Barbados Sailing Week adds kite and wingfoiling to Caribbean season opener

Barbados Sailing Week is underway, opening the Caribbean racing calendar and, for the first time, formally including wind-foiling disciplines. The weeklong regatta runs Jan 15–22 and mixes junior dinghy competition, offshore races and specialty events such as the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race and the Rum to Spice offshore race from Barbados to Carriacou.

Kitesurfing and wingfoiling were scheduled midweek and ran to a packed timetable aimed at maximizing on-water hours. Kitesurfing took place Saturday, January 17 at Long Beach from 8 AM to 4 PM, and wingfoiling followed on Sunday, January 18 at Welches Beach from 8 AM to 4 PM. Those sessions put kiters and wingfoilers on the same program as traditional keelboats and dinghies, signaling a shift in regional regattas toward a true multi-discipline format where foilers share race management, safety resources and spectator attention.

Logistics and competitor administration were front-loaded to keep race days flowing. Online registration closed Tuesday, January 13, while rating check and in-person payment were held Friday, January 16. Skippers' briefings formed part of the pre-race routine to align course expectations and safety plans across disciplines. These details mattered for anyone trying to jump into the mix: missed registration or rating checks effectively closed the door to on-site entries in most classes.

For the foil community the inclusion of kite and wing events brings both competitive and social returns. Competitors gain certified race management, official start procedures and coordinated safety cover, rather than ad hoc show-and-go heats. Visitors and locals get more onshore presence at Long Beach and Welches Beach during prime wind windows, which helps local vendors, instructors and shapers connect with the wider Caribbean foil scene. Having the Round Barbados and the Rum to Spice offshore races on the same bill also creates crossover opportunities for foilers interested in downwind tactics and offshore strategy.

If you were on the water for the kite and wing days, you experienced a regatta that is integrating foilers into established race governance. If you missed the midweek sessions, the week continues through Jan 22 with offshore and dinghy events that keep the island lively. For future seasons, register early, complete rating checks before arrival and plan for the full program to include wind-foiling disciplines as standard practice across Caribbean regattas.