Welcome to the Regatta Promotions Sailing Marketing Blog

With Easter coming up this weekend, the J-24 Easter Regatta held in Columbia, SC on Lake Murray is here. The crew from Maine will begin the trek south tomorrow and the race takes place Friday through Sunday. There are 28 boats pre-registered spanning along the east coast from Maine to FL and from as far inland as Ohio and Michigan. We expect to see nearly 40 boats for this event. There are quite a few folks that register last minute for this event known for it’s great after race parties. This J-24 event comes complete with gracious southern hospitality from the locals, which is why so many boats travel so far to attend year after year. We all hope that the weather is warmer this year than last. There was a cold snap that produced colder weather in South Carolina than Maine received last Easter. Whatever the weather may bring, we are prepared this year and will update with results next week!

This weekend marks the 20th Maine Boatbuilders Show in Portland, Maine. Regatta Promotions will have a booth at the show giving away fun things to people who stop by our booth. On-line registration for most of our events will be “live” by this weekend and we will be encouraging skippers (by giving away fun prizes) to register for their favorite events at the show.

The Maine Boatbuilders Show is at a perfect time for most of us in the northeast, even though it snows every year, it’s still a great time to meet friends and start thinking that the snow and ice will melt and we will be able to enjoy our favorite sport soon enough.

Check out this week’s new Poll Question, “What is the best Sailboat Boat Show in the United States?” We have put up 9 of the most well know shows. There are hundreds of shows throughout the U.S. so if you don’t see your favorite, make sure you add your answer.

Click here for more information about the Maine Boatbuilders Show.

It has been fun this winter traveling to events in Florida in the wintertime, then come back to share the stories with you all. I have been sailing the Etchells Jaguar Series, in VooDooToo, with Ralph Carpenter and my husband Brent Sullivan. We have qualified to represent our local Fleet here in Casco Bay at the Etchells Worlds in Chicago this June. Speaking of our local fleet, we have some other members from the local fleet that have been racing in Miami this winter. Nicole Jacques has been crewing for Rob Hitchcock and Terry Naylon has been helming the boat USA 1328. Cheer us all on this coming weekend!

Our team has been sailing together for almost two years now. Ralph is the technical guy, in charge all measurements for the rig tuning, as well as main and spinnaker trim. Brent is Mr. fix-it, team organizer and boat transporter on top of being our bow-man extraordinaire. I drive the boat and sometimes drive my husband crazy when at the helm!

The Etchells has been a great boat for us and we still learn new things about how to go fast every day! After this coming weekend, we will bring the boat home to Maine and she will make her next trip to Chicago for the NOODS as a tune up for the Worlds. We have never sailed in Chicago, so if you have any tips or advice for the windy city, let us know
~~/)~~ Gretchen Sullivan