary Jane

B Class Second Place: Mr. Lee Penn and crew aboard Cable & Wireless

B Class Third Place: Mr. Marshall Ewing and crew aboard the DECR Sloop

B Class Fourth Place and Special mention: Mr. Leial Missick and crew aboard Valley Stream.

Special Mention:

With a combined age of approximately 40 years, Leial Missick (Skipper) Tao Harris, Ira Capron and David Walker raced the Sloop “Valley Stream” against 5 other Maritime Heritage Federation Sloops and, according to Goldray Ewing, were beating a couple of the adult crewed Sloops through most of the Race. These young men were recognized for their courage and sailing ability and the skills they are building to potentially be part of Turks and Caicos’ future Olympian sailors. With their passion for sailing, properly structured coaching and some corporate sponsorship, there is nothing standing in their way to realizing this goal.

The Big Boat Race (large Sailboats – this year, all multihulls)

First Place: Mr. Mike Robertson sailing the trimaran Minx

Second Place: Mr. Jamie Carlson sailing Ivor Stanbrook’s 33’ Catamaran

Third Place: Mr. Jason Soderquist sailing the catamaran “Captain Mayhem”

Fourth Place: Mr. Phil Shearer sailing the pretty catamaran “Beluga”

Hobie Wave Cat Sailing

The Resort Challenge:

This traditional event is made up of employees of Resorts, or sailors representing their favourite Resort, racing each other for the prized perpetual Cup. This year we added a twist by making it mandatory to include a child/young adult on board.

First Place: Eric Douglas and David Douglas representing Point Grace

Second Place: Percy Parangue from Amanyara Resort and “his kid” (sorry - name didn’t get recorded)

Third Place: Mike Rosati and “his kid” (sorry - name didn’t get recorded) representing Ocean Club Resorts

Mixed Doubles (one Kid, one Adult)

The Mixed Doubles event is really what the Fools Regatta loves to promote – getting kids out on the water. Whether the teams are made up of family members or an excited kid who needs an adult skipper, everyone wins when you see the smiles on the kids’ faces as they race their buddies.

First Place: Millie Twigg and Adam Twigg

Second Place: Patrick Musgrove and Patrick Staples

Third Place: Eric Douglas and David Douglas

Governor’s Cup (“Elite” Sailors)

This event is the ultimate event for bragging rights among Provo Sailing Club members and alumni. Featuring some of the islands best Sailors (at least on Hobie Waves!) this is for a Silver Cup sponsored by Lee & Astwood Architects and for a case of Mount Gay Rum.

First Place: Mr. Rory Stevens

Second Place: Mr. Percy Parangue

Third Place: Mr. Michael Rosati

Bent Prop Award:

(This is a perpetual trophy handed to the Sailor who has the “hardest luck story” of the Fools Regatta. The trophy is a very beat up, heavy bronze propeller that the lucky recipient is allowed to keep for the next 364 days or so!)

This year the Bent Prop goes to Mr. Phil Shearer of Big Blue Unlimited for enduring an epic 6 hours beating into the wind to Pine Cay and back to The Bight again! Phil, thanks for committing to finishing a grueling marathon aboard Beluga – next year will be more fun, we promise!

Tug-O-War Tournament

First Place: Provo Primary!!

Second Place: Johnston International – “Aussies”

Third Place: Johnston International – “Poms”

The Tug o War event was one of the highlights of the day as spectators soon came to the aid of their favourite 5 person teams by jumping in and grabbing onto the rope in earnest! Soon teams grew from 5 a side to 45 a side as the tug-o-war battles raged on.

Thanks also go out to Camille Slattery who organized Kayak Races for the kids with boats donated for the day by Big Blue Unlimited.