A welcome ceremony hosted by the Saint Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) to mark the start of the Karibik Trophy Regatta sailed off on Monday evening at the Pigeon Island National Landmark.

The Regatta consists of twenty boats with 120 participants including members of famous sailing clubs, individual sailors and the media. Participants were treated to an evening of Saint Lucian fun and entertainment, which included mouth-watering local cuisine, steel pan music and electrifying performances by the Silver Shadow Dancers.

With the Karibik Trophy is into its 27th year, this is the first time that the German sailing event is being hosted in Saint Lucia. It is a welcome addition in the fast growing yachting sector, which already includes the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, ARC Plus and the World ARC Regattas.

Tourism officials, stakeholders and partners, as well as participants in the regatta who were present at Monday night’s ceremony, all expressed optimism about what they agree is the start of a mutually fulfilling relationship.

Speaking at Monday evening’s event, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Tourism, Information and Broadcasting,  Hon. Dominic Fedee, welcomed the contingent and thanked the managing director of the German Regatta for including Saint Lucia in their itinerary.

“We’ve just had a very successful flotilla on Sunday coinciding with the commencement of the ARC race from Las Palmas De Gran Canaria. With the significant increases in yacht arrivals this year, the yachting sector is flourishing,” he said, adding that the Karibik Regatta “complements the ARC well.”

Meanwhile, Tourism Program Officer at the OECS Secretariat's Economic Affairs Division, Dr. Lorraine Nicholas, explained that commission played a major role in the decision to bring the sailing event to Saint Lucia.