Festival fun starts this week as the Grenada Sailing Festival Camper & Nicholsons Racing Series opens on Friday (27 January) at Port Louis Marina.

In 1994 when organisers named the island’s first international yachting event the ‘Grenada Sailing Festival’ it was for a very good reason: to highlight its unique blend of great sailing and great Grenadian hospitality. The 19th Festival (27 – 31 January 2012) promises to keep up this tradition with some of the most challenging racing in the southern Caribbean plus some of the best parties.

For the newly styled Grenada Sailing Festival Camper & Nicholsons Racing Series 2012, organisers are planning four days of yacht racing over different set courses, all based at the company’s world-class Port Louis Marina. However, it is not just about tactics, wind conditions and bragging rights – once racing is over, all yachtsmen & women – this year coming from the UK, USA, Canada, France, Austria and Italy, as well as Caribbean neighbours, Trinidad and Antigua – can enjoy Festival Fun action on land in the laid-back atmosphere that has made the event so popular.

Working closely with hosts Camper & Nicholsons and The Victory Bar & Restaurant, Festival organisers have put together a programme of Finish Line Limes, afternoon BBQs and Prize Presentation Parties to provide great memories for everyone to take home. The event kicks off on Friday with a Welcome to Grenada Party with steel pan, drummers and dancers giving a great first flavour of traditional island entertainment. Then, top of the list of ‘Must be There’ Parties is the famous Mount Gay Rum Red Cap Party held on Saturday night (28 January) – will be wearing their limited edition ‘Red Caps’ and making a red hot atmosphere. Monday night will be another great experience, when the party moves to old festival favourite Dodgy Dock at True Blue Bay Resort for a Reggae Night not to be missed. The Festival finishes back at the Victory Bar on Tuesday with a grand Prize Presentation and Farewell with DJ and lives band to send all home with great memories until next year.