The 14eedition of the Budget Marine Challenge will be held Sunday June 9thoff the coast of Curaçao. The Budge Marine Challenge is targeted at local boat owners that enjoy a good social event at the destination. The different race starts are what makes this event so unique in the Caribbean.
The Budget Marine Challenge starts in the morning at 10.30am with a downwind start at the inshore Spanish water. The first part of the race takes the sailors to Fuik Bay. This first part of the race towards the sea goes past Barbara Beach and can be closely followed from Caracasbaai Peninsula across from Barbara Beach Resort. After a course at sea the yachts take a deserved break at Fuik Bay for lunch. The second part of the race starts with an unusual, spectacular starting method. This is an anchor start, where competitors are required to anchor with sails down and keep their crew below decks until the start gun goes off. At that time, the crew is able to hoist sails and raise their anchor and set sail towards the sea at the end of Fuik Bay. This requires a certain skill set and teamwork from the participating sailors and made for a nice spectacle for the spectators. The anchor start in the second leg of the race usually plays a big role in deciding the winner and there have been many different tactics throughout the year with varying results. The finish is at around 3pm in the Spanish Water in fornt of the clubhouse of WSV Jan Sofat at Brakkeput Ariba.
