ORIENT BAY--The second edition of the Caribbean Foiling Championships will take place from December 10-12, 2021. Weather permitting, the most anticipated race among competitors namely the “Around the Island Race” will take place on Sunday morning, December 12.
As the name suggests, the race will take wind and kite foilers around St. Martin/St. Maarten, a distance of 26 nautical miles with a current record to beat of 1:29:32 set by Guadeloupean Kitefoiler Sebastien Queney.
As foiling is an extreme sport, and the Around the Island Race covers a great distance the number one priority is to keep everybody safe on the water. With this in mind it is of vital importance to set strict rules for those taking part in the circumnavigation.
To make sure that all competitors are on an adequate level to participate in the Around the Island Race, a qualifying race will be held. In this race the competitors will sail from Orient Bay around Tintamarre and back. In order to qualify successfully, competitors have to cross the finish line within 15 minutes of the first finisher.
For those not taking part in the Around the Island Race, Race Officials have created a substitute course race. By creating a substitute race, the overall competition will be fun and challenging for all professional and amateur foilers.
For the lucky ones starting the Around the Island Race an extensive morning briefing prior to the Race will be given at Club Wind Adventures (Orient Bay). During the briefing competitors will receive a “walk through” of what they can expect while sailing around the island.
They will be made aware of potential dangers such as rocks, reefs and shallows. As an extra safety precaution there will also be two gates along the course where competitors will have to pass through.
“This keeps the competitors strategically close to shore and allows us to do a head count to make sure nobody is left behind,” says Maxim van den Pol, one of the event organisers.
Besides all the course related safety precautions it is mandatory for competitors to wear a helmet and Personal Flotation Device. The competitors are also bound to stay within two miles of the shore and there will be safety boats at strategic places. In addition, competitors are required to carry a tracking device. This will be in the form of an application that competitors will be able to download on their smartphone.
More information about the scoring and qualifiers of the Around the Island Race can be found in the Notice of Race (NoR) and the Sailing Instructions (SI).
Co-founder of the Caribbean Foiling Championships, Sacha van der Wouden added: “The Around the Island Race is also an amazing moment for spectators. With wonderful places all around to watch (such as Grand Case Beach Club) spectators can enjoy the event from up-close. Don't blink because before you know it, they have passed by.”
