Thank you Petite Calivigny Yacht Club and credits go to Mark Wibberly of Spice Island Photography
Budget Marine Round Grenada Regatta 2026: A Challenging Weekend on the Water
The Budget Marine Round Grenada Regatta 2026 has come to an end after a challenging and memorable weekend of sailing, bringing together an international fleet for two days of racing, camaraderie and plenty of Caribbean sailing spirit.
Proudly sponsored by Budget Marine and organized by the Petite Calivigny Yacht Club (PCYC), this year’s regatta attracted 14 boats, including 12 monohulls and 2 catamarans, with crews travelling from the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, South Africa and beyond.
While the fleet was ready for some serious racing, the weather had other plans.
Challenging Conditions on Both Race Days
Both sailing days were marked by light and highly variable conditions, with periods of very little wind followed by stronger gusts and passing squalls.
The conditions proved particularly challenging during the first leg of the Round Grenada course. Crews faced a combination of no wind, too much wind and sudden squalls, making progress difficult and unpredictable.
The weather ultimately prevented any boat from crossing the official 4:00 PM finish line on either race day.
However, the fleet didn’t let the conditions take away from the spirit of the event.
Despite the challenging weather, everyone came together, enjoyed the experience and made the most of the weekend.
Minotaur Takes Line Honours
One of the highlights of the first leg was Minotaur, skippered by Richard Szyjan.
Dubbed the “America’s Cup boat” by fellow competitors because of her impressive performance and appearance, Minotaur battled her way through the difficult conditions and crossed the line at 16:14, taking line honours.
Congratulations to Richard Szyjan and the entire Minotaur crew!
A Regatta About More Than Results
With the weather making conventional racing results impossible, this year’s awards took a more creative approach.
Rather than traditional finishing-place prizes, boats were presented with creative awards, celebrating the characters, experiences and memorable moments that made the 2026 edition special.
And in a fitting conclusion to such an unpredictable regatta, the Overall Trophy remains without a boat name for another year.
Sometimes, sailing doesn’t go according to plan — and that’s part of the adventure.
An International Sailing Community
What stood out throughout the weekend was the fantastic atmosphere among the crews.
With sailors representing countries including the USA, Canada, UK, Germany and South Africa, the Budget Marine Round Grenada Regatta once again demonstrated the international appeal of Caribbean sailing.
The weather may not have delivered perfect racing conditions, but it certainly delivered stories, challenges and plenty of opportunities for sailors to share experiences and enjoy the unique atmosphere of Grenada and Carriacou.
Budget Marine: Proud to Support Caribbean Sailing
Budget Marine is proud to support the Round Grenada Regatta and the wider sailing community in Grenada and throughout the Caribbean.
Supporting events like this is an important part of our commitment to the region’s sailors, boat owners, clubs and marine community.
We would like to congratulate Petite Calivigny Yacht Club, all participating crews, volunteers, race officials, sponsors and everyone involved in making this year’s event possible.
And, of course, congratulations to Minotaur and Richard Szyjan for taking line honours!
The wind may not always cooperate, but the passion for sailing never disappears.
See you on the water for the Budget Marine Round Grenada Regatta 2027!
#BudgetMarine #RoundGrenadaRegatta #GrenadaSailing #PCYC #CaribbeanSailing #SailingGrenada
