Fun comes in shape of a Rum Festival for Jolly Harbour Valentine's Regatta

Plans are moving ahead for the Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta 2013 © Jody Sallons-Day / www.leadingimage.org

Plans are moving ahead for the Jolly Harbour Valentine's Regatta 2013 and the organisers can now confirm that the addition of a Rum Festival as part of the event will ensure as much fun will be had off the water as on it. Three main events – 'Rum and Bites', 'Rum and Rhythms' and 'Rum on the Beach' will give landlubbers a much needed reason to head to Jolly Harbour for a three-day weekend to indulge in a perfect combination of food, music and of course... rum!

Back out on the water the racing options are as varied as their party counterparts. Competitive keelboats can race in CSA classes; less serious racers, cruisers and boats that prefer individual starts can opt for pursuit races; classics will compete in a classic class; and a separate class of Laser Picos will compete alongside other dinghies off Jolly Harbour's south beach.

For dinghy enthusiasts, the National Sailing Academy in conjunction with Antigua Yacht Club is making its fleet of 18 Laser Picos available for the Saturday and Sunday dinghy racing event which will provide fantastic spectating opportunities from the beach. Competitors are invited to race over both days and can charter a Pico for the weekend for only US $100 plus the Regatta entry fee. Antigua Yacht Club Gold members are offered a 50% discount on the charter cost.

Race Committee Chairman Kathy Lammers says: 'The Laser Pico class will be very competitive. We expect to see a combination of experienced local Laser sailors and professional big boat crews who want to enjoy a couple of days out on the water sailing something a little smaller! If you're interested in this option please get in touch with me at to reserve a Laser Pico as soon as possible. Boats will be allocated on a first come first served basis.'

The Notice of Race is now available on the website and online entries are open. A 20% discount on entry fees is being offered to all Antigua Yacht Club and Jolly Harbour Yacht Club members who enter and pay by January 14, 2013, so get your entry in now. Payment via the website will be available in the near future. In the meantime, to submit your payment please contact .

Head to www.jollyharbourregatta.com/ to submit your online entry and for more information.