Website: carriacouregattafestival.com
Phone: 473 443 7930
Email: info@puregrenada.com

About Carriacou

Carriacou, pronounced “carry a coo” is a green, natural destination.  It is the largest of the group of islands known as the Grenadines, which lie scattered between St. Vincent and Grenada and is part of the independent tri-island nation of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.  The island is located twenty-three miles northeast of Grenada and has a population of approximately 6,000 people.  Tyrell Bay is the port of entry.

Carriacou was settled by the French, but in 1763 was ceded with Grenada to the British. Most of the inhabitants today are of African descent, with the influence on the island mainly British, such as driving on the left, though French names are still noticed, especially in the village of L’Esterre.  The village of Windward was home to a group of Scottish boat builders who settled here in the 19th century.

The Scottish names and boat building skills have been passed down through the generations. Many locally built boats from small fishing sloops to large trading schooners are seen in the Carriacou waters. Boat building is still carried out in the traditional way.

The Event 

Our annual fun-filled four-day festival usually occurs the first weekend in August. The Carriacou Regatta will celebrate its 55th anniversary from the July 31st – 3rd of August 2020 reflecting the importance and devotion of our people to seamanship and boat building. Started in 1965 by J. Linton Rigg as a local workboat race, the Carriacou Regatta attracts participating vessels from other Caribbean islands including Antigua, Tobago, Bequia, Canouan and Mayreau.  The event has evolved into a major Caribbean event featuring various classes of vessels, now augmented by on-shore activities such as donkey-racing, walking the greasy-pole, bicycle-races, drinking competitions, and evening entertainment of all sorts.