Inaugural Gustavia Yacht Club - Christophe Harbour Cup Race Announced

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Commodore of the Gustavia Yacht Club of St Barths and Charles P. “Buddy” Darby, Founder & CEO of Christophe Harbour, the premier superyacht marina and residential resort community on the southeast peninsula of St Kitts, are delighted announce the first event of the 2018 season.

Taking place 25-27 February 2018, the Gustavia Yacht Club - Christophe Harbour Cup Race is a three-day pursuit race that will cover the 90 nautical miles on a return circuit between St Kitts and St Barths.

Open to sailing yachts 50-ft and over, interested yacht owners are invited to register by 30th of January 2018. The costs of this informal and friendly event are entirely covered by the two host partners. No entry fees are required.

CrewFest 2018 at Christophe Harbour

Especially for this event, Gustavia Yacht Club has commissioned a sterling silver cup from British master craftsmen which the winner will hold for one year until it is passed on to the champions of the 2019 Cup. For posterity, race winners will be awarded a keepsake engraved winners’ cup.

The Gustavia Yacht Club – Christophe Harbour Cup has been devised to strengthen community ties between St Barths and St Kitts. The pure Corinthian spirit of the three-day gathering will bring entertainment and fun to this part of the Caribbean that is proudly and actively recovering from the impact of 2017 hurricanes.

Buddy Darby, CEO Christophe Harbour and himself a highly regarded yachtsman, says:

“We have long been discussing with Gustavia Yacht Club the clear opportunity for hosting a joint race. St Barths and Christophe Harbour are aligned in so many ways. This is an exciting first regatta with more to follow on Christophe Harbour’s 2018 calendar, and what a great way to start the year and draw focus to the thriving Eastern Caribbean.”

Perini Navi Perseus 3 in Christophe Harbour 

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou added: “With the Gustavia Yacht Club – Christophe Harbour Cup Race, I am looking to create a new type of event in the Eastern Caribbean to strengthen ties between the islands at a difficulttime as they recover from last season’s storms.”

This is the fifth consecutive year of 20% year on year growth for the dual nation’s yachting industry. St Kitts’ Christophe Harbour is leading that trend with a robust start to the season.

Since December the 24-berth superyacht marina, also the fastest fuelling destination in the Eastern Caribbean, has welcomed a significant number of some of the superyacht industry’s major players including Lürssen’s 90-m M/Y Phoenix 2 and the 92-m Blohm & Voss M/Y Mayan Queen.

To register for the Gustavia Yacht Club – Christophe Harbour Cup Race by 30 January contact:

Celia Meralikan: info@GustaviaYachtClub.org Tel + 590 690 85 58 37

Becky Rutland: becky_rutland@christopheharbour.com Tel +1 869 465 9755

Christophe Harbour Marina Office VHF 71