Grenada Sailing Festival—Authenticity in Action Susan Mains For 20 years on Grand Anse Beach in Grenada, just about this time of year, the Grenada Sailing Festival has staged the greatest show on earth! Ok, maybe the greatest show in the Southern Caribbean. But there is no doubt that this event highlights a whole lot of good happening on this island. This 20th year was no exception. The organising committee, working under the duress of difficult economic times, pulled off two days of joy on the beach. United Insurance was the major sponsor, and if good will could be measured in dollars, they would have left with a whole treasure chest full.
Saturday was a day of rain, rain, rain, rain, 5 minutes of sunshine, and more rain. Never mind, the sailors kept sailing. The bright red official T shirts formed a brilliant foil against the muted blues and greens and greys, and the wind whipped the sails along.
Sunday brought a crackling hot sun, and absolutely clear blue skies. Locals and visitors lined the beach to cheer on the boats, and thirsts were quenched by Carib.
The older men instructed the young ones on how to fix the spar, the bamboo spree and boom, the rudder, and gave the orders. The young men gathered around in rapt attention. When it was time to pull a boat in to shore, all hands jumped to help, regardless if it was “their� boat or not. The competition was a display of friendly camaraderie, to say the least.
But if you looked along the shore, there were other good things happening, too. Like the leader of a Girl Guides group working in a tent with her young ladies frying bakes and fishcakes. A trip to Trinidad has been planned, and she wants each and every one of them to go, regardless if their parents can afford it. She is teaching the girls that funds come through work, and their efforts for the two days on beach will contribute to these girls taking a trip and having their horizons broadened.
Then there was this lone young white man sailing with the guys from Woburn. Late in the day I asked Carlos where the sailor was, and he told me that I would find him walking around with his girlfriend and a dog. Easy to find—I had already taken a photo of the dog, Saint. Mattia had been a visitor from Italy some time last year. When he returned to Grenada he found his way to Woburn where they were fixing the boats for this day. He
offered to help, and eventually the guys agreed that he could sail with them. When I asked him how it was, he said, “At first they were a little nervous, because they didn’t know if I could sail. After the first time, everything was cool.” Oh, and Saint the dog, and his person—from Minnesota in the USA. . International relations in action on the beach.
A Moko Jumbie showed up, much to the delight of children and old people and everyone.
First time I ever saw a moko jumbie at Sailing Festival, but it just seems to be attracting all the best.
Then there were the creatives—many , many cameras, from the most simple point and shoot to pros with the long, long lenses that cause twinges of envy. Visitors, of course, catching a souvenir shot, but more importantly, young creative Grenadians, showing the Grenada in the most favourable possible light. I commented to one of them that I had been admiring the work
I had seen from him on Instagram, and his reply was “I just want to promote the best of Grenada”.
But the star of the show, in her quiet, efficient way, wasn’t at the centre of the action where the cameras could easily catch her. Sarah Baker, Ms. Working Boat, kept the show on track from the organiser’s tent. Whether passing out the red T-Shirts to young sailors, keeping the scorers on task, negotiating with the captains, talking to the local press with Trevor Renwick of United Insurance, this power house in a small package demonstrates a dedication to the authentic that is beyond compare.
Support staff Steve Brett manned the cameras to ensure that all the documentation will be available for the next Sailing Festival. Ah, the next Sailing Festival. Sigh. We have to wait for an entire year. But that will give you time to make your plans. Grenada Sailing Festival, on the beach 2014. Wouldn’t miss it for all the tea in China.
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