The Turks & Caicos annual Regatta festival will be taking place from Thursday, May 24, to Sunday, May 27, 2012.

The emphasis this year will be on culture and to this end several events that will take us back to the early days of Regatta. In keeping with our theme, “KEEPING THE VIBES ALIVE!” we want to revive that family atmosphere and communal spirit of togetherness, fun and catering for every experience of the past.

The calendar of events is as follows:

Thursday, May 24 …… LITTLE MISS REGATTA CULTURAL SHOW

Friday, May 25 ………

• FASHION AND COMEDY SHOW
• MUSIC AND DANCING

Saturday, May 26 …… DAY’S ACTIVITIES

• JUMP – UP
• OPENING CEREMONY
• TRIATHLON
• KITE FLYING
• DOMINOES
• UNCLE ARCHIE’S DIVE
• BOAT RACES
• JUNKANOO CONTEST
• TUG-A-WAR
• BICYCLING BALANCING
• MAY POLE AND MANY MORE FAMILY GAMES
• SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS – SOUTH CAICOS COMPANIES CREATIVE FLOATS

Sunday, May 27 … GOSPEL EXTRAVAGANZA

The Providenciales Flag Festival Committee is pleased to announce the 1st Turks & Caicos International Flag Festival.  The festival will take place from June 1-4, 2012.

The Turks & Caicos Islands is home to nationals from more than 50 countries and this International Flag Festival will bring everyone together for a weekend of fun, cultural exchanges and will also give each person an opportunity to display their national pride.

President of the Provo Flag Festival Committee Abigail Delancy commented “We realize that we live in a multi-cultural society and our neighbors are now closer to us than they were twenty years ago. The Turks and Caicos share its culture with over 50 different nationalities and this is why we believe we should celebrate together. We recognize that at the end of the day all of us here in TCI are working towards the same goal, which is to make the Turks and Caicos Islands a better place”.

Flag Fest 2012 will include a kickoff party, a beach picnic and the grand event will be a motorcade & flag party which will also include the Little Miss Flag Fest Pageant at the National Stadium on Venetian Road.  There will be prizes given for the Best Flag Outfit and the Biggest Flag at the parade.  A soccer match between Haiti & Jamaica will take place on Sunday June 3rd and a Beach Party & Food Festival will be held on June 4, 2012 at the Kids Park on the Lower Bight Road.

Musical guest will include DJ’s from TCI, DR, Jamaica, Trinidad & Haiti and the featured Band will be Lee & the Force from TCI.

If you are in Providenciales on the 3rd or 4th night after a full moon, don't miss the opportunity to see the glow worms!  We recommend going with Captain dave and his crew on the Atebayra - www.suncharters.tc.  This local phenomena features the mating ritual of the local glow worm.  Right on cue, 50 minutes after sunset, the male and female worms perform a phosphorescent dance.  We went on the cruise last month and adults and children alike loved the show!  Captain Dave and his crew offer great hospitality and a comfortable ride on the Atebayra.

February 2012 Events

January 2012 Events

Ben Stubenberg, Co-Race Director of the Turks & Caicos Race for the Conch Eco-SeaSwim that is part of the West Indies Bluewater Ocean Swim Series, announced, possibly, the world's first exclusive open water swimming zone in an ocean.

It is certainly the first exclusively designated open water swimming zone in the Caribbean Sea. "In 2012, we will be putting in the first open water swimming training zone in front of one of the Alexandra Hotel in Provo during the second week of January.

The idea is to provide a safe, cordoned area, in a triangular configuration, where swimmers can practice their open water swimming skills between measured buoys in the sea," explained Ben.

Based on the guidance received from the Turks & Caicos Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, Ben is anchoring the buoys in an environmentally friendly manner by using special pins that will be augered into the sand. "There will be no more cement blocks and I specially ordered cylindrical yellow polyurethane buoys from a small manufacturer in British Columbia, Canada.

The intention is to give swimmers a safe environment to practice all open water swimming skills while measuring the distance they have covered. The whole idea was born out of frustration at not being able to get in a good swim workout while on vacation without risking being hit by a boat. It is especially great to see the Sports Commission and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources' support of open water swim training and racing in Turks & Caicos.."

With this exclusive open water swimming zone, Caicu Naniki (meaning "island reef where the festive spirit lives") will offer half-day swim safaris that will give swimmers an opportunity to swim along the nearby cays or out to the reef while being closely followed by a boat and kayak. "This is another way to get in a good workout," explained Ben who is also president of the Turks & Caicos Islands Swim Federation. "Swimmers can test themselves in open water conditions for a particular time or distance while enjoying the turquoise water and nice beaches. A 45-foot charter catamaran will provide special swim charters through the Caicos Cays."

Photo shows the start of the Race for the Conch Eco-SeaSwim.