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Dear Miss Mermaid's Rambling Blog (the other blog)
May 2009 Foxys Bar and Restaurant on Jost Van Dyke, in the British Virgin Islands,
hosts the Wooden Boat Regatta. This annual event was 35
years old in 2009. Up until 1995, this regatta was held Labor Day
Weekend (US Holiday) in early September. However, due to the
scare of Hurricane Luis, in 1995, day two was canceled. The canon
was shot off at 830am, and boats were instructed to race for their
favorite hurricane hole. Hurricane Luis slammed into the islands and
less than 10 days later, Hurricane Marilyn showed up. Between the two
hurricanes, many wooden boats were forever lost or destroyed beyond
repairing. Some were last seen at the Wooden Boat Regatta that year.
The following year, the Wooden Boat Regatta was moved to Memorial Day Weekend (US Holiday) in May. It is held annually on this 3 day weekend. Now, in addition to the wooden boat races, classic boats of any type of material, over 25 years old, are allowed to enter a race, this makes for more boats and more fun. Sadly, wooden boats are a dying breed. Their upkeep is prohibitive in these times of high labor costs. Maintenance is an ongoing expensive habit. Many of the wooden boats today are kept alive through sheer love and tons of hard work. Weather was overcast in 2009, this is a picture of a classic steel yawl, which served as the Race Committee boat. 
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