Barbados wins bid

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Barbados has won the bid to host the 2017 OK Dinghy World Championship, one of the world’s leading sailing events.

The event is expected to attract 100 of the world’s best sailors, along with their families and companions, to Carlisle Bay.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. CEO, William Griffith, attributed the success in securing the bid to the support of its partners, Geest Shipping, Mount Gay Distilleries, and the Barbados Port Inc.

“We will continue to build on our strong reputation as a preferred host country on the international yachting circuit having already hosted the Fireball Barbados World’s in 2010, which was followed by our most successful event to date, the 505 International Barbados World’s in 2013,” Griffith said.

2017 will be Barbados’ first year hosting two international yachting competitions, as it will also serve as the site of the Finn Masters World’s, which is projected to bring over 800 total guests to the island over the three-week period of competition.

“Barbados is focused on becoming a yachting friendly location” the OK Worlds said in a release. “With its always warm Caribbean waters, beautiful sandy beaches and, most importantly, our east to east-north-east trade winds of around 12 to 18 knots, Barbados knows it can host regattas and world sailing events to the highest level.”