The regatta has been going since 1967, making it one of the longest-running sailing events in the Caribbean. Boats of every size and type take part — from the huge, gleaming racing yachts owned by international sailors to the small, handmade wooden boats built by local Bequia craftsmen and raced by their proud owners. Some races are just for local-built boats, which keeps the traditional boat-building craft alive and celebrated.
On the water, the races are exciting and sometimes fiercely competitive, with brightly coloured sails zigzagging across the bay as the boats tack into the wind and run before it. On shore, Admiralty Bay becomes a floating village of anchored yachts from dozens of countries, their crews swimming, socialising and exploring the island between races.
The regatta is not just about sailing — it is a full festival. Evenings at the local bars and restaurants are filled with live music, dancing and barbecues on the beach. The famous Bequia Music Festival runs alongside the regatta, bringing musicians from across the Caribbean and beyond. The whole island buzzes with energy and the wonderful chaos of thousands of visitors arriving in the same week.
For the people of Bequia, the regatta is a source of enormous community pride. Local vendors set up stalls selling fish cakes, rotis, fresh coconuts and local crafts. Families cheer on their relatives racing in local-class boats. Children dive off jetties and swim in the bay. For four days every Easter, Bequia feels like the very centre of the Caribbean world.