International Kite Course Racing Event comes to Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean 11th - 16th June 2013

For decades the trade winds have blown across the oceans and sailors from many lands have enjoyed the freedom of the seas and the love of salt water spraying in their face. Bonaire is a small island located in the southern Caribbean basin, outside of the hurricane belt, once known as the Netherland Antilles. Despite political changes and world collapsing economies, the island and the people continue their lives interacting with nature and especially the wind and ocean, much the same way their fore fathers did previously. With a fringing reef that encompasses the island and an abundance of fish, the local’s are still able to rig their sails and continue to fish for Wahoo or Mahi Mahi using the simplest of techniques.

Sailing and cruising visitors, too, enjoy the facilities laid out by the Bonaire National Marine Park, with moorings close to the shore and even more importantly, close to the main town, Kralendijk. With such a strong connection to the wind and ocean it is only right that you would expect to see a chandler on the island, which is centrally located and close to the shore.

With such perfect wind conditions that are steady and consistent, you will see windsurfers, optimists, sunfish sailors as well as kite surfers enjoying the conditions on a daily basis. Larger sailing boats too, will cruise daily up and down the coast as well as taking a short sail around Klein Bonaire, which is a small island in visible proximity to Bonaire itself. Over the years there have been annual sailing regattas organized and have proven to very popular and successful in promoting our small island in the sailing world.

This year, between 11th and 16th June, Bonaire will be hosting an international sailing event. The South and Middle American Kite Course Racing Championships with 100 world ranking points will take place in an area to the south of the island located at a site called Atlantis “Kite Beach”.
To have a kite course race event, where the conditions allow the racers to come within twenty feet of the shore line, is very unique as it is bringing the action right up close to the spectators and photographers. Side off shore winds which are steady and constant mean that the regatta will see plenty of action. A planned schedule of after race events will entertain not only the racers but also visiting sailors and other tourists who visit our beautiful island for the diving, snorkeling or just simply to relax.

With an estimated 90 top professional riders coming from all parts of the world, Bonaire will enjoy a spectacle never seen in our waters before. The excitement is already building and some local riders are training on a daily basis to ensure that the island gives a great performance during the week of racing. A spectacular final race, to be called the Bonaire Classic will see as many as 70 kites racing from Atlantis into the bay of Kralendijk, rounding the island of Klein Bonaire before heading back upwind to the finish line at Atlantis with a distance of 40 km plus, this will be a sight worth watching.

For more information on the upcoming event log onto to www.bonairekiteweek.com