Valentines Day Cup: Model Sailboat Races in Turks & Caicos Islands

Feb. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Middle Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands is the place to be this Saturday February 16th, for the annual Valentines Day Cup Model Sailboat Races.  Begun as a millenium project in 2000 to revive the traditional hand carved sailboats, this event is now a major feature on the TCI calendar each year with over 40 boats participating in four race classes. Indeed fame has spread as far as the Huffington Post travel section with this event one of 14 global locations chosen for celebrating Valentine’s Day!!

The evolution of the event continues as this year an official committee has taken over the organization from the founders, Daniel Forbes and Sara Kaufman. Forbes stated : “This is fantastic, both as a recognition of our work and the importance of the event, and to actually share the work of preparing it.” The members joining Sara and Daniel are dynamic : Oneika Simons of the Tourist board, John Lawson of TCI Ferry, Mark Parrish of Big Blue, David Bowen of the Culture and Arts Commission. One important new element is taking the event forward as a showcase and co-operative fund raiser for charity activities in North and Middle Caicos including the TCSPCA, the NC/MC Red Cross, the Church of God of Prophecy MC, and the Baptist churches of MC which will all be serving delicious food and drink, and the NC/MC Rotary Corp operating the bar with the Middle Caicos Sailing Association. The Middle Caicos Co-op is also on hand with locally made straw hats for all sizes. Approved vendors make donations as well!

This event is definitely for the family with games, music and fun on the beach for all ages, while the highly competitive model sailboat races run throughout the day. Awards include cash prizes, trophies and signature hats for all boat captains! It is a day to celebrate our traditional TCI culture and  enjoy glorious Bambarra beach. A combined ferry and bus ticket from Caribbean Cruisin’ is available to make getting to and from the event easy – for more information call  231-4191. Please email middlecaicos.tci@gmail.com with questions, to sign up a boat captain or to make donations. And plan to be there this weekend!!