Like any other event, Festival Del Mar at Island Harbour, Anguilla, now in its eighth year, started out slowly, but by midday on Saturday and Sunday, April 3 and 4, a milling crowd had converged on the beach and rocks of the fishing harbour.
Newly-installed Chairman of the Festival, Matthew Webster, writing about the event, described it as a great success, judging from the overall attendance, the many activities, and the large number of vendors, food stalls and the variety of entertainment.
The activities included a model boat competition; a sunfish exhibition and class A and class B boat races; a culinary arts competition; a fishing competition and a swimming competition – the latter having been won by a nine-year old boy who swam to Scilly Cay and back to the Island Harbour bay.
The food dishes included a variety of fish and cultural food which kept vendors extremely busy with servings.
In between the activities and merriment were multi raffles and prizes including dinners at several restaurants. The prizes were donated by local businesses. A number of children benefitted from raffle tickets made available to them by anonymous attendees, thus enabling them to share in the activities.
Entertainers included DJs Luther, Legend and Castro, Springer and the Boys, De Movement Band, Hot Shot & Company, North Sound Brass International, Steel Vibrations, Took and the Boys, Rollie Harrigan and Company, Keanu, Natalie and Roxy. Visiting performers included soca artiste Rudy Live from the UDSVI and reggae artiste Steve Fac of VP Records.
Mr Othlyn Vanterpool, who served as Chairman of Festival Del Mar for the past seven years, was celebrated for his service. He has been succeeded by the new Chairman, Mr Matthew Webster.
The major sponsors of Festival Del Mar were LIME Anguilla, MAICO, the Social Security Board, Sheriva Villas, Anguilla Sea Salt Company, the Department of Youth and Culture and the Tourist Board.
Class A Boat Race Sponsored by Sheriva Villas (Unofficial Results)
1st Place: Viking 007
2nd Place: Sonic
3rd Place: Real Deal
4th Place: Satellite
5th Place: De Wizard
Class B Boat Race sponsored by Anguilla Social Security Board
1st Place: Hurricane
2nd Place: De Storm
3rd Place: No Big Ting
Deep Sea Fishing Tournament
1st Place Total Overall Catch and 1st Place Most Bottom Fish: Juster Duncan of AXA (95.41 lbs.)
2nd Place Total Overall Catch and 2nd Place Most Bottom Fish: Stlykel of SXM (42.72 lbs.)
3rd Place Total Overall Catch: Michael Smith of AXA (33.50 lbs.)
1st Place Most Pelagic Fish: Last Scamp of SXM (31.26 lbs.)
Biggest Pelagic Fish: Nathalie Kate of SXM (Mahi Mahi – 17.76 lbs.)
Biggest Bottom Fish: Stlykel of SXM (Grouper – 5.51 lbs.)
Culinary Competition
Top Chef: Carla Hughes-Rey
Best Seafood Dish Any Style: Carla Hughes-Rey (dish: Seafood Medley)
Best Fish Dish Any Style: Island Harbour Care Center
Best Shellfish Dish: Lydia Levons
Best Seafood Salad: Carla Hughes-Rey (dish: Conch Mania Salad)
Best Seafood Soup: Carla Hughes-Rey (dish: Whelk Chowder)
Swimming Relay
1st Place: Andrei Bucsko and Ira Bloom
2nd Place: Brie and Joann Taylor
3rd Place: Matthias Pemberton and Nelson Fabian
Kiddies Swimming
1st Place: Logan Hartz; 2nd Place: Matthias Pemberton; 3rd Place: Carlos Lopez
Sunfish Exhibition
1st Place: Clarone Rogers; 2nd Place: Matthias Pemberton; 3rd Place: Hayden Bryan
Kiddies Fishing
Most Fish: Colzie Webster
Biggest Fish: Recaldo Fabian
Model Boat Race
1st Place: Peter Webster
2nd Place: Matthias Pemberton
3rd Place: Elwardo Carty
