Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

2017 Mount Gay Round Barbados Series dates confirmed

by Sue Pelling on 27 Jan 2016
MS Barbados Concise Peter Marshall / MGRBR
Following the success of the 80th anniversary Mount Gay Round Barbados Series, which concluded last weekend, plans are already in place for the 2017 event with the dates confirmed for 16-23 January.

This popular regatta, organised Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mount Gay, is the opening event of the Caribbean racing season and offers a mix of serious and fun racing including three days of coastal racing, the Round Barbados Race, and the final 265nm feeder race to Antigua to tie up with the Superyacht Challenge.

The highlight of the 2016 event was undoubtedly the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race on 21 January, where super-serious record breakers had a chance to ‘strut their stuff’ round the stunning island of Barbados and win their skipper’s weight in rum.

The much talked about MOD70s – MS Barbados Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, and Phaedo3 co skippered by Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson – upheld their promise to thrill when they completed the 60nm course just 12 seconds apart, with Tony Lawson’s MS Barbados Concise 10 team breaking the Absolute Multihull record with a time of two hours, 37 minutes, 38 seconds. In doing so they trimmed just under two hours off the previous Multihull record, and won a staggering 54 bottles (nine cases) of Extra Old Mount Gay Rum.

Not surprisingly, the new record has sparked plenty of interest with the challenge now on to beat the time recorded by MS Barbados Concise 10. Lloyd Thornburg and Brian Thompson co-skipper of Phaedo3, naturally feel they have some unfinished business, so expect to see another impressive line up next year.

Speaking at the post race celebrations a jubilant Tony Lawson said: “This is the one we really wanted to win, and we did it. Barbados is my second home. I wanted this badly, not just for my young team, but for all the Bajans who have supported us over these last few months. We practised hard, controlled the start, and hung on in after North Point all the way to the finish. The thousands of locals and tourist lining the headlands and beaches saw an epic battle between Ms Barbados/Concise 10 and Phaedo. It was nail-biting stuff – right down to the wire. I know they will be back for more. Next time we will have more boats. The Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race is set to be a classic.”

Commenting on the regatta, Lloyd Thornburg said: “We were really excited to find this event because it is the perfect warm up race for the Caribbean season. It is such a beautiful island and sailing around it is always a challenge because the wind is shifty and produces some powerful gusts. Having Team Concise, another identical boat, to race against kept everyone up to speed and was a real challenge because any mistakes became a lot more apparent.

“Plus, of course there was copious amounts of the best rum flowing all week. It really is a fantastic regatta.”



Because the event is open to all-comers there are plenty of other opportunities to challenge for a record. There are currently 14 records in total up for grabs, which keeps the competition in this race exciting throughout the fleet. Windsurfers and J/24s to were among those who broke records this year but the biggest haul of rum – 60 bottles – went to Williams Industries Inc. team on TP52, Conviction who broke the 60ft and Under Monohull record with a time of five hours, 34 minutes, 16 seconds.

In the Coastal Series, which run for the first three days (17-19 January) competitors enjoyed challenging conditions. Winds were generally moderate to strong and particularly shifty, which made the racing exciting right to end. The J/24 fleet completed 11 of their 12 scheduled races and the worthy winners from neighbouring island Grenada – Robbie Yearwood and team on Island Water World Die Hard – were delighted to have made a comeback in the last two races.

Yearwood commented: “It is very easy to feel disheartened after a couple of poor races. Thankfully our team has the ability to put past behind and focus on moving on. I think that was the key to our success.”

The charter sector at this regatta always remains popular with clients seeing it as a great opportunity to compete and enjoy the fun of the regatta without the pressure and responsibility of sailing their own boat there.

The Antigua-based OnDeck yacht Spirit of Juno (Farr 65) was fully crewed with 11 guests, many repeat customers from previous years. Commenting on the success of the regatta, Tony McBride – skipper – said: “For us, it is the perfect regatta and the guests always have a fantastic time. I believe it is down to the good organisation, and the fact that the Cruising Club is so welcoming. We have a real mix of crew some from America, Belgium, UK and one or two locals as well. Two of the guests were with us last year and have already confirmed they are coming back next year. We are looking forward to it already.”

As headline sponsor, Mount Gay is the theme behind most parties and social events including the legendary Red Cap party, a tour/tasting session at the Mount Gay Distillery, and a specially laid-on exhibition polo match at Holders Polo Field, at Holetown, St James on lay day.

Allen Dynamic 40 FooterMySail 2025Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOM

Related Articles

For the love of slightly larger, even faster boats
Bring it on. No chicken chutes allowed. Celestial, the newest Cape 31 in Oz is up and racing Thank you. You have let For the love of small, fast boats run before the breeze like a superlight planning hull under way too big a kite, with immense sheep in the paddock, and the Sailing Master grasping the flare gun in his pocket... No chicken chutes.
Posted on 4 May
21st Sandberg PalmaVela overall
A breezy finale in the Bay of Palma A thrilling and intense final day at Sandberg PalmaVela was enjoyed with choppy seas and wind conditions ranging from gentle airs to gusts of up to 23 knots. Several broken masts are evidence how tough the day was for some.
Posted on 4 May
2025 ILCA 6 Women's & ILCA 7 Men's Worlds Preview
The eyes of the sailing world will turn to Qingdao, China The eyes of the sailing world will turn to Qingdao, China, from 10-17 May 2025, as the city prepares to host the 2025 ILCA 6 Women's and ILCA 7 Men's World Championships.
Posted on 4 May
52 SUPER SERIES Saint-Tropez Cup overall
World Champions Gladiator score 52 SUPER SERIES season opening win. Britain's Tony Langley and his world champion crew secured overall victory at the first regatta of the five event 2025 52 SUPER SERIES season, the 52 SUPER SERIES Saint Tropez Sailing Week.
Posted on 4 May
Transat Paprec Day 15
As the final sprint begins, reflecting on the unique journeys and experiences Among the 19 duos who set off from Concarneau, 8 are international teams, including 5 from the UK.
Posted on 4 May
2026 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta - Save the date
The premier classic sailing event of the Caribbean The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta is the premier classic sailing event of the Caribbean attracting a large number of Classics every year from all around the world.
Posted on 4 May
Diego Botin on 'getting back in the game'
After a slow start to SailGP Season 5 Young guns Spain may have swept to victory last season, stealing the Season 4 Championship title from under the noses of league heavyweights Australia and New Zealand, but they began the 2025 Season with a string of mixed results.
Posted on 4 May
60th Anniversary Congressional Cup Day 4
High-stakes racing on the penultimate day Light airs and overcast conditions brought high-stakes racing to the penultimate day of the 60th Congressional Cup in Long Beach as the final four teams advanced to the semi-finals.
Posted on 4 May
Ed Baird: From Laser Worlds to America's Cup
Shirley Robertson's new podcast season kicks off with US sailing legend Ed Baird A World Sailor of the Year award winner, Baird also holds a coveted spot in the America's Cup Hall of Fame, he's a multiple World Champion and is a regular across multiple Grand Prix Sailing leagues, from the 52 Super Series to the Maxi circuit.
Posted on 4 May
5.5m Alpen Cup at Fraglia Vela Riva overall
The Jean Genie wins the title for a record fourth time The Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott) only needed one more race to secure a record fourth Alpen Cup for Peter Morton, and took a third place in race 7 to win with a race to spare.
Posted on 4 May