Things to do in Grenada for the beginning of the year. - Laluna Boutique Hotel & Villas

Things to do in Grenada for the beginning of the year.

Posted on January 14, 2020

For things to do in Grenada, January marks a busy time to be on the water.

grand anse beach

Spice Island Billfish Tournament

For the 51st year running the Spice Island Billfish Tournament will be held 26th – 30th January.

Sportfishing boats from around the southern Caribbean Islands venture to the Isle of Spice in hope of bringing the heaviest Billfish to Scale. Trinidad bringing the largest contingent of participants for up to 50 boats that are registered for this year’s tournament. Trophies include Female angler, Junior Angler, heaviest tuna, heaviest billfish and even a Grand Slam prize for the boat that catches a Blue Marlin, White Marlin and Sail Fish all in one day. In order to preserve these beautiful beasts of the oceans, the tournament penalizes if too small a catch is brought to the scales, instead anglers are encouraged and awarded points to tag and release. Each species is tagged and recorded with identification tags and photographs of proof of the tagging and fish caught. 600 points are awarded for the Blue Marlin; White Marlin – 300 points; Sailfish – 300 points; Spearfish – 300 points. For registration and more information: http://www.sibtgd.com/

Grenada Sail Week

Overlapping the Billfish tournament is the Grenda Sail Week, on the 26th – 31st January.  The Sailing Week attracts boats from neighboring islands and visitors who either arrive on their own boat or charter a boat from one of the many yacht charter companies on Grenada, adding to the things to do in Grenada for the beginning of the year.

The Grenada Sailing Week is made up of some heavy competitive sailing with the racing class flying spinnakers. The cruising class is for those who want to compete but not on such a serious level. The Charter boat class, which tries to even out the playing field of standardized boats and the multihull class for the faster boats the speed across the course, especially on a downward leg. Challenging Olympic courses are set in tranquil waters off the southwest coast of the island, which makes for great viewing from the Grand Anse Beach,  to more open waters of the south coast as the race takes the sailing scene up the south coast. As in all good fun sailing fashion, each race day finishes with a prize-giving ceremony for that day’s winners, and of course lots of drinking and partying in the evening.

Lay Day falls in the middle of the race week, to give the crews a chance to recharge and time to experience the beauty and laid back scene of the island. For those visiting Grenada for the first time, they can take advantage of this day off to check out the numerous cocoa plantations that make their own chocolate, the Nutmeg Processing Station, Rivers Antoine Rum making factory (that still uses a traditional waterwheel to crush the cane). Or for more things to do in Grenada, take a hike to the rainforest and jump into a waterfall, a definite alternate from the sea salt and the beach.

grenda waterfall

No sailing week is complete unless you walk away with your souvenir Mount Gay Rum Red Cap that is given out at the Mount Gay Red Cap Party, that will be held at The Aquarium Restaurant for this year’s Grand Finale party. For More information of the Grenada Sail Week 2020: https://grenadasailingweek.com/

Workboat Regatta

To wrap up the Grenada Sailing Week is the local Workboat Regatta on the 1st and 2nd of February. These authentic wooden boats are usually used for fishing in the local waters, attracting sailors from various communities throughout Grenada, plus the Sister Islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique

The boats have been upgraded to be faster and competitive in a race for island pride, all set on on the picturesque Grand Anse Beach. A great way to party with the locals and watch the colourful scene of the boats racing off the beach, all filled with music, food, and drinks on the beach. With lots of laughs and cheering, each race (which are multiple in the two days of racing) can only be completed with the skipper does the course, beaches the boat, jumps and runs to the finish line shooting a shot of Jack Iron Rum. As the rum in its name alone, one can figure out, is very strong, so after a few years of the skipper shouldering the responsibility of doing the final shot in order to win the race, he can now delegate a crew member to shoot on his behalf, to claim the winning placement at the end of the race.

Laluna is proud to sponsor its own workboat. With the local crew hailing from Woburn, team Laluna has proved to be a formidable competitor by being the overall winners in the Workboat Regatta in 2019. We wish them all the very best with good winds and Stamina for this year’s racing. Feel free to cheer them on, you cannot miss the boat with the Laluna logo on the sails.

grenada workboat regatta

Still want to take part in the Sailing Week? There are some boats that still need crew, check out the Grenada Sailing Week website page to see how you can sign up to be a part of this fun-filled water experience.

Responsibility

Grenada Sailing Week has partnered with Sailors for the Sea and their Clean Regatta Program. This is in an effort to help clean up after ourselves in a responsible way to and deal with our oceans plastic pollution. The aim is to use less paper and plastic products and recycle where possible.
They ask that all who are involved in the regatta, from sailor to sponsor to help out. They have established protocols such as water bottle reduction, water refilling station, responsible/reusable dinnerware at the host marina’s, Port Louis, who have set recycling bins and offer free pump out to all vessels.

Please read this interesting article by Don Street about how yachties can help with waste management for the small islands in the Caribbean. We all need to be more responsible in how we dispose of our garbage.

Cottages and Villas

For accommodation check our stay page. The perfect break from the racing is to chill out at laluna, with each cottage with private verandas and plunge pools. Traveling with a larger group? Our villas can be rented as a 3, 4 or 5 bedroom. The five-bedroom villa can sleep up to 10 persons max, in pure Caribbean luxury living. All of our Grenada villas come with the amenities of the hotel, including the Italian restaurant, sunset bar and lounge, Asian Spa and use of our watersports. Laluna is located only 15 minutes to both marinas where all the action is happening.

luxury caribbean villas outdoor living

All in making your Grenada Sailing experience and all the things to do in Grenada, a memorable one, that will bring you back for many years to come.