Category Archives: Sailing

Evening Stroll at Harbour Club Villas

Posted on by
1
blogIMG_3648

Zenaida Dove perches on the back stone wall by the pool area at Harbour Club Villas

A beautiful, still and calm evening for a stroll around Harbour Club’s grounds and down to the Marina. An over abundance of opportunities as I wander around taking photos of the flowering plants, animals and sunset views. Here’s a selection and I hope you enjoy seeing them.

blogIMG_3633

The pool at Harbour Club Villas in the late afternoon. Look at the flowering desert rose.

blogIMG_3121

A perfect bridal bouquet of orange island honeysuckle favoured by the hummingbirds.

blogIMG_3660

Pesky woodpecker that’s drilling holes in our coconut palms…….he’s a yellow bellied sapsucker.

 

blogIMG_3626

Cankyberry, a species of nightshade found on our islands with its sharp prickles.

bloglizIMG_3604

This little anole lizard was perched high on my frangipani licking I don’t know what off the budding flowers.

blogIMG_3617

A bright yellow spiny orb weaver. Quite pretty really even though I don’t really like spiders.

blogIMG_3769

Neighbours out for an evening sail coming in to the Marina at dusk.

blogfbIMG_3774

This little anole was curious and posed for the camera.

blogIMG_3786

The sunset glow of golden colours is so amazing looking towards Five Cays from Harbour Club Villas and Marina

blogaquaIMG_3716

Aqua TCI divers boat gently rides out the evening in the Marina, ready and waiting for another great dive day in the waters of Provo.

All this in a casual evening stroll around Harbour Club Villas and Marina. Love the peaceful quiet as the sun sets over our islands.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

The Fool’s Regatta 2014

Posted on by
Reply
blogIMG_2068

The 24th Annual Fools Regatta………what an amazing day out on the water.

The 24th annual Fool’s Regatta was the place to be on Saturday. All our Harbour Club Villas guests were taking in the fun at the beach with a full day of racing ahead, hobie cats, picos, big boats, caicos sloops and man made rafts were all racing. The day was as perfect as it could be, hot and sunny with a breeze blowing and lots of refreshments and food.

blogIMG_2113

Waiting for the races to begin at the Bight Children’s Park

blogIMG_2145

The wind was steady and the seas were calm.

blogIMG_2150

Neck and neck as the sailors took to the race course.

blogIMG_2363

The start of the big boats race………….there’s Capt Tim and Beluga who have been in every race for several years.

blogIMG_2417

Some of the youngsters from the Provo Sailing Association getting ready for their heat.

blogIMG_2469

Lovely shot of the kids skimming along over the water.

blogIMG_2525

Time for a break and to cool off in the water.

blogIMG_2547

Ready for the raft race with the Turks and Caicos flag.

blogIMG_2595

Let the raft race begin………….and off they go.

blogIMG_2613

Paddling for home and all the rafts stayed afloat! Well done everyone.

blogIMG_2614

Looks like they are taking on water but everyone finished the race.

Another successful Fool’s Regatta and the revival of the Great Raft Race. Mark your calendars for next year especially if you decide to come to the Turks and Caicos in June. We let all our guests at Harbour Club Villas know that this is a “must see and do” event. I look forward to it every year as it is filled with excitement and racing entertainment. Well done to all the volunteers and participants. Can’t wait to see you again next year.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Fool’s Regatta 2013

Posted on by
Reply

Picos ready and waiting to start the racing at the Fool's Regatta on Saturday.

The 2013 Fool’s Regatta at the Children’s Park in the Bight was held on Saturday. Saturday was as perfect as perfect gets even though it had a dubious and a bit ominous start weather wise. I arrived at about 1 pm in the afternoon and the kids races were underway. Tents were set up selling drinks and burgers, the water was warm and inviting (yeah for summer time when I can actually get into the water). Yes, I know what you are thinking but when you live on Provo, you tend to be pretty selective water warmth wise before swimming. Here’s some of the photos from the day.

The colourful Beluga was showing off for the crowds watching the racing.

The kids of the Provo Sailing Club were having a blast sailing and competing on the Picos

 

The kids (little and one big) were happily playing and building castles in the sand.

These two little seven year olds were away to the races.

Lil' Tinkerbell was sporting her pink bikini.......she's a potcake rescue chihuahua that's found her forever home.

 

Big boats and Caicos Sloops were also racing just off shore.

 

The talented youngsters of Provo Primary Steel Band entertained the crowds.

 

Most of the kids learn to sail with the Provo Sailing Club.

 

Wishing he could be out there sailing!

Every June the Fool’s Regatta gets underway so come down to the beach the next time you are here and especially during Regatta time.

 

 

Happy Sailing!!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Atabeyra Sail

Posted on by
Reply

Such unbelievably turquoise waters on the south side of Providenciales

There’s nothing quite like it………..sailing on the good ship Atabeyra, clear turquoise waters, blue skies with white puffy clouds and with wonderful friends. This time we sailed on the south side of Provo and out to the old freighter wreck.

"La Famille Express" is the name of the freighter as the Atabeyra anchors in calm waters just off it.

My favourite photo of this beautiful old boat....great for all kinds of group charters.

Such a nice day for a sail

We’re hoping you’ll get a chance to see our islands from the water.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Fools Regatta 2012

Posted on by
Reply

The kids on their Pico's are dwarfed by the fast sailing Minx as she heads out racing to Pine Cay and back.

The first Fools Regatta was held in 1990 and the Minx was part of that first race so many years ago along with the Beluga. This year’s event brought out crowds of people even though the weather was cloudy and a tropical storm made for an exciting day in more ways than one. This year the sailing club introduced the kids to 12 Laser Picos and these have been ideal for training the islands’ younger sailors.

The Caicos Sloops were all in competition for the Tom Lightbourne trophy

Young Provo Sailing Club member watches the races.

 

These three little sisters were having a blast playing in the water.

 

Even some of our four legged friends got in on the water fun

 

Provo Primary Steel Band provided some lively music...those kids are amazing!

 

Storm clouds moving in, the water turned choppy and the winds kicked in.

 

The Beluga and a native Caicos Sloop racing through the waters

 

Awards ceremony with the lovely young presenter receiving the "fools" cap

Winners in the Caicos Sloop A Class category.....Congratulations!

Capt. Tim of the Beluga wins the Bent Prop award for his mad, heart pounding, wind forced dash towards the beach!

Another Regatta is over and this one will be remembered for it’s hurricane like abrupt end. Nonetheless, we all had a great time. Lots of sailing and racing, fun, laughter and seeing and enjoying friends. Well done everyone and the volunteer effort always amazes me. You are all stars in my book!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

Beach Sunset

Posted on by
Reply

Stunning mackerel sky as the sun hides behind the clouds on Grace Bay beach recently

A sail boat cruises by as the sun sets casting gorgeous orange shimmers on the ocean

What a picturesque evening on the beach drinking Pimm’s in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee recently.

 

Cheers

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Fools Regatta 2010

Posted on by
Reply
Fun day at this year's Regatta held on the beach at the Bight park

Fun day at this year's Regatta held on the beach at the Bight park

Tents, music, hotdogs and hamburgers, beer, rum and sodas, Hobie Cat races, Caicos Sloop races, raft races, tug o’ war events…….I’ve never seen as many people enjoying themselves as we did today. The annual Fool’s Regatta was a huge success and lots of fun.

Those Hobie Cats skimmed over the water at such a fast pace even though there was a brisk wind and white caps on the ocean

Those Hobie Cats skimmed over the water at such a fast pace even though there was a brisk wind and white caps on the ocean

The Caicos Sloops sailed past.........I was late getting down to the beach and didn't get to see them race.

The Caicos Sloops sailed past.........I was late getting down to the beach and didn't get to see them race.

These kids and their Dad had a blast doing the tug o' war

These kids and their Dad had a blast doing the tug o' war

There were adult teams and kid's teams as they tugged and pulled against each other often collapsing in a large heap on the sand

There were adult teams and kid's teams as they tugged and pulled against each other often collapsing in a large heap on the sand

The Turks and Caicos Islands flag flew proudly ontop of one of the rafts while a Caicos Sloop lay at anchor just off the shore

The Turks and Caicos Islands flag flew proudly ontop of one of the rafts while a Caicos Sloop lay at anchor just off the shore

The Fool’s Regatta used to be held on April Fool’s day and was a chance for everyone to get together, sail and have a good time at the beach. The highlight of the afternoon is always the Great Raft Race where hand made, unique watercraft powered only by paddles,  race and try to get across the finish line with craft intact and in one piece and with all crew on board. Tomorrow’s blog will show you some of these great imaginative rafts.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sailing on Provo

Posted on by
Reply
Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend

Here's the Beluga moored off shore at Half Moon Bay last weekend

Captain Tim Ainley and the Beluga were moored off shore at Half Moon Bay. The Beluga is a 36 foot (10.97) catamaran sailing boat,  very unique and distinctive looking and built in 1980 in Canada. It now does sailing charters out of Provo.  As I took photos I saw Capt. Tim’s trusty companion Schooner taking a swim for shore.

Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rocl.

Schooner swims for shore...........you can just make him out. He's the black speck close to the rock.

Evidently, Schooner had had enough of being on board and wanted to cool off while the others snorkeled………….yes, apparently they sighted JoJo. How lucky can you be???

Sailing at Half Moon Bay in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Schooner takes a rest on the rocks after his long swim.

I’m not sure if you can see but there’s a speck off to the right of the Beluga and I think that’s JoJo. I zoomed in and cropped  the photo and it does look like a dolphin.

Here's a close up of the Beluga and just to the right of the person in the water is Jo-Jo.

Here's a close up of the Beluga and to the right of the person in the water almost at the edge of the photo is JoJo.

 

Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga

Schooner gets ready to swim back to the Beluga

There are several sailing charters available from Providenciales so just let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.

Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com