The Not A Lotta Yachta Regatta
Three years ago this weekend I watched a weary band of sailors in Coral Bay, St. John, pull off an extraordinary feat. They held their annual Thanksgiving regatta, just weeks after being decimated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, two back-to-back Category 5 storms. Many competitors had lost everything they owned. The Not A Lotta Yachta Regatta was an inspiring display of grit, resilience, and spirit.
It’s been a long, hard slog back to normal. Last year the regatta was cancelled completely. Then COVID hit, closing businesses and clobbering tourism, as it has all over the world, but a double whammy for a community just starting to get back on its feet.
So it’s no small achievement that in this less than stellar year, the race is on.
Captains masked up for the skippers meeting at Skinny Legs this morning and then got out on the water. The Coral Bay Yacht Club continues a tradition that began nearly 40 years ago.
A reminder that even in 2020, there is plenty to be thankful for.
Wish I could have been there to see it.
