MIDDLE CAICOS SAILING

MIDDLE CAICOS' MOST FAMOUS ANNUAL EVENT

BAMBARRA BEACH, SATURDAY FEB 11th, 2011

Traditional Turks & Caicos Model Sailboat Races

HAPPY NEW YEAR to YOU - from the MIDDLE CAICOS SAILING ASSOCIATION!

The big news this year is the major sponsorship of the event by IslandCom, taking the promotion to a whole new level, bringing on more music, more prizes and more fun for everyone. Our special thanks to CEO Kate Bonner and her staff for their enthusiasm and support to keep this cultural festival growing. It is heartwarming to see a major sponsor step forward for this event, which has for 12 years now depended entirely on individual donations and volunteers - and exciting in the new potential offered!

THANK YOU ISLANDCOM!!!!!!

This year we are focusing on refurbishing the fleet, with new sails, weather boards and rudders as needed. Maintaining the 30 boats takes a lot of time and TLC...so if you wish to come and help paint, sew, rig...let us know! Or send us a small donation to the cause!

Of course, the MSCA continues to need our dedicated fans to replenish and refurbish the fleet of model sail boats used for the annual race day and for teaching events. At the moment the fleet consists of nearly 30 boats, - after our wonderful success last year with new boat sponsors!! Over the years nearly 100 boats have been hand carved through the MCSA, some still on hand, some gone to foreign waters and some broken down. These splendid hand carved boats do wear out eventually, but lots of TLC keeps them going for many years

We are always open for companies, organizations and /or individuals to purchase a boat for the MCSA fleet or to take home. The boat will be painted in colours of your choice (to match any corporate colours) and named at your request. A certificate from the boat carver, donation certificate and mention of the donation in all our press releases will follow. For the race event, your chosen captain will sail the boat, or we will find a captain for you. Boats are available in sizes from 24 to 48 inches, at price levels $250, $350, $500 and $750. This year both the hand carved gum-elemi models or the hand built pine plank models are being offered for sale. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

This is an excellent opportunity to raise local visibility for your business while you assist with our cultural heritage preservation efforts. The Valentine Day Cup model sailboat races is the oldest annual community event now held on North/Middle Caicos, and well worthy of your support.

VALENTINES DAY CUP MODEL SAILBOAT RACES
BAMBARRA BEACH
Saturday February 11th, 2012 11am to 4:30 pm

This event is a totally not for profit event, organized each year by Middle Caicos Co-op & Middle Caicos Co-op Services, for the MIDDLE CAICOS SAILING ASSOCIATION. We are proud to announce this is the 12th annual event for this popular, traditional family outing, Please join us to support this special day!

SPONSORSHIP APPEAL

Please support this fabulous local event!! Make a MCSA contribution to help us refurbish the fleet of boats, donate funds that contribute to the food costs for the church or assist with local transport for boats, food and elders! Come drive, paint boats, stage the races, – all assistance financial and personal is well appreciated and announced in local papers.

We all look forward to you joining us on Bambarra beach or the races : Saturday February 11th, 2012 from noon to dusk – mark your calendars NOW!!

Many thanks from Daniel O. Forbes : Founder MCSA.
For more information call 1-649- 232-6132 or middlecaicos@tciway.tc

Valentines Day Cup -BOAT & BUS COMBO TRANSPORTATION
It gets better and easier each year to come on over for the day and enjoy the festival. CARIBBEAN CRUISIN has the ride from Leeward to Bambarra beach and home again to Provo!!! Call 946-5406, or 231-4191 for info - or go to www.caribbean-cruisin.com and make your reservations ASAP.

Bring the whole family and relax , leave the transport hassles to Caribbean Cruisin' - it is your day to play on one of the finest beaches in the country!

2010 PRESS RELEASE

2009 PRESS RELEASE

Organizer Sara Kaufman, Commodore John Lawson, First Place Captain Timothy “T-Boy” Robertson,
Second Place Captain Brodie Forbes

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Order your own model sailboat, for your own enjoyment or for competing in the most fun event of the year, the Middle Caicos Valentine's Day Cup. Each year the local experts are contracted to build superior racing model sailboats for the reknowned February competition at Bambarra Beach on Middle Caicos. Here are some examples of what you may order:

Red Arrow 1 and Red Arrow 2 built by Headley Forbes
Fire Engine and Lady in Red built by Marcus Forbes
Jupiter and Mars built by Carlin Forbes

CUSTOM ORDERS:

Sail plan, size, colour schemes etc all to your specifications
4- Week Delivery Guaranteed. Gum - elemi hand carved model island sloops
Mast Height : 24-50" - Length on deck : 26 - 52" - Sail plan: sloop and Gaff rigs

These boats were built in Bambarra, Middle Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, from large branches of the "gum - elemi" tree , (Bursera simaruba) a Caribbean softwood tree found throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The sail plan reflects all the actual rigging found on a full size sloop, stays/shrouds can be tightened as needed, sails hoisted/furled with sheets as normal. Each boat has its weatherboard to stabilize it in the water as the gum - elemi wood is very light and there is no weight in the keel of these sailboats.

This type of model boat was a common childhood treasure, children and adults involved in carving, building and racing their sailboats. An energetic and active sport, beloved by participants and spectators, the boats are sailed in the shallow waters by running alongside to adjust the tiller and trim the sails!