Mango Bowl Regatta 2025

The Mango Bowl Regatta returns to Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, in late November 2025 for a compact weekend of buoy racing, camaraderie, and shore‑side socials hosted by the Saint Lucia Yacht Club. Organizers, charter outfits, and tourism listings align that 2025 racing falls across the final weekend of November, with on‑the‑water action centered off Pigeon Island and Cap Estate and daily gatherings at the Yacht Club in the IGY Rodney Bay Marina. The regatta draws mixed Caribbean fleets across cruising and one‑design classes such as J/24 and Surprise, offering an accessible, early‑season tune‑up just as ARC yachts begin making landfall in Rodney Bay.

Dates, venue, and host

• Dates: The 2025 Mango Bowl Regatta is scheduled for the last weekend of November, with racing on Saturday and Sunday and an evening skippers’ briefing and registration the day prior; tourism pages and 2024 news indicate a Friday briefing followed by two race days.
• Venue: Racing takes place in Rodney Bay with courses set to the north and west under Pigeon Island and toward Cap Estate; shore base is the Saint Lucia Yacht Club at IGY Rodney Bay Marina.
• Host: The event is organized and run by the Saint Lucia Yacht Club, which has developed Mango Bowl into a small but growing regional fixture that precedes the main Caribbean regatta season.

Format and classes

• Race format: Two days of windward‑leeward and coastal sprints, with multiple races daily if conditions permit; classes are split for competition and handicap prizes.
• Classes: Cruising class plus several racing classes, typically including J/24 and Surprise one‑designs; prior editions have also welcomed Melges and local sportboats depending on entries.
• Scale and vibe: Described as “small but growing,” Mango Bowl emphasizes competitive but friendly racing with easy logistics, shorter race days, and a sociable dockside scene.

2025 weekend outline

• Friday: On‑site check‑in and skippers’ briefing at the Saint Lucia Yacht Club in the evening; final rig checks and sail selection for forecast trades. 2024’s briefing ran at 6:00 p.m. on the Friday before racing, a cadence expected again in 2025.
• Saturday: Racing day one off Rodney Bay; first warning typically late morning to allow time for docking out; prize‑giving social at the Yacht Club at day’s end.
• Sunday: Racing day two and overall prize‑giving at the Yacht Club late afternoon.

Weather and course notes

• Trades and seas: Late November tends to deliver 12–18‑knot easterly trades with small to moderate seas; leeward Bay waters are flatter, while legs toward the channel north of Pigeon Island can bring livelier chop.
• Tactics: Oscillating breeze around Pigeon Island headlands can create lanes and pressure differentials; starting discipline and clear air pay, while coastal shifts reward local knowledge.
• Safety and race docs: The host typically publishes the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions with class splits, safety requirements, and protest procedures; earlier editions distributed NORs via the club and partner sites.

How to enter or get on a boat

• Registration: Entry details are released by the Saint Lucia Yacht Club each fall; the event has used standard regatta portals and club channels for NOR, SIs, and online entry in prior years.
• Race berths and training: Charter outfits and training programs build Mango Bowl crews, often with two prep days ahead of racing and package options for mileage builders connecting to or from Grenada or St. Maarten around the regatta.
• New racer friendly: Coaching packages frame Mango Bowl as a low‑pressure introduction to Caribbean big‑boat racing, with shorter race days and a tight‑knit fleet.

Spectator guide

• Best viewpoints: Pigeon Island National Landmark and the northern headlands provide elevated angles to see starts and weather legs; the Rodney Bay Marina boardwalk and Yacht Club deck are prime for post‑race dock‑in views.
• Spectator boats: Past editions have fielded spectator boats to view racing up close; keep an eye on the Yacht Club’s channels for 2025 offerings.

Why it’s a smart time to sail Saint Lucia

• Season opener: Mango Bowl lands just before the peak Caribbean circuit, letting teams shake down sails, crew work, and boat systems ahead of regattas in Martinique, Antigua, and beyond.
• ARC synergy: The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers fleet begins arriving in late November and early December, bringing extra marina buzz, dockside seminars, and a festive vibe around IGY Rodney Bay.
• Easy travel and stay: Rodney Bay’s hotel and villa options, walkable marina village, and quick access to Pigeon Island deliver a painless race‑week base for crews and supporters.

Travel and logistics

• Getting there: Hewanorra International (UVF) serves long‑haul flights; George F. L. Charles (SLU) handles regional hops; Rodney Bay is about 75–90 minutes from UVF by road.
• Where to stay: Marina‑adjacent hotels and Gros Islet rentals keep transfers short; sailors value proximity to docks for early dock‑outs and quick turnarounds.
• Shore‑side: Restaurants and bars line the marina; Gros Islet’s Friday Night Street Party is a popular crew night if a rest day allows.

Training and equipment tips

• Sails and rig: A medium‑air headsail inventory suits late‑November trades; ensure halyards, vang, and traveler systems are squared away for repeated tacks and mark roundings.
• Crew readiness: Short, punchy races reward clean boathandling—practice spinnaker sets/douses, timed accelerations, and communication; charter programs recommend strength and cardio prep for grinders and bow.
• Local charts: Brief navigators on exclusion zones and shallow patches near the bay and headlands; expect Race Committee adjustments to keep racing in best breeze and manageable seas.

Culture and off‑the‑water

• Rodney Bay evenings: Docktails at the Yacht Club, marina restaurants, and live music add to the regatta’s sociable tone; prize‑givings spotlight class winners and visiting crews.
• Island add‑ons: Post‑regatta, consider a south‑coast run to Soufrière, the Pitons, and reef snorkeling or a hike on Pigeon Island for sweeping bay views.

Verified essentials at a glance

• Event: Mango Bowl Regatta, Saint Lucia Yacht Club.
• Dates: Final weekend of November 2025, with Friday briefing and racing Saturday–Sunday; recent patterns and 2024 schedules indicate Nov 28–30, 2025, with briefing on the 28th.
• Venue: Rodney Bay race area; shore base at Saint Lucia Yacht Club, IGY Rodney Bay Marina.
• Classes: Cruising class plus racing classes, commonly J/24 and Surprise; small but growing fleet.
• Vibe: Friendly, early‑season tune‑up with short race days and strong socials; good entry point for newer racers.

Rig the medium‑air headsail, rally a crew, and point the bow toward Pigeon Island for two days of feisty racing and warm Saint Lucian hospitality. With accessible courses, easy marina logistics, and a lively dockside scene, Mango Bowl Regatta 2025 is the perfect way to launch a Caribbean season—lock in the late‑November weekend and join the Rodney Bay fun.