1. "Gratitude" - BOAT FILLED!

"Gratitude" (after the Manhattan Sailing School vessel I instruct on) is calling "attention on deck" to all hands willing to enjoy some serious sailing and some seriously fun adventure this winter in the sunny Leeward Islands. Our cruise will be especially tailored to those of you who wish to improve their sailing skills and achieve the next level such as Coastal Cruising or Bareboat Certification, in a more relaxed, but goal oriented week of sailing. The goal: to have fun while absorbing as much (or as little) of the sun's rays and seamanship as you like. Gratitude: What you will feel at the end of this fun-filled week of sailing first, partying second.

Enjoy a French holiday with Manhattan Sailing School instructor Thierry Lassalle. This will be an experience for those who know how to party with a jug of rum as well as relax on deck with a bottle of red wine. On top of being an skilled teacher, Thierry is an experienced trip organizer who always makes sure his crew maximizes their potential for pure Caribbean enjoyment.  Thierry's boat will offer certification for Basic Keelboat and Basic Coastal Cruising.

3. "Fresquito" -

An experienced instructor with the Manhattan Sailing School, and a veteran of the Caribbean Regatta, Wayne’s boat offers the sailing beginner or seasoned sailor the opportunity to have a great time sailing in a stress-free atmosphere. Enjoy the roominess of a cruising catamaran where you will have fun driving and trimming on this trip, or you can just kick back and relax. This will be the perfect balance of learning, snorkeling and having fun in the sun.  If you enjoy cooking (or cleaning) and eating great food, this could be the boat for you.  "I did the 2005 Caribbean Regatta (British Virgin Islands) on Wayne's boat (el jefe). It was a great trip where we all learned a lot of sailing, had a good laugh and also great food and wine. Wayne is a great skipper and I definitely recommend his boat" Yolanda do Campo.  For more info, please contact Wayne at wturett@turettarch.com.

4. "Flagship" -

Life aboard the Flagship will be casual with an emphasis on fine dining, elegant conversation and light hearted spirits.  Kids will also be onboard, led by Caribbean veterans Skipper & Sonny plus E. Berry.  Part of her regatta duties is for the "Flagship" to host the Skippers' Meetings.  If you have any questions or ideas during the regatta, feel free to swim, paddle or motor up to the Flagship.  The Commodore enjoys sitting on the aft deck and shooting the breeze with his fellow skippers.

5. "Premier Crew

Premier Crew returns in 2008 to entice you to a week of fun and relaxation in the great cruising grounds of the Netherland Antilles. Earning our name as Premier Crew, we won more bottles of Mt. Gay last year than any of the other boats and we intend to do the same again this year.   Our goal is to improve our sailing skills while enjoying great conversation and the camaraderie of our fellow mates.  Our boat is for those over 40 (we won’t card you) who still love to dance and party (but not all night!). I'm really looking forward to that superb food we will enjoy ashore in our French destination ports. You can see how much fun we had last year in Anegada.   Capt. Joan Lappin, a 20 year member of Manhattan Sailing Club, is a USCG Licensed Master Mariner who spends her summers plying the waters of New England from Newport to Maine aboard her Pearson 36-2.   For those who wish to attain ASA certification, that will also be an option on our boat this year. We hope you will join our Premier Crew. No smokers please.  contact Joan at LappinJE@aol.com to discuss Premier Crew

6. "Otter" -

Life during the regatta is as good as it gets;  sailing, camaraderie, and amazing fun in settings of profound, natural beauty. You belong there."

7. "Cuba Libre

Divers, Snorkelers, and Nature Lovers of the World Unite!  Cuba Libre is going to bring you the Caribbean from above and below sea level!  For many years on my fleet captain sails I’ve been hearing two things about our Caribbean regatta:  “I want to go diving,” and “I don’t know if I want to go since everyone parties so much.”  If that was you, your time has come!  On Cuba Libre we’ll arrange local dive trips for certified divers and snorkelers in between sailing and nature watching.  No one is going to experience the islands the way we will on this trip, and as every diver knows responsible drinking is the rule.  Cuba Libre is a catamaran since they’re perfectly designed for snorkeling with, a spacious deck, shallow draft and steps to the water that make getting in and out a breeze.  Mono-hulls just can’t compare. Plus we’ll have maximum speed, comfort, and a fabulous kitchen so that we can eat like kings. Your captain has a hard earned reputation for having safe fun on the water through hundreds of fleet captain sails with the club, and teaching with the school.  He also has a reputation as the MSC's most avid fisherman and he's betting that there will be sushi on his boat!  He holds a USCG Masters license, is a certified ASA instructor, teaches with the USCG Auxiliary, and has gone trans-Atlantic. Want to take another ASA sailing course to raise your skills?  Just ask.  See you in the water!  Contact me on: richard_turrin@yahoo.com

8. "Cut and Run"

Join us for a week of fun.  Read, swim, sail, wine, dine and enjoy life in the sun and sand.  See the stars and relax the night away (or not).  Do as much or as little as you want.  We won't leave you behind...too often :)

9. "Young America" -

For De Caribbean Regatta, I will be educating my sailors along the Bareboat class curriculum.  Preference will be given to students so that we can concentrate on the learning between having a lot of shared fun with the others in the fleet. If you are interested, please contact me at the special e-mail address, pwechter@hotmail.com, to discuss your plans and goals.

10. "Irish Jig" -

Since my ancestors crossed the ocean for this new land, I've always felt a longin' for the sea birds' call, the smell of the sea and spray, the dance of our boat's keel as we make way to the next adventure.  I'll be going to St. Martin and sailing beyond with the mighty MSC 2008 Caribbean Flotilla.  Please contact the club immediately for details on how to sail with me in January.  Sailors of Irish ancestry, like me, have a leg up to be a member of this crew.  I'll confirm with you shortly."

11. "Excelsior" - BOAT FILLED!

Team Excelsior is unique.  Instead of starting the week from St Maarten, Team Excelsior will start from Tortola BVI.   We plan to sail overnight Sunday night from Tortola to St Baarths, a distance of about 93 nautical miles.  On Monday the rest of the Regatta will arrive at St Baarths and we will all continue the fun together.  If you would like to experience longer distance cruising and one overnight sail then Team Excelsior is for you.  Note that this is a “one-way” charter, so crew will need to arrange flights to arrive in Tortola and depart from St. Maarten.  For interested crew, team Excelsior will also be offering ASA Advanced Coastal Cruising certification.  ACC covers many advanced topics such as heavy weather sailing, watch-standing, nighttime sailing, nighttime Person Over Board, towing, weather forecasting, and balance and sail trim. The prerequisites for ACC are ASA Coastal Navigation and Bareboat Chartering.  Jon Taylor is an ASA-certified Instructor and USCG-licensed Master.  He cruises from Maine to Virginia on his Beneteau 393, and has chartered in the BVI, USVI, Belize, Greece, Martinique, and the Grenadines.  He has been sailing since 1986 and instructing with the School since 1999.  He taught ACC during the 2006 Regatta and was asked to improve his jokes.

12. "Cat 'n Tonic" - BOAT FILLED!

Come and enjoy a great adventure full of fun, swimming, sun, kayaking, snorkeling, star glazing, dancing, relaxation, great company, good food, exploring tropical islands and sailing on the beautiful blue Caribbean Sea. Interested contact me at: danielle_gallo@ hotmail.com (USCG Licensed Masters 100 Ton Near Coastal Captain)

Sail DESIDERIO and unleash your passion!  Cruising from island to island we’ll snorkel coral reefs, kayak through the surf along rugged coastlines, swim or dinghy ashore for celebratory libations at beach bars where we’ll share our adventures with the rest of the fleet.  At dusk we’ll secure the boat and dine on deck under the stars.  Party the night away on shore one night.  Relax onboard listening to the wind and gazing at the brilliant constellations beyond, the next.  (ASA certification in Basic Keelboat, Coastal Cruising and Bareboat Charter available from your veteran instructor)

Take a holiday with the Bertman. As an instructor for the past two seasons, Bert is looking forward to his first Caribbean trip with the Manhattan Sailing school. This boat is for people who love good times, good food, good music and dancing into the night. Bert can be contacted for questions at bertman@pipeline.com.