Author: ondeckantigua

Principal of Ondeck Maritime Training

The Caribbean 2019 Sailing Regatta

The Caribbean 2019 Sailing Regatta season is nearly here and Captain Arran and rest of his pro sailing team of Andy, Pete, Kyle and Ryan are busy doing the final preparations and shake down trials of our Farr 65, Spirit of Juno.

Juno is very competitive with a first in class in the Antigua and Barbados regattas in 2018 and has already started the 2018/19 season strongly winning line honours in the Nelson’s Pursuit Race on New Year’s Eve. The exciting news this season is she is stripped down and has new racing 3Di’s North sails.

Spirit of Juno Farr 65 and our match fleet of Beneteau First 40.7’s makes for thrilling and competitive, high-performance yacht racing in crystal clear waters with consistent warm trade winds. If you haven’t succumbed to the pull yet let us help you decide.

The main regatta event racing starts Fri-Sun – three days of highly competitive racing in what are usually strong breezes.

You can sail in all of the most prestigious sailing events in the 2019 Caribbean Regatta Calendar with Ondeck including Barbados Race Week, Grenada Sailing Week, RORC Caribbean 600, St Maarten Heineken Regatta, St Thomas International ,BVI Spring Regatta, Bequia Spring Regatta, Les Voiles de St Barth, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and of course Antigua Sailing Week 2019. We also have places at some of the smaller fun events such as the Round the Island Antigua.

We offer individual places on our Farr 65, Spirit of Juno, and on our Beneteau 40.7’s and we encourage first time racers to come on board.

Most of our race packages include 1 training day with the option of taking part in deliveries from and back to Antigua where applicable and building some miles.

We do have a booking system so would prefer people to book online

Peter Anthony
Director
Ondeck Antigue Cell  + 1 268 720 5313 Antigua office +1 268 562 6696If you have any questions, just EMAIL pa@ondecksailing.com or call the Antigua office.

STCW Updating this week 

First for a little while as the superyaxhts come back to Antigua for the charter show. Promises to be a busy season here and many will need to do their basic safety updating. 2 days  covering fire and sea survival and approved by the MCA

Cost is $525 

The 2018 Caribbean Regatta season

Its been a hectic summer in the Caribbean and we apologise for the lateness of this newsletter but with two unprecedented Cat 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria it has taken a little time to get an accurate picture of the regatta programme for 2018

So the news is Antigua and the Caribbean are open

None of the major regattas have been cancelled and all have announced a normal programme of racing and events so starting with Mountgay Barbados in January and finishing with Antigua Sailing Week in May we will be racing at all of the regattas this season.

Each regatta reflects the uniqueness of each of the Caribbean islands and offer different sailing experiences often with some lengthy deliveries allowing guests to build some ocean miles

Spirit of Juno is our ‘head boat’ so prospective racers can join as individuals or small groups and offers positions for the experienced and inexperienced She had a good 2017 with new race sails and podium positions at many regattas. Joining Juno is a great way to learn the ‘racing ropes’ as well as experience the social side of many beautiful islands with mixed and very international teams.

Many regattas offer the opportunities to do the deliveries and build some miles and passages for those looking for a little extra adventure

We also have Beneteau first 40.7’s available for whole boat charter and access to a wider fleet of Grand Soleil’s, J’s and First 40’s

Dates for the regattas are as follows and include training days

Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series 16th – 21st January

Grenada Sailing Week 28th January to 3rd February

RORC Caribbean 600 14th – 23rd Feb

St Maarten Heineken Regatta 27th Feb – 3rd March

STIR St Thomas International Regatta 21st – 25th March

Bequia Easter Regatta

BVI Spring Regatta 27th March – 1st April

Les Voiles de St Barths 9th – 15th April

Antigua Sailing Week 27th April – 4th May

Antigua to Bermuda Race 7th May –

Next 5 year regatta schedule http://www.ondecksailing.com/pdf/Ondeck-Caribbean-Regattas-2018-2022.pdf

Scenic,Generic
Scenic,Generic
Spirit of Juno

STCW 10 [previously STCW 95] explained in the Caribbean

Most people in the marine industry will have heard of STCW which means Standards of Training Certification and  Watchkeeping which are a set of standards agreed by the IMO International Maritime Organisation and to which most maritime nations contribute

So what is STCW 95 or STCW 10 …  the number refers to the major revisions which happen every few years with minor revisions more frequently. STCW 95 followed the revisions in 1995 and similarly the year 2010 for STCW 10 which are also known as the Manilla amendments as that IMO meeting was based in manilla in the Philippines.

The most well known STCW qualification is the Basic Safety Training and is often just referred to as STCW 10 . This is a requirement for anyone working on a commercial vessel over 28m long but in reality individual countries often insist on it for smaller vessels.  This applies to cruise ships, cargo vessels, superyachts, ferries and all types of commercial vessel.  Continue reading STCW 10 [previously STCW 95] explained in the Caribbean

Maritime Training schedule updated for summer and fall 2017 with Ondeck

We have a busy schedule of professional and leisure courses going on over summer including MCA STCW 10 Full courses and Updates; RYA Competent crew , RYA Day Skipper theory and practical, RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore theory , Powerboat Level 2; Boatmaster,  own boat training , ICC as well as the introduction of engineering and Maintenance courses. More detail on http://www.ondecksailing.com

Continue reading Maritime Training schedule updated for summer and fall 2017 with Ondeck

Ondeck Maritime Training in Dominica and Eastern Caribbean

Ondeck is currently in Dominica conducting Boatmaster training for professionals in Dominica. Increasingly countries are insisting on Certification as well as experience in visiting Captains and Crew and that’s where we are helping out

This training will be followed by the STCW 10 [was STCW95] Basic Safety Training along with VHF SRC Radio certification back in Antigua

See the article below from Dominica Vibes

Boatmaster & STCW 10 Training in Dominica

For more information on the Boatmaster courses go to Boatmaster

For more information on STCW 10 Training and Updating go to STCW 10

Email pa@ondecksailing.com for more information

Forthcoming Training Dates

We do have a very full program of professional and leisure courses every month which include learning to sail for beginners to Ocean Yachtmaster theory and exams.

Visit the website to find out more or email Ondeck Team to find out more and get advice on what might help ‘float your boat’

Yachtmaster Offshore theory
7th – 11th April; 11th 15th May  more info

RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Prep and Exam
13th – 19th April ; 18-24th may   more info

RYA Ocean Theory coaching
[on demand]  more info

RYA Ocean Theory course
20-22 April finishing 2nd and 3rd may  more info

RYA Competent Crew
13th – 19th April; 4th – 8th may ,18th – 24th may; 25th – 29th may more info

RYA Day Skipper Practical
4th – 8th may , 25th – 29th may   more info

RYA Day skipper theory
[online] anytime more info

STCW10 [was 95] Basic Safety Training
13th – 17th April  more info 

RYA Powerboat level 2
on demand more info

RYA SRC Radio
on demand  more info

Caribbean Regattas calendar for 2016

We now have the 2016 regatta calendar and are taking bookings and holding 2015 prices for bookings taken by 1st November 2015.

Mount Gay Rum. Round Barbados   Sun.Jan.16th     Sun Jan. 24th

Antigua Round Island Race              Sun Jan 16th

Grenada Sailing Week                      Fri. Jan 29th    Tues Feb 2nd

Jolly Hbr. Valentines                         Fri. Feb 12th    Sun Feb 14th

RORC Carib. 600                               Tues Feb 23rd    Fri. Feb 26th

St. Maarten Heineken                      Fri. Mar.4th    Sun Mar. 6th

St. Barths Bucket                             Tues Mar. 17th    Fri. Mar. 20th

BVI.Sailing Festival                          Tues Mar 29th    Thur. Mar. 31st

BVI Spring Regatta                          Fri. Apr. 1st    Sun Apr. 3rd

Les Voiles de St. Barths                  Tues Apr. 12th.    Sat Apr. 16th

Guadeloupe to Antigua                  Fri. Apr. 22nd

Yachting World Rnd. Antigua        Sat Apr 23rd.

Antigua Sailing Week                     Sun Apr. 24th    Fri. Apr. 29th

Race in the Caribbean Regattas 2015 .. just an email or phone call away

There is still time to book your Caribbean Racing Adventure

Les Voiles de St.Barth 12th – 18th April : just 2 places left on board a Beneteau 40.7 to experience this exciting regatta now in its 6th year. Come for the regatta, turquoise waters, wonderful sailing conditions and fall in love with this picture perfect island.

Join the Beneteau 40.7 for Les Voiles

Antigua Sailing Week 25th April – May 1st: always lots of exciting water action starting with the Yachting World Round the Island Race on the 25th followed by a full week of racing. Lots of sailing packaged with great evening entertainment, perfect. Individual places: only 4 places left on Spirit of Juno. Come join our high performance Farr 65, she’s user friendly so a great boat whether you’re a novice or experienced sailor

Antigua Sailing Week 2014
Spirit of Juno … Join the team for the week

Rock up and Race for a day: Dehler 39 We’re continuing our highly successful program where you get to join in and actually race in the thick of the action for a day, you do as little or much as you want! Whole boat Charter: Sun Odyssey 44 – podium position boat that combines speed, elegance and comfort

Experienced and novice sailors welcome. A smile essential

Whole boat Charter: Santa Cruz 37 – This carbon rocket is designed for fast, exciting racing and she’s still available

Sonic - SC37 rocket
Sonic – SC37 rocket

Come on, it’s not too late, don’t just be a spectator as life is not a rehearsal