About Barbados Sailing Week
Errol Barrow and 86 Years of History
Weight in Gold
The race around Barbados dates to the 19th century and is based upon “bragging rights” for the fastest “Trading Schooner”. This was a prize worth its weight in gold to captains. Whilst most boats sailed for the honor of the fastest time, the consolation prize of a barrel of Mount Gay Rum for the slowest certainly spurred on some captains and had to be discontinued after two boats remained at sea for days stalling to take the prize.
Errol Walton Barrow
The first documented organised race around Barbados was held on January 1st, 1936, when five trading schooners competed for 'bragging rights' and a small prize. In recent years, the Mount Gay Round Barbados race was held on January 21st each year to honor the first prime minister of Barbados, The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, known to many as " Dipper" or “Skipper” and the "father of the nation”. Not only did he lead Barbados to independence from Britain, but he also had an enthusiasm for sailing and co-founded the Barbados Cruising Club. An inclusive sailing and social club open to all Barbadians at that time.
In Recent Years
Before the difficult COVID years, 40 to 60 top-class sailboats from all around the world would attend Barbados sailing week and compete in offshore races and the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race. In recent years, we have added dinghy class races, kiteboarding, wing foiling and remote-control boat events to be part of the Barbados Sailing Week to make it a more inclusive event.