SIMPSON BAY--The annual Necol Keelboat Regatta has been expanded.
The one design series sailed each year in the lagoon on Sunfast 20s will now include a head to head yacht club challenge. Sailors from the St. Maarten Yacht Club will face off against sailors from Norfolk Broads Yacht Club from Wroxham, Norfolk, England.
A total of 13 teams are expected to compete in the two-day event that starts Saturday at 9:00am. There will also be a team from Antigua led by Tanner Jones who campaigns J30s in many Caribbean regattas.
The teams will rotate between the eight boats to ensure a level playing field. The local teams are headed by Bernard Sillem, Luc Knol, Andrea Scarabelli, Paul Miller and John Gifford.
The British teams may not have sailed the Sunfast before, but they are well experienced in sailing similar day boats on small courses. The visiting team will include well known Dragon Sailor Ken Clabburn.
After a full day racing on Saturday, Sunday will feature a half day sailing and the prize giving. Current forecasts are good Caribbean trade wind strength.
