To be blunt, it is one of the top 5 regattas in the world and no.1 in the Caribbean and no.1 in the world on tonnage.
Planning is considerable.
Hundreds of boats of all classes come from literally all over the world to race. For the many happy amateurs and the wandering ocean going yachts the idea is just to be there and to enjoy seven days of racing and seven nights of equally hard partying. Both disciplines require considerable stamina if one is to keep with the pace. The Regatta has grown from humble beginnings in 1967 where a handful of old wooden boats queued up on the start line to the impressive spectacle one sees today. The event attracts alot of media coverage and large corporate sponsors such as Rolex, Amex, Suzuki, Bacardi and American International Bank.