National champion to be decided at Harris Paints Regatta

WITH a close race this season in the J24 2014 series, the stage is set for a winner to be crowned at the end of the Harris Paints Regatta. After coming down to Esperanza and Impulse last year, the situation is the same once again with both vessels being forced to bring home the most points in their races this weekend and with it, the 2014 National Championship. With close to 50 vessels hitting the water between Saturday and Sunday, some of the island's best will be showing off their nautical skills in Carlisle Bay and along the South Coast as the event moves into its 31st year. Around twelve J24 teams will be putting in their last bids for the season to make up just one of the five classes competing over the weekend. Also being contested this weekend are the Racing/Cruising Class, which was won by Bunga Bunga last year, and the Multihull Class, which was won by Bucaroo. Some new flavour is being added this year as the two new classes will see Wind and Kite-Surfing and a Youth Dinghy Class being added to the mix. Though one of the smaller regattas on the national sailing calendar, this year two overseas entries have made the trek over for the competition. Die Hard of Grenada and Attitude from St. Lucia are expected to be on the starter's line. The action starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon with two J24 races and two Dinghy races in the Bay. Sunday will see a full day of competition and gets started at 10 a.m., and is expected to feature J24 and Dinghy action as well as the Racing/Cruising Class and Multihull, which will go along the South Coast of the island. (AP) http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=37294 http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/admini/News_Photo_bv.asp?NewsID=37294